IT’S
HAPPENING.

Seattle’s commonsense champion is running for re-election!

 
 
 

It’s official!

Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson has officially announced her re-election campaign for at-large City Council Position 9, highlighting the progress Seattle has made under her leadership and the work still needed to make the city safe, livable, and prosperous for everyone.

"When I took office, public confidence in the City Council was at an all-time low. Years of performative, hyper-ideological decisions had pushed Seattle in the wrong direction on public safety—leading to rising crime, street disorder, and encampments taking over our public spaces," said Nelson.

"I was elected with a clear directive: to refocus Seattle’s progressive values on delivering real results—prioritizing safety, livability, and a city that works for everyone, not just political theater.”

Nelson added, "We still have a long way to go, but after three years of collective hard work, our city is turning a corner. I’m running to keep my promise to voters and continue the progress they’ve demanded."

FROM CRISIS TO PROGRESS

Since taking office, Nelson has championed pragmatic, compassionate solutions to Seattle’s toughest challenges:

  • Public Safety: 911 response times remain unacceptably long due to severe first responder shortages. Under Nelson’s leadership, the city has reversed years of decline, hiring more officers than it’s losing for the first time since defund/abolition policies were implemented. Nelson has also championed alternative dispatch programs and community-based safety initiatives.

  • Homelessness: The fentanyl crisis is deeply linked to crime and chronic homelessness. Under Nelson’s leadership, Seattle has increased access to on-demand, recovery-based drug treatment services and directed record-breaking investments into affordable housing and expanded shelter options like tiny homes.

  • Building on Seattle’s Strengths: Nelson believes that arts, culture, and small businesses are critical to Seattle’s recovery and long-term vitality. A champion for minority-owned businesses, she relaunched the Storefront Repair Fund, secured funding to save the Seattle Channel, and established the city’s first Film Commission to boost creative industries and create local jobs.

One of Nelson’s key achievements was driving public attention to a comprehensive crime and overdose audit. Working closely with experts, service providers, and frontline responders, Nelson helped identify what is working and what isn’t—shaping a coordinated, place-based strategy to target resources for improving safety and saving lives, particularly in and around Downtown.

“It’s this commitment to understanding the moving parts of Seattle’s toughest challenges—and collaborating with those closest to the issues—that defines Sara’s leadership and drives measurable results.”

"Seattle isn’t where it needs to be yet, but we’ve come a long way," said Nelson. "We’ve shifted from failed policies to approaches that are starting to work, and I’m committed to seeing those efforts through."

"By the end of this term, I want people nationwide to say, 'Seattle turned an impossible situation around by tackling tough issues and playing to its strengths.' That’s why I’m running for re-election."

What Local Leaders are Saying

Congressman Adam Smith

Sara is exactly the kind of leader Seattle needs: reasonable, compassionate, and effective. She understands the human struggle at the heart of the homelessness crisis and knows how to cut through the noise to deliver real solutions. Our entire region benefits from Sara’s leadership on the Seattle City Council.

Ollie Garrett

President, Tabor 100*

As a small business owner herself, Sara understands that local businesses are the foundation of an equitable economy. They create jobs, provide the means of building generational wealth, and hold our communities together. Sara doesn't just talk about supporting Black-owned businesses, she shows up, listens, and really fights for us. Her leadership is exactly what Seattle and the region needs to keep moving forward.

(* - Title for identification purposes only.)

 

Gina Hall

Non-Profit Leader in Homelessness & Social Services

Sara Nelson is making a difference for people experiencing homelessness. Her work on the homelessness audit has helped cut through the confusion and focus resources where they save lives—on housing, recovery, and human connection. Sara cares about getting people off the streets and delivering the help they need, and it shows in the work she’s done.

 

Jon Scholes

President, Downtown Seattle Association*

In the depths of the pandemic, Downtown Seattle bore the brunt of a policy experiment by former Councilmembers to promote de-policing and to allow criminal activity to flourish without a response.  The damage caused by this approach will take years to correct, but the good work by the City’s current elected leadership have put Seattle back on the path of recovery.  Sara’s common-sense approach to public safety – combining treatment, services, and enforcement – is exactly what we need more of in Seattle.

 

Dana Sims

Owner, El Corazón

Sara has been a driving force in making Seattle a vibrant hub for live music and entertainment. Her initiatives, like the Music Venue Parking Permit program, have directly benefited venues like El Corazon, enabling us to thrive in a challenging environment. Her unwavering support for local businesses and the arts has been instrumental in keeping Seattle's cultural scene alive and kicking.

(* - Title for identification purposes only.)

 

NEXT CHAPTER COMING JANUARY 2025

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