5 new Seattle City Council members and 1 to go. Let the wrangling begin

Seattle has another opening on the City Council.

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda called it quits this week, leaving her seat empty two years ahead of schedule. The move comes after Mosqueda won a seat on the King County Council last November.

Now, the battle to fill her seat — at-large position 8 — begins.

The Council will first appoint a temporary replacement later this month, after taking public input. Then, voters will get their say in a special election this November alongside races for governor, state attorney general and president. There will also be an August primary.

Timeline to fill vacancy on Seattle City Council

No candidates have publicly announced they're running, though more than a handful of people are said to be considering it.

For qualified candidates, there will be limited public financing in the race through Seattle’s “Democracy Voucher” program, according to Wayne Barnett, the head of Seattle Ethics and Elections.

But this year Barnett said each resident will get just two $25 vouchers in the mail, as opposed to the usual four, which can be donated to one or more candidates.

Seattle City Council as of Jan. 4, 2024

Update notice, 3 p.m. on Thursday, 1/4/2024: A City Council spokesperson initially told KUOW there wouldn't be a primary election to fill the council's eighth seat. However, KUOW later confirmed there will be a primary. This story has been updated to reflect that new information.