(The Center Square) – Self-described Democratic socialist Katie Wilson was sworn in as Seattle’s new mayor during a ceremony at city hall on Friday morning, marking the start of an administration expected to pursue a more progressive policy agenda.
City employees, elected officials, reporters, and residents turned out to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Wilson, who has garnered significant national attention following her upset victory in the November election over then-incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell.
In her first speech as mayor, Wilson emphasized that Seattle belongs to all of its residents, pledging to uphold that principle every day during her administration.
“You belong here, you have a right to be here and to live a dignified life, whatever your background and whatever your income,” Wilson said. “But it also means that all of us have a shared responsibility for this place and for each other, because Seattle is what we make of it together.”
Wilson, 43, co-founded and acted as executive director of the Transit Riders Union, an advocacy organization focused on expanding and improving public transit in Seattle and King County.
She moved to Seattle in 2004 after studying physics and philosophy at Oxford University and was raised in New York state.
Her mayoral campaign focused on affordability, homelessness, and higher taxes on wealthy residents – a campaign that ultimately led to her electoral victory in November, despite her having never held elected office before.
At the ceremony, The Center Square spoke with an attendee who identified herself as Rae. She said she has been a member of the Transit Riders Union since its founding and was moved by Wilson’s inaugural remarks.
“[Wilson] knows how to learn from experience, she knows how to reflect, and she doesn’t have a big ego,” Rae said.
Wilson announced her mayoral run in March, after observing recent voting trends that indicated Seattle residents were concerned about a lack of progress on their top concerns over the last four years, including crime and housing.
Wilson has not shied away from comparisons to new New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a fellow Democratic socialist, who was sworn in on Thursday.
He campaigned on proposals including more affordable transit for riders, supplemented by taxpayer dollars; more progressive taxes; stronger protections for renters; and universal childcare.
After Wilson’s narrow victory over Harrell, President Donald Trump labeled her a “very liberal slash communist mayor,” before saying he might push for FIFA World Cup matches scheduled to be played in Seattle later this year to be moved elsewhere over concerns about crime.
Wilson mentioned Trump’s comments, which were greeted with laughs and cheers from the public.
“Nice to feel seen,” the new mayor said.
FIFA World Cup qualifying matches are expected to bring 400,000 to 750,000 visitors to the Emerald City this summer.
During her speech, Wilson said she is experiencing a “crisis of conscience” in becoming the mayor, having spent years advocating for progressive initiatives during her tenure at the Transit Riders Union. She explained that she’s trying not to get overwhelmed by future city projects and plans to exercise sound judgment regarding these projects.
