SARA IS DELIVERING FOR SEATTLE.

Seattle, WA — Today, Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson today 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, ideological decisions had pushed Seattle in the wrong direction on public safety – leading to rising crime, street disorder, and inhumane 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 and a new Council, 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 common-sense, 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: Exacerbating the shortage of affordable housing, 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 launched and maintained the Storefront Repair Fund, secured funding to save the Seattle Channel, and established the city’s new Film Commission to boost creative industries and create local jobs.

One of Nelson’s key achievements was pushing for a comprehensive crime and overdose audit to evaluate what’s working and what isn’t, providing a clear roadmap for more effective outcomes. Collaborating with experts, frontline responders, and external partners, Nelson helped shape a coordinated, place-based strategy to improve safety and save lives, especially in and around Downtown.

It’s this commitment to understanding the complexity and urgency of Seattle’s toughest challenges – and collaborating with those closest to the issues – that defines Nelson’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 next term, I want our residents and people nationwide to know Seattle turned an impossible situation around by tackling tough issues and playing to its strengths. That’s why I’m running for re-election."