Seattle politics nerds explaining the next week of ballot counting

The general wisdom is that Wednesday is a continuation of election night and Thursday is when the lefty trend shows up. Nonetheless, this gives Harrell a bigger cushion heading into tomorrow and Friday.

Bruce Harrell leads Katie Wilson 53% to 46% in the first ballot count tonight. It's not unusual for the more progressive candidate to trail in the first drop and that gap will certainly narrow in later counts. Especially since so many people seem to have voted at the last second this election.

Crosscut is dead. Long live Crosscut. Today’s the official last day for me and my Cascade PBS newsroom colleagues. We did good work over the decades and it is supremely sad to see it shut down.

On Sept. 22, @cascadepbs.bsky.social announced it would eliminate its News and Investigations teams, laying off 9 @newsguild.org journalists. Here’s how you can help: www.gofundme.com/f/support-ca...

This is an unhealthy way to live

Really good reporting from @ashleyhiruko.bsky.social on shelter beds being paid for but left unfilled, seemingly in part over a deputy mayor's personal dislike of a prominent Seattle homelessness services provider.

I wrote a note along with my membership cancellation. We need real journalism and truth telling now more than ever!

We are deeply upset with Cascade PBS execs' decision to eliminate the news operation and lay everyone off. It's been wonderful to see the outpouring of support and anger folks have shown this week. If you want to share that anger with the bosses, we'd appreciate it. actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

It’s difficult to find the words to express how our unit is feeling right now, but we’ll take a stab at it: shocked, disappointed, angry, gutted. @cascadepbs.bsky.social’s choice to eliminate long-form written reporting is a massive loss for our community in a critical moment. tinyurl.com/LayoffFund

New investigation: Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

The last story I edited before Monday's news was @laureldemkovich.bsky.social's excellent examination of Bob Ferguson's first 8 months as governor, a tenure marked by low public approval, decisions baffling to Dems and Republicans, and reduced press availability. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

I'm touched by the little shout out in this piece. And am of course glad for the recognition it gives to my many wonderful colleagues who are also getting the axe. Thanks @ericacbarnett.bsky.social! publicola.com/2025/09/22/c...

It's been a bad day! For now I'll just say I can't think of a worse time to have fewer reporters and editors on the job and that I'm very glad to have a union on our side.

Signaling a continued shift in the Seattle mayor’s race, MLK Labor voted last night to dual endorse Katie Wilson and Bruce Harrell, a shift from their prior sole Harrell endorsement. www.cascadepbs.org/news/briefs/...

Lynnwood may become the latest Washington city to raise its minimum hourly wage above $20 — higher than almost anywhere in the nation. The city currently follows the state’s minimum, but advocates are gathering support for an initiative to raise wages to $20.24/hour & strengthen worker protections.

Little Saigon leaders held a press conference Tuesday to unveil ideas for addressing entrenched problems of drugs, crime, disorder and homelessness. The blocks around 12th and Jackson have been a hotspot for drug sales and fencing stolen goods, with the problem worsening amid the rise of fentanyl.

I talked with @poynterinstitute.bsky.social about how to get copies of government officials' ChatGPT histories. FOIA around and find out: www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...

We can’t produce fearless investigative journalism without job security and a fair contract. After almost two years of bargaining, we need your help. Show your support for @propublica.org workers by adding your name to our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

After two years of public process to discuss potential improvements to Lake Washington Boulevard, the city has tabled the second half of the safety measures it had planned to install on the street this year.

NEW: Seattle residents could see expanded use of artificial intelligence in permitting, customer service and more. On Thursday, Mayor Harrell announced a new 26-page AI plan that includes guidelines for training employees, evaluating tools and expanding the use of AI in city services.

Come for the chat with the anonymous artist behind @theseattlechannel.bsky.social puppet show on his motivations, goals, and process for the episodes. Stay for @photogenna.bsky.social's amazing behind-the-scenes photos. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

I’ve seen behind the curtain. Fun story out tomorrow.

It's an interesting debate. On one hand, it makes sense on its face to only distribute vouchers to D5 residents for their district special election. On the other, candidates will be able to collect donations from people citywide and beyond, so it does reduce the impact of the voucher program.

A Cascade PBS investigation found that Seattle City Light has paid out at least $5 million in settlements over the past several years, including millions to its own employees over alleged discrimination or misconduct.

Let's get clickbait out of local news. We are a group of Idaho and Washington journalists, and our publishing company, McClatchy, wants the ability to punish us for not meeting arbitrary story quotas. THREAD

DESC opened its new Downtown post-overdose recovery center yesterday and revamped behavioral health clinic. It is meant to provide a low-barrier space for overdose recovery, walk-in opioid treatment, counseling and connection to services and long-term care. www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/08...

A hilarious statement from King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer

GovGPT Part Two: As public officials experiment with generative AI, policies are still being written — sometimes with help from ChatGPT www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/08...

UFCW 3000 is holding a press conference at the Lake City Fred Meyer to protest the closure of the store and to announce its endorsement of Katie Wilson in the Seattle Mayor’s race

Such a smart idea and well executed story from Nate looking into how government officials and staffers are using AI in their work (or having it do their work for them).

Ahead of this weekend's Revive in 25 event in Gas Works Park, Dominick Bonny took a deep dive into Sean Feucht's background, ideology, and right wing political affiliations and the provocative Christian nationalist playbook he uses www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/08...

Retired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. Are elderly examiners fit for the job? One doctor billed @lniwa.bsky.social $690K in a single year. bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

According to an MLK Labor Council delegate, the motion to dual endorse in the Seattle mayors race didn't go to a vote at last night's meeting. It's still tabled and could get voted on at their Sept meeting. Good context from the Stranger last week:

Independent medical exams — one of the most controversial parts of WA’s workers’ comp system — often favor employers, workers say. They’re designed to give injured workers a second opinion, but also can pause treatment or wage-replacement payments. bit.ly/4mVbdQr @cascadepbs.bsky.social

Shanty boat Studs Terkel is the dream job I didn't know I wanted. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...

NEW: Gov. Ferguson said he remains committed to WA laws that bar local police from cooperating with immigration arrests despite threats from U.S. Attorney General Bondi. “Let me be very clear, Washington State will not be bullied or intimidated by threats and legally faceless accusations,” he said.

The former Downtown Bed Bath & Beyond has assumed its new form as Cannonball Arts through a partnership by New Rising Sun & Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Greg Lundgren, Rising Sun creative director, calls it “a bit of a Frankenstein space” — art gallery, amusement park, tourist attraction & nightclub.

From the inbox: Seattle and King County are moving ahead with plans to open the second regional Crisis Care Center in the old Polyclinic location on Broadway at the First Hill/Capitol Hill border.

Five years after its power lines started a devastating fire in Malden, Avista has settled lawsuits for $27M — but fallen behind on disaster prevention. Some families still live in RVs as communities try to rebuild. By @brandonblock.bsky.social: www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

It looks like Entente Law removed Teimouri from their staff listing.

NEW: An aide to former public lands commissioner Hilary Franz alleges Franz retaliated against her - freezing her out of meetings and travel - after she reported being abused by DNR's top lawyer. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

This was, without a doubt, a bad primary for Seattle's moderate incumbents. I wrote about the results and asked the top two in the Mayor, Council Position 9 and City Attorney races for their takes on the election as they transition into their November campaigns. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

Important and grim reporting from @investigatewest.bsky.social and the Mercer Island Reporter on Mercer Island School administrators covering up a teacher's misconduct for nearly a decade www.investigatewest.org/a-beloved-me...

Great reporting by @laureldemkovich.bsky.social and photos by @davidmryder.bsky.social on further effects of the state budget cuts.

Big day for new studies

After relatively little movement in yesterday's count, Wilson is now up by 8.5% and more than 15,000 votes in Seattle's mayoral primary. Lots of people thought it could be close between Harrell and Wilson in the primary. I haven't spoken to anyone who predicted that kind of margin in Wilson's favor.

Voluntarily drinking four shots of Malort is unhinged. Curiosity got the best of me one time in Chicago and the bartender said "usually we have to trick tourists into ordering this."

As expected, progressives extended their leads in the second round of ballot counts for Seattle city elections. Katie Wilson now has 48% to Mayor Bruce Harrell's 43.5%

Three Democratic incumbent state representatives were on top following the first round of results in the Aug. 5 primary election. But others in a few hotly contested state Senate races may have a tougher time November with early results showing their Republican opponents leading or trailing closely.