Republican Ann Davison was elected to become the next city attorney for Seattle, winning 58 percent of the votes, King 5 News reported.
Challenger and police abolitionist Nicole Thomas-Kennedy trailed with 41 percent of votes.
Davison ran her campaign on the belief that the city attorney’s office is not for setting policy or a “place for radical agenda.” Davison, who was elected to a four-year term, said she plans use the office as a place to provide impartial advice to elected officials who create policy and maintain public safety.
On the other side of the race was Thomas-Kennedy, who wanted to eliminate misdemeanors, claiming they are “wasteful and criminalize poverty.”
Thomas-Kennedy was also a supporter of the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020, tweeting about her “rabid hatred of police” and her belief that property destruction during protests was a “moral imperative.”
Her abolitionist platform drew criticism from former Seattle police chiefs who believed her appointment would lead to the emptying of an already short-staffed police department.
Davison promised to prosecute repeat offenders more aggressively. She also pledged to help take care of growing homeless encampments by moving the homeless into shelters set up in warehouses.
According to the Seattle Times, “Davison won the support of two former governors, both Democrats—Christine Gregoire and Gary Locke—as well as big business and technology leaders who want downtown cleaned up.”
This is not the first time Davison has run for office. She previously ran as a Democrat for a seat on the Seattle city council in 2019, and again as a Republican for lieutenant governor in 2020.
This victory has been met with hope, particularly by Seattle residents:
Seattle is tired of the lawlessness. Now the city council must be overturned to restore the cities depleted police force.
— Gregory (@Gregory0004) November 4, 2021
Great move for Seattle , as someone currently in Seattle
— Chris Lee (@chriskelvinlee) November 3, 2021
Maybe she’ll prosecute those who keep spraying graffiti on our business. One can hope.
— Bobby Read (@BobbyRead) November 3, 2021
