Preliminary first-count results released yesterday. Coverage by KUOW, by The Urbanist, by The Stranger, by The Seattle Times ($), and by the Northwest Progressive Institute.
King County’s results are here (PDF); statewide results are accessible here. First-drop preliminary results represent about half of ballots cast; later counts typically trend very progressive in the Puget Sound region.
Seattle Transit Blog has not yet issued endorsements for this year’s elections.
Selected Primary Elections (top two proceed to the November General Election):
- Seattle City Council D5: Nilu Jenks (49.69%); Julie Kang (36.67%)
- King County Council D2: Rebecca Saldaña (51.94%); Toshiko Grace Hasegawa (38.66%)
- Mriam Mboya (8.70%)
- King County Council D8: Teresa Mosqueda (62.78%); Nick Duda (27.49%)
- Mia Jacobson (9.27%)
- State Leg. D43 Senator: Jamie Pedersen (71.06%); Hannah Sabio-Howell (17.86%)
- State Leg. D46 Pos. 1: Gerry Pollet (54.34%); Will Dreher (30.69%)
- Ron Davis (13.69%)
- US Congress D9: Adam Smith (50.94%); Doug Basler (23.79%)
- Kshama Sawant (12.56%); Melissa Chaudhry (11.42%); Jacob Perasso (1.13%)
Selected levies and other elections:
- Seattle Prop. 1 (Library Levy): Yes (71.71%)
- Tacoma Prop 1 (Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy): Yes (57.51%)
- Spokane Public Transportation Benefit Area Prop 1: Yes (50.38%)
We are tracking a few elections of interest and will share relevant updates as ballots are counted. Results are from August 4, 2026.
Comments may discuss any election result relevant to transit or land use improvement. Uncivil comments will be moderated.
I wonder how the Spokane fires will affect the Spokane TBA proposition. Maybe the fires will turn them further against cars; maybe the fires will make them more concerned about unrelated taxes; maybe (disturbingly) a lot of the people displaced by the fires might not have ended up voting…
I doubt the fires are really changing anyone’s mind. The right is pretty good about blaming the effects of climate change on other things.
I am surprised it’s so close. I looked up the last time they were on the ballot (in 2016), and it was 56-44. Assuming the late ballots are more pro-transit, the result is probably very similar. I would think Spokane would become more pro-transit over time, but that doesn’t seem to be happening at all.
Leftist voters didn’t seem to turn out here, unlike other parts of the country. I was expecting some upsets, but it didn’t really happen at all.
I don’t think the fires changed anyone’s mind. But I think it is likely some people didn’t vote because of the fires.
Based on the latest update from Snohomish County, the Sno-Isle library levy is passing 56-44. So it’s good to see that the region has decided to NOT defund the libraries.
Don’t forget to check the Island County results too…
(But it’s also leading there, 57-43.)
Spokane will become more pro-transit when their new 395 freeway is finished and fills up with godawful traffic.
The north-south freeway will induce more sprawl to the north and a less transit friendly electorate. The interchange congestion may awaken folks to the folly.
It also should reduce truck traffic (and other through traffic) on parallel arterials. That provides the City of Spokane an opportunity to implement things like road diets or bus only lanes to make those streets safer and slower and prettier. They could also upzone in places as well.
The ball is in the City’s court!