Contenders Nelson and Foster poised for clash over Seattle City Council position
Seattle City Council Primary Election Results Shows Progressive Candidates Leading
The results of the 2025 Seattle primary election have shown a clear trend favoring progressive candidates in the race for the Seattle City Council. In a shift from the moderate-leaning movement that has dominated City Hall over the last four years, progressive candidates are leading in several key races.
In District 2, Eddie Lin and Adonis Ducksworth are leading the race for Seattle City Council position No. 2, with Lin having 45.7% and Ducksworth having 30.6% of the votes. No candidate has secured more than 50% of the votes, setting up a potential runoff election. The winner of the District 2 seat will represent South Seattle, from Yesler Terrace to Rainier Beach.
Alexis Mercedes Rinck, a progressive officeholder, has a commanding lead in the race for Seattle City Council position No. 8, with 75.2% of the votes. Rachael Savage is likely to face Rinck in the general election, with Savage having 14.9% of the votes.
Dionne Foster, a progressive nonprofit leader, is leading in the race for Seattle City Council position No. 9, with 54% of the vote. Foster is poised to advance to the general election, though further ballot counting could adjust margins.
Sara Nelson, the incumbent City Council President, is trailing behind Foster in the race for Position No. 9, indicating a potential shift to the left. Foster is trying to dislodge Nelson in what would be a symbolically significant defeat for the moderate-leaning movement.
The candidates for the District 2 seat include Adonis Ducksworth, Edward Lin, Jamie Fackler, and Jeanie Chunn.
The political context shows that the candidates have largely agreed on the need to improve the district's roads and invest in violence prevention programs. All four candidates support a proposal to rewrite the city's business and occupation tax.
The races for Seattle City Council positions No. 2, 8, and 9 are not yet decided as no candidate has secured more than 50% of the votes. The leads currently held by Lin, Rinck, and Foster in their respective council races position them well for the final election, though further ballot counting could adjust margins.
The expected Nelson-Foster general election race would likely be the most closely watched and the priciest. If elected, Foster would dislodge Nelson, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of Seattle.
In a top-two primary system, the two candidates receiving the most votes proceed to the general election in November. The leads currently held by Lin, Rinck, and Foster in their respective council races position them well for the final election.
In 2026, there will be a special election to fill the District 5 seat vacated by Cathy Moore. The results of this election will further shape the political landscape of Seattle City Council.
Stay tuned for updates as the final vote counts are tallied and the general election approaches.
- The 2025 Seattle primary election results demonstrate a progressive lean in the Seattle City Council races, as candidates such as Eddie Lin, Adonis Ducksworth, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, and Dionne Foster are currently leading.
- The District 2 seat race, where Lin and Ducksworth are competitive, is yet to be decided, requiring a potential runoff election due to no candidate securing over 50% of the votes.
- The political context reveals that candidates in District 2, including Jamie Fackler and Jeanie Chunn, largely agree on the importance of road improvements and violence prevention programs, and support a revision of the city's business and occupation tax.
- The anticipated general election between Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Rachael Savage, as well as Sara Nelson vs. Dionne Foster, promises to be closely watched and expensive, with the latter race having the potential to significantly reshape Seattle's political landscape.
- In Washington State's top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes proceed to the general election in November, which could see Lin, Rinck, and Foster advancing, and marking a potential shift to the left in Seattle's City Council.
- A special election in 2026 is expected to fill the District 5 seat left vacant by Cathy Moore, further impacting the political landscape of the Seattle City Council.
