Mayor Murray: Everyone Else Said No. Seattle Said Yes
Sole Repair, a cozy venue on Capitol Hill, erupted in cheers on Tuesday night when the child care results came in – a whopping 67 percent supporting the initiative to expand child care subsidies in the city.
The transportation initiative to expand King County bus service in Seattle was also ahead, as was state Initiative 594, the initiative to expand gun background checks to private sellers and gun shows.
Mayor Ed Murray entered the venue, which had grown hot as people crowded in.
“I want to talk about how progressives get things done,” he started. "The rest of the country said no. Seattle said yes.”
Seattle was an outlier on Tuesday – even within Washington state.
Washington Democrats appear to have failed in their bid to retake control of the state Senate. Republicans were also poised to pick up seats in the Democratically-controlled Washington House.
Early election returns Tuesday night showed Republicans holding onto their majority in the state Senate by holding the line against Democratic challenges in half a dozen key races.
Most notably in the 45th District on Seattle’s Eastside where Republican Andy Hill was ahead of his Democratic challenger Matt Isenhower with 53 percent of the vote.
In other key races, Republican incumbents were leading by even more. This despite a $1 million effort by California billionaire and climate activist Tom Steyer to try to help Democrats win back the Senate.
In the Washington House, several Democratic incumbents were tied with or trailing their Republican challengers. If that trend holds, Democrats could find their majority shaved to just a seat or two.
In KUOW’s studios on Wednesday morning, Chris Vance, former chair of the state Republican party, said that the narrative has changed. Democrats aren’t necessarily experiencing the resurgence predicted in 2012.
Looking at voter demographics, Vance inferred that Republicans did well because younger, non-white voters didn't turn out in large numbers.
He noted that white voters made up 70 percent of the electorate, trending more Republican. Even white women trended GOP – 56 percent voted Republican.
Former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who was also in the studio, explained why our small corner is “weird,” as Vance said.
“We are blessed in Seattle,” Nickels said. “Voters are willing to tax themselves for things they believe in." His advice for current and future Seattle leadership? Don't take that for granted.
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