Elections Committee
The Urbanist was founded in 2014 to examine and influence urban policies. We believe cities provide unique opportunities for addressing many of the most challenging social, environmental, and economic problems. We serve as a resource for promoting urbanism, increasing political participation, and improving the places we live. The Elections Committee consists of community volunteers and staff members of The Urbanist and is a standing body representing the political values of our organization.
As of 8pm this evening, the early returns for the 2021 August Primary have been posted. Counting will continue over the coming weeks, usually with daily counts being released after 4pm. The Urbanist Elections Committee made endorsements in several city and county races last month, but three of our preferred...
Ryan Calkins is running for his second term on the Port of Seattle Commission. He won his Position 1 seat in 2017, earning The Urbanist's endorsement in that election. Calkins works as a consultant and coach at Ventures, a charitable organization that helps low-income start and grow their businesses...
Stephanie Bowman is seeking a third term on the Seattle Port Commission. Bowman is executive director of Washington ABC, a nonprofit focused on asset building through investments in education, homeownership, savings, and small business development. Before joining the Seattle Port Commission, she worked at the Port of Tacoma in Federal...
Hamdi Mohamed is running for the Seattle Port Commission Position 3 against incumbent Stephanie Bowman. Mohamed served as Deputy District Director for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal before taking a position as a policy advisor to the King County Office of Equity and Social Justice. Her website notes some results she's...
Peter Steinbrueck is seeking his second term on the Seattle Port Commission Position 4. Steinbrueck was a Seattle City Council member from 1997 to 2007. An architect by training, he founded a consulting firm in 2008 and has worked on some high-profile appeals of housing projects. Steinbrueck's father Victor...
Toshiko Grace Hasegawa is running for Seattle Port Commission Position 4 against incumbent Peter Steinbrueck. Governor Jay Inslee appointed Hasegawa as Executive Director of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, in 2018. "Part of that work has involved coordinating with our Port on contract opportunities for women and...
Dave Upthegrove is running for a third term representing the 5th District in the King County Council. Before his County Council career, Upthegrove served in the Washington State House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. He was a co-sponsor of recent legislation to expand tenant rights and require just...
Shukri Olow is running for King County Council District 5 against longtime incumbent Dave Upthegrove. She is a community organizer and doctoral scholar. "As an immigrant, refugee, and product of the Kent public housing system, Dr. Olow has seen and lived the challenges that so many members of our...