Seattle City Council 2019 Election: Kshama Sawant Extends Lead

SEATTLE, WA — Two ballot drops Friday provided Seattle voters with a more complete picture of the 2019 General Election. Despite record outside spending to reshape the Seattle City Council, with seven seats in play, two incumbents built on comfortable leads over their opponents, while a third soundly overcame an eight-point election night deficit. Four other incumbents did not seek re-election.

In District 3, where incumbent Kshama Sawant trailed Egan Orion in early results, the two were separated by just 2.5 points (739 votes) Thursday. By Friday night's tally, Sawant led Orion by more than 3.5 points (1,515 votes).

King County Elections estimated Friday's updates would include results from at least 60,000 Seattle ballots and 100,000 more countywide. After Friday, just 6,300 King County ballots remain, with 2,500 left in Seattle.

UPDATED ELECTION RESULTS [Includes all ballots counted as of 8:30 p.m. Friday]

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
Lisa Herbold: 55.63%
Phil Tavel: 44%

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
Tammy Morales: 60.32%
Mark Solomon: 39.19%

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
Kshama Sawant: 51.57%
Egan Orion: 47.95%

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4
Alex Pedersen: 52.34%
Shaun Scott: 47.32%

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
Debora Juarez: 60.53%
Ann Davison Sattler: 39.1%

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6
Dan Strauss: 55.44%
Heidi Wills: 44.05%

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
Andrew J. Lewis: 52.79%
Jim Pugel: 46.76%

The District 3 race saw some of the most money spent this election, as pro-business groups funded citywide ads to oust Sawant, a two-term socialist firebrand who pushed for an employee head tax last year and led the charge for a $15 minimum wage in Seattle in 2014.

Amazon and other companies poured more than $1.5 million into CASE, a Chamber-backed political action committee, supporting seven more moderate, business-friendly candidates and prompting backlash from progressives. The showdown attracted national attention and prompted two presidential candidates to weigh in.

As more ballots are counted, some candidates on the receiving end of that money have expressed regret. Egan Orion's campaign received an estimated $500,000 from CASE, funded largely by Amazon money. On Election Day, Orion called the influx of outside cash unnecessary, and Friday told KOMO News that Amazon's high-profile $1 million donation effectively amounted to a gift for Sawant, who rallied behind a message of getting corporate money out of politics.

Just two Seattle races have candidates endorsed by CASE in a clear lead: In District 4, where Alex Pedersen leads Shaun Scott by 5 points (Scott conceded Friday night), and in District 5, where incumbent Debora Juarez leads Ann Davison Sattler by 21 points.

In District 1, Lisa Herbold maintained a comfortable lead over CASE-endorsed candidate Phil Tavel. In District 2, Tammy Morales led CASE-backed candidate Mark Solomon by 21 points (Solomon conceded on Wednesday). In District 6, Heidi Wills, another favored recepient of CASE money, trailed Dan Strauss by more than 11 points (Wills conceded Friday evening). In District 7, Andrew Lewis built on a lead over Jim Pugel, now separated by more than 6 points.

King County Elections said the next ballot drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday.