2025 King County Executive election

Last updated

2025 King County Executive election
←  2021 November 4, 20252028 →
  Balducci Wikipedia (cropped).png Thumbnail KCC Zahilay Edit 022 (cropped).jpg
Candidate Claudia Balducci Girmay Zahilay
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
County Executive before election

Shannon Braddock (interim)
Nonpartisan

Elected County Executive

TBD

The 2025 King County Executive election will be held in King County, Washington during the 2025 United States general election. Former County Executive Dow Constantine announced in November 2024 that he would not seek re-election. He was then replaced by interim County Executive Shannon Braddock, a perennial candidate, upon his appointment as CEO of Sound Transit.

Contents

Background

The election will be held in 2025, and will be the last King County Executive election to be held in an odd-numbered year. In 2022, a King County charter amendment was passed that moved elections of several offices, including county executive, to even-numbered years. This means that starting after this election, the Executive will be elected in even-numbered years, starting in 2028. Therefore, this election will be to serve out a three year term instead of the normal four year term. [1] [2] [3]

Incumbent Dow Constantine was first elected in 2009 and had served four terms since. He announced on November 12, 2024 that he would not seek re-election. [4] The Sound Transit board of directors, of which Constantine was a member, announced his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in March 2025. He was replaced as County Executive by Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock until the seat could be filled in the regularly scheduled November 2025 General Election. [5]

Candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Claudia Balducci
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
Democratic Party organizations
Organizations
Newspapers
Girmay Zahilay
Statewide officials
U.S. Representatives
Democratic Party organizations
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers

Forums

2025 King County Executive election candidate forums
No.DateHostModeratorsLink Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Claudia Balducci Amiya IngramDon RiversRebecca WilliamsonJohn Arthur Wilson Girmay Zahilay
1 [34] May 14, 2025Issaquah Alps Trails Club Sally Jewell YouTube PNNNPP
2 [35] May 23, 2025 King County Young Democrats
Northwest Progressive Institute 		Austin Kristofferson
Rohana Joshi		 YouTube PPPPPP

Primary

Although Constantine announced his intention not to seek re-election in 2024, it was not until 2025 when the public learned that he was a leading candidate in Sound Transit's CEO search. As King County Executive, Constantine was a member of the board and appointed board members over the course of many years, including two current ST board members who announced a run for King County Executive: Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay.

John Arthur Wilson, the King County Assessor since winning office in 2015, was one of the first to declare candidacy, doing so just days after Constantine's announcement. [36] Before becoming Assessor, he worked as a journalist and as chief of staff for former King County Executive Ron Sims. The Seattle Times reported in January 2025 that Wilson had a temporary protection order placed against him in May 2024 by his then partner, Lee Keller, who accused him of stalking. However, in the same article, Keller said that she had reconciled with Wilson, writing "We are happily engaged to be married, and we are planning a wedding." [37]

On May 29, 2025, PubliCola reported that Keller had filed for a new temporary restraining order against him, after he continued harassing and stalking her after she "permanently and clearly ended" the relationship on April 15, 2025. [38] [39] Many local elected officials immediately called on Wilson to resign, including: Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell, interim King County Executive Shannon Braddock, King County Councilmembers Girmay Zahilay and Claudia Balducci, and state senator Manka Dhingra. [40] The King County Council unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Wilson and called for him to resign. [41] Wilson refused to resign or drop out of the Executive race. In a motion to dismiss the restraining order, Wilson claimed that he was the victim of abuse by Keller, writing "Unfortunately, as much as I love Lee, her volatility and instability has become a real issue for me both personally and professionally." [42]

On July 2, 2025, Wilson was arrested for stalking and violating the court ordered protection order placed on him. He was released on bail the next day. [43] [44]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Claudia
Balducci		Girmay ZahilayJohn WilsonOtherUndecided
Fulcrum Strategic [45] [A] June 11–15, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%25%21%7%48%

Results

Nonpartisan primary results [46]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Girmay Zahilay 202,007 44.04%
Nonpartisan Claudia Balducci 136,479 29.76%
Nonpartisan Derek Chartrand52,62611.47%
Nonpartisan John Arthur Wilson (withdrawn)37,1098.09%
Nonpartisan Rebecca Williamson9,4592.06%
Nonpartisan Amiya Ingram8,3531.82%
Nonpartisan Bill Hirt7,2091.57%
Nonpartisan Don Rivers4,2050.92%
Write-in 1,2240.27%
Total votes458,671 100.00%

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Claudia
Balducci		Girmay ZahilayUndecided
Fulcrum Strategic [45] [A] June 11–15, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%22%20%57%

Results

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Claudia Balducci
Nonpartisan Girmay Zahilay
Write-in
Total votes100.00%

Notes

  1. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. 1 2 Poll sponsored by Balducci's campaign

References

  1. ↑ Browning, Paige (November 10, 2022). "King County officials will get shorter terms next election cycle". KUOW . Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  2. ↑ "2022 King County Charter Amendment No. 1". King County Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ "November 08, 2022 Official Final Election Results" (PDF). King County Elections. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  4. ↑ Gutman, David (November 12, 2024). "Dow Constantine will not seek reelection as King County executive" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  5. ↑ Gutman, David (April 1, 2025). "Shannon Braddock is King County's first new leader in 15 years. Who is she?". The Seattle Times . Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ Gutman, David (November 13, 2024). "Claudia Balducci launches campaign for King County executive" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Buhain, Venice (May 13, 2025). "Wide-open King County Executive race draws eight candidates". Cascade PBS . Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  8. ↑ Beekman, Daniel (December 2, 2024). "Girmay Zahilay launches campaign for King County executive" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  9. ↑ Gutman, David (July 10, 2025). "John Wilson suspends campaign for King County executive" . The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ "POLITICS: Past candidate for King County Executive won't try again even though it's open". West Seattle Blog . November 14, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  11. ↑ Schaefer, Scott (December 27, 2024). "Sen. Joe Nguyễn appointed as Washington State Commerce Director". B-Town Blog. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 Buhain, Venice (July 23, 2025). "What you need to know about the King County Executive primary race". KCTS-TV . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "2025 Endorsements – King County Democrats" . Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "2025 Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "2025 Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  16. 1 2 "2025 Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Resolutions" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  18. ↑ "2025 Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Our 2025 Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  20. ↑ "The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: Claudia Balducci for King County executive" . The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Allen, Aaron (December 3, 2024). "Girmay Zahilay Announces Campaign For King County Executive, Pledging To Champion Equity And Opportunity". Seattle Medium . Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Leyden, Henry (July 1, 2025). "The contest to pick a new King County Executive is heating up with ballots due to drop soon in the August Top Two election". Northwest Progressive Institute . Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  23. ↑ "News & Events" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  24. ↑ "2025 Primary Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  25. ↑ Scanlon, Mary (July 8, 2025). "June 9, 2025 Endorsement Meeting Minutes" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  26. ↑ "2025 Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  27. ↑ "2025 46th District Dems Endorsed Candidates & Campaigns" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  28. ↑ "2025 Primary Election Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  29. ↑ "2025 Washington Election Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  30. ↑ "2025 Washington August Primaries" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Washington Candidate Endorsements" . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  32. ↑ Olson, Alex; Oliver, Mackenzie; Meyers, Abigail; Devanesan, Priya (August 1, 2025). "2025 Seattle and King County primary election endorsements". The Daily of the University of Washington . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Vote for Girmay Zahilay for King County Executive". The Stranger. July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  34. ↑ "King County Executive Candidate Forum". Issaquah Alps Trails Club. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  35. ↑ Villeneuve, Andrew (May 23, 2025). "Watch a forum with the 2025 candidates for King County Executive, organized by KCYD with support from NPI". Northwest Progressive Institute . Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  36. ↑ Gutman, David (November 18, 2024). "Why the King County assessor says he wants to be county executive". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  37. ↑ Gutman, David (January 10, 2025). "King County assessor, running for executive, was accused of stalking, harassment" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on January 10, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  38. ↑ Barnett, Erica C. (May 29, 2025). "New Stalking Allegations Against King County Assessor, County Executive Candidate Wilson". PubliCola. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  39. ↑ Gutman, David (May 29, 2025). "King County assessor accused of stalking, hit with restraining order" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on May 29, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  40. ↑ Gutman, David (June 3, 2025). "King County assessor says he won't resign, as pressure mounts from County Council" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  41. ↑ Gutman, David (June 10, 2025). "King County Council votes no confidence in John Wilson, calls for resignation" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on June 11, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  42. ↑ Barnett, Erica C. (June 12, 2025). "In Motion to Dismiss Restraining Order, County Assessor Calls His Ex-Partner Unstable and Vengeful". PubliCola. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  43. ↑ Barnett, Erica C. (July 3, 2025). "County Assessor Wilson Jailed on Allegations of Stalking, Violating Protection Order". PubliCola. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  44. ↑ Gutman, David (July 3, 2025). "King County Assessor John Wilson arrested in stalking investigation" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  45. 1 2 Trumm, Doug (June 26, 2025). "Balducci Claims County Executive Race Lead, John Wilson Mired in Scandal". The Urbanist. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Results" (PDF). Retrieved August 20, 2025.
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