González Concedes In Seattle Mayoral Race

SEATTLE — City council president M. Lorena González conceded the Seattle mayoral race Thursday to Bruce Harrell, congratulating the former council president on his victory and thanking supporters in a social media thread. In Thursday's ballot drop, which added the largest number of ballots since election night, González still trailed Harrell by roughly 24 points.

González, a former civil rights attorney, was first elected to the Seattle City Council's 9th Position in 2015. Harrell served on the city council for 12 years and served as its president from 2016 until 2020. When Harrell left the council in 2020, González was selected as the new president.

Since González opted to run for mayor, she will leave the city council when her term is up in January. She will be replaced by the winner of the Position 9 race. As of Thursday, Fremont Brewing cofounder Sara Nelson led opponent Nikkita Oliver by roughly 15 points.

In her concession statement, González said she was looking forward to finishing out her sixth year on the council, resting after nearly a year of campaigning, then "writing the next chapter of my public service."

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who decided not to seek a second term, congratulated Harrell on his victory in a statement published Thursday.

It reads in part:

"I’ve extended my sincere congratulations to Mayor-Elect Bruce Harrell. I’ve known Bruce for over 30 years, and I know as Mayor he will work hard for the people of Seattle. Voters showed their commitment to a just and hopeful future for all Seattle residents. I know Bruce wants every family to thrive in Seattle. He will bring people together to tackle the tough challenges we face on COVID-19, homelessness, public safety, and climate change. I hope all of Seattle joins to support him in these critical times."