SEATTLE — In the latest drop for returns, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci has conceded the race for County Executive to opponent Girmay Zahilay.
In a statement, Balducci said:
“I want to congratulate my colleague, Executive-Elect Zahilay, on the victory and thank him for a spirited contest of ideas about how to lead King County through these tumultuous times. He has my full support, and I look forward to continuing working with him going forward. Throughout this campaign, we heard frequently that voters thought highly of both candidates. This puts us in a rare position in politics today to end an election campaign unified rather than divided and well-aligned to work in tandem for the best interest for all of King County going forward.”
“I’m grateful and humbled that so many voters placed their trust in me in these tumultuous times. Our message was simple: government has to work! That means delivering on affordable housing, high quality public transit, and public safety. This message resonated throughout all corners of the county, and it is what I plan to continue working for on the council. I know Executive-Elect Zahilay will too in his administration.”
In a statement on his win, Zahilay said:
“I am deeply grateful to have been chosen by the people of King County to serve as the next King County Executive. This is the place that raised me, supported my family, and made my story possible. To now lead this region and help shape the community that gave me everything is the honor of my lifetime.
We launched this campaign nearly a year ago, and during that time I have traveled to every corner of King County, listening to people’s hopes, frustrations, and ideas. From the cost of living to homelessness, from transportation to public safety, these conversations became the foundation of one of the broadest and most diverse coalitions in the history of our county.
The needs of King County are urgent, from Shoreline to Federal Way, from Vashon Island to Enumclaw, from SeaTac to Carnation, and throughout the unincorporated areas that make up one tenth of our population. These challenges demand immediate action, and my team and I will begin that work right away, collaborating with every part of our region to deliver results.
It is not lost on me that when I take office on November 25, I will be the first newly elected Executive in 16 years and only the seventh person ever elected to this office. I will also be the first immigrant and the first refugee to hold the job. My story is only possible because of the opportunities that King County provided. We live in a truly special place, and I am determined to serve it with gratitude, urgency, and accountability.
For the first and only time, the King County Executive will serve a shortened three-year term as county offices move to even-year elections. Over these three years, we will focus on our most pressing challenges: expanding affordable housing and reducing homelessness, improving public and community safety, strengthening our mental health and addiction recovery systems, and ensuring that our transportation and infrastructure investments keep our region moving. At the same time, we will stand firm against federal policies and funding cuts that harm our communities and undermine local progress.
This victory belongs to thousands of people who have given their time, energy, and support, throughout this campaign and over the six years since I first ran for office. I am deeply grateful to my campaign team, our donors, endorsers, volunteers, and everyone who believed in what we were building. This was a people-powered campaign, and your faith made this possible.
I want to thank my colleague Claudia Balducci for her ongoing leadership and contributions to this region. I pledge to listen to all viewpoints and to serve every person in this county with fairness and respect, whether or not they voted for me.
Most of all, I want to thank my wife Joyce, our daughter Jazzy, and our second daughter who is due in December. Your love and strength have been my foundation.
In the coming days and weeks, I will share more about our transition and the early priorities of our administration. Tonight, I am filled with gratitude. Tomorrow, the work begins.”
On Nov. 5, the second ballot drop showed Zahilay leading Balducci 50.56% to 48.17%.
On Nov. 7, with the latest ballot drops, Balducci announced her concession.
The King County Executive is one of the highest-ranking elected offices in the county, guiding policy and budget, and it hasn’t been on the ballot since 2009.
Current CEO of Sound Transit, Dow Constantine, held the King County Executive seat for fifteen years before stepping down on March 27 to become the public transit company’s chief executive.
During the primary, seven candidates were vying for a chance at the chair. That race has been narrowed to two candidates: Balducci and Zahilay.
Both candidates currently serve on the King County Council. Zahilay worked in corporate law and at the Obama White House before serving on the council— something he’s been doing for six years now.
Balducci has worked as a lawyer for the Northwest Women’s Law Center, was the director of King County’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, served on the Bellevue City Council and the King County Council for more than a decade each, and was even the mayor of Bellevue for two years.
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