The 2026 King County Council election will be held on November 3, 2026.
Background In 2022, an amendment to the county charter was passed that shifted King County elections from odd-numbered year elections to even-numbered years. As a result, the 2025 election was the last election to be held on an odd-numbered year, with 2026 being the first of the even-numbered year elections.
District 2 District 2 represents Bryn Mawr-Skyway, northern Tukwila and eastern Seattle, including the Capitol Hill, Central District, Eastlake, Laurelhurst, Rainier Valley and University District neighborhoods.
Council member Girmay Zahilay resigned in 2025 after taking office as King County Executive. Zahilay nominated three potential candidates for the King County Council to appoint. All three were Black women, ensuring the appointee would be the first Black woman to serve on the King County Council. Additionally, the appointment of a woman made the King County Council majority female for the first time in its history.
The King County Council selected Rhonda Lewis. All three nominees, including Lewis, pledged to not run in the 2026 election.
Candidates
Declared
Toshiko Hasegawa, Port of Seattle commissioner for position 4 (2022–present) Rebecca Saldaña, state senator from the 37th legislative district (2016–present)
Filed paperwork
Miriam Mboya
Declined
Nimco Bulale, senior program officer at the Seattle Foundation and interim nominee Cherryl Jackson-Williams, engagement coordinator for the Renton School District and interim nominee Rhonda Lewis, incumbent council member
Endorsements
District 4 District 4 represents northwestern Seattle, including the Ballard, Belltown, Broadview, Fremont, Green Lake, Interbay and Queen Anne neighborhoods.
Incumbent council member Jorge Barón is seeking reelection.
Candidates
Declared Jorge Barón, incumbent council member (2024–present)
Endorsements
District 6 District 6 represents northern Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, Mercer Island and southwestern Redmond.
Incumbent council member Claudia Balducci is seeking reelection.
Candidates
Declared Claudia Balducci, incumbent council member (2016–present)
Endorsements
District 8 District 8 represents Burien, Tukwila, Vashon and southwestern Seattle, including the Alki, Delridge, Fauntleroy, Georgetown and West Seattle neighborhoods.
Incumbent council member Teresa Mosqueda is seeking reelection.
Candidates
Declared Teresa Mosqueda, incumbent council member (2024–present)
Endorsements
Notes
References