Election 2025 Day 3 Seattles later-voter break hits for Wilson as gap with Harrell narrows UPDATE

Katie Wilson has taken a lead in the Seattle mayoral election, reporting nearly 52% of the later-voter ballots counted thus far. This update from King County comes as the total ballots counted reaches about 35%, with a projected turnout between 45% and 50%. Wilson's optimism reflects a reversal from earlier counts that favored incumbent Bruce Harrell, whose campaign has urged supporters to ensure every vote is counted. Approximately 104,000 ballots remain uncounted, with Wilson needing around 56% of these to claim victory. Historical trends indicate that progressive candidates often gain ground as later ballots are counted, particularly from younger and lower-income voters.

In 2019, Kshama Sawant saw a similar turnaround, winning after trailing on Election Night. With about 69% of ballots cast via drop boxes, King County is managing an unprecedented influx of drop-box votes, surpassing previous election levels. This election marks a critical moment, as the last incumbent reelection in Seattle occurred in 2005.