Initiative 122, a campaign finance reform initiative that would set contribution limits in Seattle and also create a voucher system for public campaign financing, appeared to be leading easily in early returns Tuesday night.
More than 100 people celebrated the early returns at an Honest Elections event at Grim’s, with Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata and State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw (D-Seattle) in attendance.
“We may not be able to change Citizens United, but we’re doing everything we can by passing our own citizen initiatives to limit big money and give ordinary voters a stronger voice in government,” said Honest Elections in a statement.
Incumbent Seattle councilmembers Kshama Sawant (District 3) and Bruce Harrell (District 2) appeared to be leading in the races to keep their council seats in Seattle’s first district elections.
“If you’re excited by tonight, our fight is by no means over,” Sawant told jubilant supporters at Melrose Market Studios, saying that supporters still had to fight against corporate politicians.
Sawant: "Socialist politics are here to stay & will be a growing force in Seattle, nationally & internationally." pic.twitter.com/akOOmJvoKw
— Seattle Globalist (@SeaGlobalist) November 4, 2015
As the first batch of results came in, District 3 candidate Pamela Banks’ supporters at Tougo Coffee let out a sigh, but she continued with reassuring words: “It’s early.”
A big sigh at @PeopleforPamela as early returns come in. "It ain't over!" #SeaElex pic.twitter.com/9r26GeuL6i
— Seattle Globalist (@SeaGlobalist) November 4, 2015
In District 2, Tammy Morales, who trailed Bruce Harrell by about 900 votes in early returns, said at her election night party in Columbia City’s Royal Room that while she’d prefer if the numbers were a little closer, Morales still hopes to pull ahead as progressive voters tend to turn ballots in later.
Here is the summary of early results from the Nov. 3 general election:
District 1
| Lisa Herbold | 5,290 votes | 46.48 percent |
| Shannon Braddock | 6,023 votes | 52.92 percent |
District 2
| Bruce Harrell | 4,909 votes | 54.87 percent |
| Tammy Morales | 4,020 votes | 44.93 percent |
District 3
| Kshama Sawant | 8,197 votes | 52.56 percent |
| Pamela Banks | 7,349 votes | 47.12 percent |
Supporters in both campaigns were positive before results were released.
"The CD needs something like this" – Brian of @TougoCoffee says about @PeopleforPamela #seaelex
— Seattle Globalist (@SeaGlobalist) November 4, 2015
"It makes me angry that my patients have to decide between diabetes meds and rent," says speaker at Sawant party. pic.twitter.com/uTRziLQPBs
— Seattle Globalist (@SeaGlobalist) November 4, 2015
.@PeopleforPamela greets her supporters in D3 #seaelex pic.twitter.com/U70xNyuW90
— Seattle Globalist (@SeaGlobalist) November 4, 2015
"Kshama is the #1 reason I engaged with local politics," says @BrettHamil. @seaelex pic.twitter.com/xaJmHVCCl5
— Seattle Globalist (@SeaGlobalist) November 4, 2015
District 4
| Rob Johnson | 5,886 votes | 54.8 percent |
| Michael Maddux | 4,801 votes | 44.7 percent |
District 5
| Debora Juarez | 7,051 votes | 63.08 percent |
| Sandy Brown | 4,072 votes | 36.43 percent |
District 6
| Mike O’Brien | 8,217 votes | 58.8 percent |
| Catherine Weatbrook | 5,719 votes | 40.93 percent |
District 7
| Sally Bagshaw | 9,537 votes | 79.85 percent |
| Deborah Zech Artis | 2,315 votes | 19.38 percent |
Position 8
| Tim Burgess | 46,977 votes | 57.88 percent |
| Jon Grant | 33,735 votes | 41.57 percent |
Position 9
| Lorena González | 60,280 votes | 75.97 percent |
| Bill Bradburd | 18,674 votes | 23.54 percent |
Ballot Measures
Initiative-122 – Campaign Finance Reform
| Yes | 53,157 votes | 60.33 percent |
| No | 34,956 votes | 39.67 percent |
Move Seattle Levy
| Yes | 50,541 votes | 56.53 percent |
| No | 38,868 votes | 43.47 percent |
