Seattle Voters to Decide Council Seat in Special Race
Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang face off for a council seat vacated by Cathy Moore.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Elections
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Seattle voters will cast ballots in a special election this November to fill a vacant City Council seat. Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang are the two finalists competing for the position.
Why it matters
The special election is necessary because former council member Cathy Moore resigned in 2025. The results will determine who represents North Seattle residents for the final year of the term before a 2027 re-election.
The winner will serve a one-year term to complete the seat vacancy, with plans to run for a full four-year term in 2027. Nilu Jenks, a director at FairVote Washington, leads the pair after receiving over 50% of the primary vote.
The players
Nilu Jenks
She is a candidate for the city council seat and serves as the political director for FairVote Washington.
Julie Kang
She is a candidate for the city council seat and works as a college instructor.
Cathy Moore
She is the former city council member who vacated the seat in 2025.
Debora Juarez
She served as the appointed replacement for the council seat after it became vacant.
The details
Candidates Jenks and Kang have focused their campaigns on local issues including affordability, public safety, transportation, and infrastructure. The seat has been occupied by appointed member Debora Juarez since the 2025 resignation of Cathy Moore.
Timeline
Cathy Moore resigned from the city council in 2025.
The Lake City grocery store closed in 2025.
The primary election occurred in August 2026.
The winner faces re-election in 2027.
Political Context
Opponents and local advocacy groups often challenge the process of appointing placeholders like Debora Juarez to vacant seats before a special election. This race highlights the tension between maintaining consistent governance and ensuring democratic mandates for all council members.
The new council member will immediately influence legislative decisions on local infrastructure and public safety, which directly affect daily commutes and neighborhood services. Residents in North Seattle and the Lake City area, which recently lost its only full-service grocery store, will see their concerns addressed by the successful candidate.
The takeaway
Voters should review the specific positions each candidate holds on local infrastructure and public safety before casting their ballots. This election will set the agenda for the remaining year of the term and establish momentum for the full-term race in 2027.
What happens next
The winner will face re-election in 2027, and both candidates have indicated plans to run for a full four-year term at that time.
Further reading
For more background on local voting trends and candidate platforms, visit the Seattle Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cascade PBS.
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