(The Center Square) – King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay has been elected as the next county executive after a close race with fellow Councilmember Claudia Balducci.
Friday’s updated election results show Zahilay’s lead growing to 53.3% of the vote compared to Balducci’s 45.5%. Balducci conceded Friday afternoon
“I want to congratulate my colleague, Executive-elect Zahilay, on the victory and thank him for a spirited contest of ideas about how to lead King County through these tumultuous times,” Balducci said in a statement. “He has my full support, and I look forward to continuing working with him going forward.“
Zahilay will replace Shannon Braddock as county lead, who was appointed to the position on April 1, following the resignation of Dow Constantine, who had held the seat for 15 years, to become CEO of Sound Transit. He is set to be the youngest King County executive at 38 years old. He will also be the first immigrant and refugee to hold the job.
The newly-elected executive left Sudan with his parents when he was only 3 years old. Zahilay grew up in south Seattle before earning degrees from Stanford University and UPenn Law. He said while growing up in Seattle public housing, he experienced homelessness.
Zahilay worked in corporate law and in the Barack Obama White House before serving on the King County Council for the last six years. He gained key endorsements including Gov. Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. Balducci’s endorsements included 19 King County mayors, The Seattle Times, and U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash.
“We will tackle our housing and homelessness crisis, strengthen public safety, expand behavioral health and addiction services, and invest in our transportation and infrastructure systems to build a county that works for everyone,” Zahilay said.
Over the coming days and weeks, Zahilay is set to announce plans for his administration’s transition.
