ELECTION 2023: Official final local results

Three weeks after voting ended on Election Day, King County has certified the final results. Here’s how the three key incumbentless local races ended up:

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 (46% turnout)
Rob Saka – 18,382 – 54.15%
Maren Costa – 15,431 – 45.46%

KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8 (41% turnout)
Teresa Mosqueda – 33,921 – 55.01%
Sofia Aragon – 27,553 – 44.68%

SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6 (45% turnout)
Gina Topp – 173,596 – 88.58%
Maryanne Wood – 21,796 – 11.12%

(Here’s the full countywide results report for all races and measures.) Generally the newly elected leaders won’t take office until the start of the year. For example, City Council spokesperson Joseph Peha tells us their public ceremonies will be either January 2 or 9, but they will take the oath of office in late December in low-key private ceremonies as the result of a city rule requiring that “to create overlap in case of an emergency like an earthquake, etc., (so) there can be continuity of government.”

Rhonda November 28, 2023 (4:55 pm)

Thrilled about Saka’s victory and our shiny, new City Council. Finally, the REAL change we need.

K November 28, 2023 (5:31 pm)

You said that about Harrell too, but crime is higher now than it was when he took office. SPD staffing isn’t any different. Unless that’s the change you were going for?
- Seattlite November 28, 2023 (7:54 pm)
  
  K — 100% agree with your comment.
  - Rara November 28, 2023 (11:17 pm)
    
    Seattlite, me too. We’ve been victimized twice in a week. 3 times in three weeks. I’ve had more cops at my house currently than have had in 22 years of being in West Seattle. This is BS.
Derek November 28, 2023 (10:54 pm)

These closet republicans will just make everything way way worse
- wscommuter November 29, 2023 (8:21 am)
  
  It is always amusing when the far left fringe brands anyone who isn’t a fellow zealot as a “closet Republican”. Identical to the MAGA morons who label moderate Republicans as “RINO’s”. The ironic beauty of being an extremist disconnected from reality.
  - CAM November 29, 2023 (5:05 pm)
    
    You know how you prove you are the more calm and rational person in the conversation? Name calling. Everyone else are zealots and morons but you are the person everyone should trust and listen to for sage wisdom.
    - wscommuter November 30, 2023 (11:06 am)
      
      No; not everyone is an fringe zealot; mercifully, they are a small minority and effectively impotent. It’s unfortunate you don’t seem to understand that nuance. It’s the silly people who throw these labels around for those who don’t adhere to their ill-informed extremes. The parallels between the far left and far right is pretty compelling. And so yes, I’m quite comfortable with my choice of words. By all means, focus on word choice over substance, if you wish.
  - Scarlett November 30, 2023 (8:42 am)
    
    Well, if you look at the policies they advocate for most so-called moderate RINO’s are exactly that, including Nikki Haley, tool of the military industrial complex.

K November 28, 2023 (5:29 pm)

Enjoy your RVs, District 1! You get what you vote for!

CarDriver November 28, 2023 (6:40 pm)

K. We DID get who we voted for. If you, or anyone else have issues with that your ire should be directed at the 54% of voters who didn’t bother to vote. Note to those who didn’t vote: you’ve lost ALL rights to complain about who did or didn’t get elected.
- Seattlite November 28, 2023 (7:53 pm)
  
  Voters have a right to not vote if they feel that a candidate does not meet their expectations as someone who would work for and represent ALL citizens/voters. Unfortunately, there are many candidates that say the same ol same ol words to get the votes and then renege on their so-called promises. After years and years of words, there are a plethora of unsolved problems in this city that seem to never move beyond the point of talk. Is it better to vote for someone unworthy of a position or withhold a vote for peace of mind. If your percentage of 54% of voters not voting is accurate, that in itself speaks volumes for the quality of candidates.
  - Eric1 November 28, 2023 (8:38 pm)
    
    Seattlite. Poor candidates are not an excuse to not register your vote. You can always write people in. I often write “None of the above”. Pointless? Yes. But I do cast my ballot. Do you think I am going to enjoy the 2024 presidential ballot? The cryptcreeper vs the orange menace? Both candidates are negative in their likeability yet the two parties keep putting up the lowest quality candidates possible. I will not fall for their attempts to discourage voting. I may leave it blank but I will turn in a ballot. Heck, I might write in James Earl Carter.
    - Seattlite November 29, 2023 (8:00 am)
      
      Eric1…Thank you for proving my point: “None of the above” is not a vote per se but another way to express your disappointment in the candidates. I turn in a ballot as long as their are propositions that I can vote for or against.
- KM November 28, 2023 (8:28 pm)
  
  People are more than welcome to complain, not voting doesn’t cost them any rights. That’s just a silly statement.

CR November 28, 2023 (5:38 pm)

The spotlight is now on Bruce Harrell. With the council stacked with his supporters, he’s got nobody to blame if he can’t produce results.

Mike November 28, 2023 (7:40 pm)

King County’s loss is our gain!

12th green guy November 28, 2023 (9:18 pm)

Actually, if you don’t vote you have every right to complain. If you didn’t vote you had nothing to do with electing Selfish incompetent people who screwed things up.The people who voted have no right to complain. They voted these people into office.

Anne November 29, 2023 (6:51 am)

Ha! Keep telling yourself that!-if it makes you feel better. At least those that vote are trying to change things-trying to participate & have a say-trying to hold politicians accountable. If you don’t vote-you aren’t even trying to change things -what a waste .
- Seattlite November 29, 2023 (12:48 pm)
  
  Anne…Please let us all know when “things” have changed in Seattle where crime is getting worse, streets are unsafe, and with an ongoing police officer shortage. By the way, I did vote in the primaries for one candidate who spoke common sense…he did not make the two finalists for District 1 city council. The two finalists did not come anywhere near as being reliable, accountable workers for ALL of WS’s citizens.
Seattlite November 29, 2023 (12:49 pm)

RIGHT ON!