ELECTION RESULTS: In third round, Harrell-Wilson gap narrows

In the third round of results from Tuesday’s election, the gap between Bruce Harrell and Katie Wilson has narrowed; she was eight points back yesterday, now just under six points:

SEATTLE MAYOR
Bruce Harrell* – 91,263 – 52.64%
Katie Wilson – 81,355 – 46.93%

This is with just under 35 percent of Seattle ballots (175,739) counted; the ballot-return stats now show 54 percent of Seattle ballots received (277,120), so there are 101,000+ remaining to be tallied.

In the King County Executive race, Girmay Zahilay‘s lead over Claudia Balducci has widened:

KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Girmay Zahilay – 202,623 – 51.73%
Claudia Balducci – 184,304 – 47.05%

In this race, 29 percent of King County ballots have been counted, with just under 45 percent received. … Next results report, Friday afternoon.

Andy November 6, 2025 (4:23 pm)

Saying the gap is narrowing is an incomplete assessment. When looking at the actual vote count, Harrell’s lead over Wilson jumped over a thousand votes from yesterday. In the the new votes that were just released, he received a new 29,177, and she received a new 27,588. The percentages moved mostly because the write-in count raised much less than either candidate’s share.

WSB November 6, 2025 (5:33 pm)

Not according to the official results sheets from King County – I just checked and she gained 18,655 today over Wednesday, while he gained 17,380 today over Wednesday. On Wednesday he was 11,000+ votes ahead; today he’s just under 10,000 votes ahead. (And if you want a second opinion, at least two newspaper journalists have tweeted that Wilson “won” the ballots added today:)
https://x.com/KromanDavid/status/1986586628807393591 (David Kroman, Seattle Times)
https://x.com/ByMikeBaker/status/1986582486412153074 (Mike Baker, New York Times)

Admiral2009 November 6, 2025 (6:01 pm)

For Katie to win she needs about 55% of the remaining votes, today count she received about 52%. Hopefully, we’ll have Mayor Harrell for a second term.

Taryn November 7, 2025 (6:36 am)

Hopefully not

Ben wahl November 6, 2025 (6:48 pm)

Not chiming in with an opinion on the race. But do want to give kudos for WSB having strong research and citing credible sources.It’s pretty impressive that a neighborhood blog has higher journalism practices than The Stranger.

WSB November 6, 2025 (7:14 pm)

Thanks for the kind words. (I’ve been in the news business for 40+ years – TV, radio, newspapers before WSB. But I will say that other commenter forced me to one more layer of number-crunching which I’ll just plan on from tomorrow through whenever this is settled …)
Beth Bakeman November 6, 2025 (9:44 pm)

100% agree! We are so lucky to have Tracy and the West Seattle Blog
Katie Wilson Supporter November 7, 2025 (9:05 am)

Ben, where did the Stranger report something wrong or have bad journalism practices? Or is it “I don’t like them”

Workdowntown November 6, 2025 (7:36 pm)

Tracy, you are amazing. I lived in WS for 60+ years, but still check in daily. You are the best. Thank you.

Rhonda November 6, 2025 (7:44 pm)

I prefer that pre-Harrell period after Murray fled the state where we had several Mayors over a period of months. Let’s go back to that until we get better candidates.

WSB November 6, 2025 (10:44 pm)

If you liked that time, you should be a Harrell fan. It wasn’t a pre-Harrell period. He was the first of two interim mayors; he served for a few days after Murray’s resignation and decided he didn’t want to keep the gig for the two months he could have (until the election won by Jenny Durkan), so Tim Burgess took over. Burgess’s current gig: One of Harrell’s four deputy mayors.
https://westseattleblog.com/2017/09/whos-the-next-mayor-tim-burgess-chosen-by-city-council-colleagues-to-serve-until-november-election-is-finalized/
- Rhonda November 7, 2025 (12:56 am)
  
  Nope, not a Harrell fan, just a one-term Mayor fan.

flimflam November 7, 2025 (8:12 am)

It feels like results take waaaaay too long – days after the election and still so many ballots to count? Maybe a week before a result?

Voter November 7, 2025 (9:56 am)

Each ballot needs to be verified.
N in Seattle November 7, 2025 (12:25 pm)

What’s your rush? My guess is that absolutely nothing in your daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly way of life is even slightly affected by the identity of the mayor.

As Voter says, each ballot needs to be verified. That’s a lengthy procedure, with numerous checks and double-checks along the way.

Sorry, comment time is over.