Progressives Make Impressive Gains in South King County
With a slate of pro-business candidates prevailing in Seattle’s more high-profile races, last week was rough for Seattle progressives. But those toward the left end of the political spectrum can look to South King County for a few spots of good news.
Though results from city council and mayoral races in Burien, SeaTac, Renton, and Kent were mixed, reform-minded candidates made impressive gains in those areas, and most of the winners were people of color.
“Straight-up Republican incumbents in cities that had a history of electing Republicans elected several strong progressive candidates,” noted political consultant Crystal Fincher. “Yes, it was a mixed bag, but it’s better than we normally have in South King County. There’s definitely justification for feeling hopeful and optimistic.”
The demographics of South King County dramatically shifted during the past two decades, which may have led to some of the political shifts. People of color make up the majority of residents in Burien, Renton, and Kent, and an analysis published in the South Seattle Emerald earlier this year showed that nearly 70% of residents in SeaTac and Tukwila were Black, Indigenous, or people of color. Historically, city councils and mayoral offices haven’t reflected those demographic proportions.
Read more: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/11/09/62717950/progressives-make-impressive-gains-in-south-king-county
