Seattle, WAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Seattle City Council Election 2026

1 of 9

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

2 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Only one of the Council's nine seats is on this ballot: District 5 in North Seattle. District 5 voters pick one candidate, who serves the rest of the term through 2027; the other eight members are listed as holdovers.

4 notes on these statements

Whoever wins will serve about a year and must run again in November 2027 to win a full term. KUOW · Sep 24, 2026

Neither candidate has held elected office. KUOW · Sep 24, 2026

Council President Joy Hollingsworth is listed as an endorser on Nilu Jenks's campaign site. Nilu Jenks campaign site

Council President Joy Hollingsworth is listed as an endorser on Julie Kang's campaign site. Julie Kang campaign site

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Dionne FosterCouncilmember, Position 9 (citywide); term ends Dec. 31, 20295sourcedJoy HollingsworthCouncilmember, District 3; term ends Dec. 31, 20276sourcedRobert KettleCouncilmember, District 7; term ends Dec. 31, 20276sourcedEddie LinCouncilmember, District 2; term ends Dec. 31, 20275sourcedAlexis Mercedes RinckCouncilmember, Position 8 (citywide); term ends Dec. 31, 20296sourcedMaritza RiveraCouncilmember, District 4; term ends Dec. 31, 20277sourcedRob SakaCouncilmember, District 1; term ends Dec. 31, 20276sourcedDan StraussCouncilmember, District 6; term ends Dec. 31, 20276sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesPublic safety on Aurora Avenue, Police staffing and CARE responders, Housing costs and stalled constructionKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Voting period starts; ballots mailed

Fri, Oct 16, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Public safety on Aurora Avenue

Where it standsShootings and sex trafficking along north Aurora Avenue are a top concern in District 5; SPD cameras and a SOAP zone are in place there.

What's on the tableWhether to keep SPD's camera system and the SOAP zone along Aurora, and what else the city funds there.

  • The Council voted 8-1 in September 2024 to create Stay Out of Area of Prostitution (SOAP) zones. Seattle City Council · Sep 17, 2024
  • The Council voted 7-2 in September 2025 to approve SPD's use of closed-circuit TV cameras under an updated surveillance impact report. Seattle City Council · Sep 9, 2025
  • The city's system includes 420 public cameras and more than 700 integrated private business cameras; Mayor Wilson has waited on an audit before making major decisions on them. KUOW · Aug 17, 2026
  • Both District 5 candidates said temporary concrete barriers on side streets near Aurora are not a long-term solution. KUOW · Sep 24, 2026

Police staffing and CARE responders

Where it standsMayor Wilson's proposed 2027-2028 budget would fully fund the SPD hiring plan to reach and sustain 1,250 officers.

What's on the tableHow much the budget puts into police hiring and into CARE civilian crisis responders.

Housing costs and stalled construction

Where it standsCouncilmember Foster has proposed a temporary cut to Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) fees to restart stalled housing projects; the committee expects to consider it later this year.

What's on the tableWhether to cut MHA fees, and how to pay for affordable housing.

The 2027-2028 budget

Where it standsMayor Wilson's $9.1 billion 2027-2028 budget proposal closes a $175 million deficit without new taxes; a final Council vote is expected in November.

What's on the tableWhat to cut, add or change in the mayor's budget.

Seattle Transit Measure (sales tax)

Where it standsOn Nov. 3, Seattle voters decide whether to approve a 0.3% sales tax for 10 years for transit, replacing the expiring 0.15% tax.

What's on the tableIf it passes, the council will receive the annual reports it required on how the money is spent.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should SPD's closed-circuit cameras, including those along Aurora Avenue North, stay on?

  2. 2. Should Seattle keep its Stay Out of Area of Prostitution (SOAP) zone along Aurora Avenue?

  3. 3. Should the city keep growing the police force back toward full staffing?

  4. 4. Should CARE crisis responders be sent to suitable 911 calls without waiting for police?

  5. 5. What should Seattle do about Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) fees on new housing?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

8 stay (not up this year): Dionne Foster, Joy Hollingsworth, Robert Kettle, Eddie Lin, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Maritza Rivera, Rob Saka, Dan Strauss1 on this ballot

9 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

  • The Council has nine members: seven represent districts and two represent Seattle citywide. Seattle City Council Blog
  • Seattle uses a strong mayor and city council system; the mayor is the city's chief executive. Ballotpedia
  • If the mayor vetoes a bill, at least 6 Councilmembers must vote to override the veto for it to become law. Seattle City Clerk
  • Councilmember Cathy Moore resigned the District 5 seat effective July 7, 2025. Seattle City Clerk
  • The Council appointed Debora Juarez to District 5 on July 28, 2025; she serves until the 2026 results are certified and the newly elected councilmember takes the oath. Seattle City Clerk
  • Voters elect a councilmember in November 2026 to serve the remainder of the District 5 term, through 2027. Seattle City Clerk
  • King County's Nov. 3 candidate list for City of Seattle, Council District No. 5 has two names: Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang. King County Elections
  • In the Aug. 4 primary, Jenks received 53.95% and Kang 32.98% of the District 5 vote. King County Elections · Aug 17, 2026

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