The 2013 Seattle mayoral election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the mayor of Seattle. Incumbent Mayor Michael McGinn ran for election to a second term in office.
Municipal elections in Washington are officially non-partisan. A non-partisan primary was held on August 6, 2013. The top two finishers, State Senator Ed Murray, who received 30% of the vote, and incumbent Mayor McGinn, who received 29% of the vote, advanced to the November general election.
Murray won the general election with 52%.
Primary election
Candidates
On the ballot Joey Gray, information-systems consultant and trainer Bruce Harrell, City Councilman (Democratic Party) Kate Martin, former Greenwood Community Council President Mary Martin, activist (Socialist Workers Party) Michael McGinn, incumbent Mayor (Democratic Party) Doug McQuaid, attorney Ed Murray, State Senator (Democratic Party) Charlie Staadecker, real estate broker Peter Steinbrueck, lobbyist and former City Councilman (Democratic Party)
Withdrew Tim Burgess, City Councilman (Democratic Party) David Ishii, "character"
Declined Sally J. Clark, City Council President (Democratic Party) Maud Daudon, President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Ron Sims, former Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former King County Executive (Democratic Party)
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimBurgess JoeyGray BruceHarrell DavidIshii KateMartin MaryMartin MichaelMcGinn DougMcQuaid EdMurray RonSims CharlieStaadecker PeterSteinbrueck UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA July 15–18, 2013 501 ± 4.5% — 1% 11% — 1% 2% 21% 1% 22% — 3% 14% 25%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 17–19, 2013 552 ± 4.3% — — 12% — 4% 3% 22% — 15% — 4% 17% 23%SurveyUSASurveyUSA March 4–7, 2013 647 ± 3.9% 10% — 5% 0% 3% — 15% — 9% 15% 1% 7% 34% 11% — 6% 0% 4% — 19% — 8% — 1% 10% 38%
Debates and Forums +2013 Seattle mayoral debates and candidate forumsDateHostModerator Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan NonpartisanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited WithdrawnJoey GrayBruce HarrellKate MartinMary MartinMichael McGinnDoug McQuaidEd MurrayCharlie StaadeckerPeter Steinbrueck1April 29, 2013South Seattle Community CollegeC.R. Douglas2May 2, 2013Hamilton Middle SchoolUnknown3June 19, 2013Young Voters LeagueWyking Garrett4July 1, 2013Seattle Neighborhood GreenwaysTom Fucoloro Deb Salls5July 16, 2013CityClub of SeattleJoni Balter6July 17, 2013KCTS 9 Downtown District Council of SeattleEnrique Cerna Joni Balter Several candidates at the May 2 forum attacked McGinn on different issues, including Murray and Harrell. Murray attempted to paint McGinn as a divisive figure who wasn't able to get things done, while Harrell argued that McGinn's accomplishments were due to the work of the Seattle City Council.
At the July 16 debate, candidate Kate Martin was escorted from the stage after arriving, as she had not been invited. Other candidates and members of the audience indicated support for Martin, which resulted in CityClub executive director Diane Douglas discussing the organization's policy for selecting candidates to invite to debates.
The debate on July 17 included questions on transportation, police department accountability, and marijuana. Marijuana was legalized in Washington the year prior through Washington Initiative 502, but the Washington State Liquor Control Board was still in the process of creating regulations for the industry.
Results
General election
Candidates Michael McGinn, incumbent Mayor Ed Murray, State Senator
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MichaelMcGinn EdMurray UndecidedStrategies 360Strategies 360 October 14–16, 2013 400 ± 4.9% 34% 51% 15%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 2013 557 ± 4.2% 32% 52% 15%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 4–6, 2013 570 ± ? 28% 52% 20%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 14–15, 2013 503 ± 4.5% 30% 52% 18%
Debates and Forums +2013 Seattle mayoral debate and candidate forumsDateHostModeratorNonpartisanNonpartisanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited WithdrawnMichael McGinnEd Murray1September 17, 2013Senior Center of West SeattleLucy Gaskill-Gaddis2September 26, 2013Seattle Park's FoundationC.R. Douglas3October 16, 2013Immigrants, Refugees and Communities of Color United for ProgressUnknown At the September 26 forum, McGinn outlined a proposal that would institute a tax of $.01 per ounce of soda. A similar tax had been instituted by the state legislature but was repealed in 2010 with the passage of Washington Measure 1107. McGinn and Murray clashed over a scandal in which Michael King, the executive director of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, was charged with embezzling $330,000 in campaign contributions. McGinn used the incident to attack Murray, who was a co-chair of the committee, while Murray apologized and sought to focus on issues rather than the scandal. McGinn had previously stated that he was not responsible for overseeing King's work, and that he and the other co-chairs of the committee turned the issue over to the authorities when they became aware of what was happening.
Results In preliminary returns, Murray won 56 percent of votes. Although this amount was greater than the McGinn campaign could make up as voting continued McGinn declined to concede, saying his supporters wanted an additional day of counting.
On November 7 McGinn conceded to Murray and offered his congratulations.
References