Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan Will Not Seek Reelection In 2021

SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan will not seek a second term in 2021, throwing next year's election wide open in the Emerald City. Durkan, a former U.S. Attorney, was elected as Seattle's 56th mayor in 2017.

In a text and video announcement, the mayor listed off some of the top accomplishments under her first term, including new affordable housing investments, worker protections and tuition-free college programs.

In the years since her election, Durkan has clashed repeatedly with the Seattle City Council, including the controversial reversal of an employee head tax in 2018. In 2020, the council approved the "JumpStart" tax as a new revenue source as the city grapples with the steep economic ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic. Durkan was opposed to the tax but did not veto it, letting it go into effect without her signature. A few months later, the mayor's own budget plan would rely heavily on the tax.

Durkan remained in the hot seat throughout a summer of demonstrations against police violence, injustice and systemic racism, especially with regard to the Seattle Police Department's use of force on crowds.

Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best stepped down in September.

Protesters, community activists and even some city councilmembers called on Durkan to resign over her handling of the police department's protest tactics, and the mayor's staunch opposition to halving the police department's budget. The final compromise resulted in a reduction of funding equaling about 20 percent in 2021.

An effort to recall the mayor was struck down by the Washington State Supreme Court in October.

Ultimately, Durkan said her decision to not seek reelection was primarily driven by the amount of work needed in the months ahead at City Hall, including the path toward post-pandemic economic recovery and major repairs to the West Seattle Bridge.

"We know stopping the spread of the virus, protecting jobs and focusing on the economic recovery — especially for downtown — is going to take everything we've got," Durkan said in a statement. "As Mayor approaching the last year of my term, that means a choice. I could spend the next year campaigning to keep this job or focus all my energy on doing the job. There was only one right choice for our city: doing the job. I have decided not to run for reelection because Seattle, we still have some tough months ahead."

As for who will run for the city's top job is still largely in the realm of speculation. Crosscut reports only a few candidates have formally filed to run, and none of the names include those most expected to enter the race, including a few current and former city council members.

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and Council President M. Lorena González both released statements Monday afternoon.

From Mosqueda:

“I thank Mayor Durkan for the years of service she has provided to our City. While Mayor Durkan and I have had several disagreements on governing and policy over the last three years, we have also been able to find common ground to work on critical issues, and the community, workers and small businesses in this City are better for it. Mayor Durkan has especially shown leadership for our City’s youth, low-income workers, and on emerging needs through her work on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD), the Families and Education, Preschool, Promise (FEPP) levy and Seattle Promise, and Transportation Network Companies (TNC) legislation.”

“This year has been filled with turmoil — a public health crisis, racial reckoning, and economic downturn. Anyone who serves in public office, in particular, through 2020, is to be commended and I appreciate her years of service, and wish her luck in the next endeavor.”

From González:

“I have known Mayor Jenny Durkan since 2007, when we worked together on a police accountability and reform panel under then-Mayor Greg Nickels. As a young lawyer, I followed Mayor Durkan’s career, and I have worked closely with her on many shared legislative priorities during my time on the City Council. These policies include ongoing funding for the immigrant Legal Defense Fund, increased funding for affordable housing, sexual-assault protections for thousands of hotel workers, and voter-approved funding for early learning, K-12 and free college programming for our public school students.

“In 2017, Seattle voters made history when they elected Mayor Durkan as Seattle’s first female Mayor in nearly 90 years. I understand and respect Mayor Durkan’s decision not to seek a second term. During these unprecedented times, the Mayor and I have worked diligently to put City government on a path of productive and collaborative policymaking. Even during Mayor Durkan’s transition year, the Legislative and Executive branches will continue to work together to effectively address the most pressing issues facing the people of our city as we look to recover from COVID-19 and build an equitable, just, and climate-resilient Seattle.

“I look forward to working with Mayor Durkan and my colleagues over the next year to continue serving the people of Seattle as we address the myriad of challenges we face as a City, a region and a nation.”