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Shannon Braddock
American politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Shannon Braddock (born 1969 or 1970)[1] is an American politician who was appointed King County Executive on April 1, 2025, after Dow Constantine resigned.[1] A Democrat, she is the first female King County executive.[1][2]
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Biography
Braddock was raised in Bellingham, Washington, where her father was a City Council member and state legislator before serving as secretary of the state Department of Social and Health Services.[1] She graduated from City Council, and later the University of Washington where she earned her Master of Public Policy.[1]
Prior to working in the King County government, Braddock worked as a congressional aide, an aide to the Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, and a legislative representative for Lafayette PTA.[1][3] In 2010, she was hired as chief of staff to then-County Councilmember Joe McDermott after she volunteered for his campaign.[1][3][4] In 2017, Braddock began working in the County Executive office under Constantine, moving up to Deputy Executive in 2023.[2]
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Political career
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2015 Seattle City Council election
Braddock ran for the Seattle City Council in 2015 in the open District 1 seat, which encompasses West Seattle and South Park.[5] She faced eight other challengers, which included Lisa Herbold, an aide to councilmember Nick Licata, Phil Tavel, a pro-tempe judge and public defender, and Brianna Thomas, a non-profit organizer.[5] In the August primary, Herbold came in first, with 30.15% of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Braddock, who earned 27.78%.[6][7]
Both Braddock and Herbold ran as progressives, but Braddock received $200,000 in outside spending, primarily from the Metropolitan Seattle Chamber of Commerce.[1][8] In the November general election, Herbold narrowly defeated Braddock, 49.57% to 49.59%, a margin of 39 votes.[8][9]
2018 34th Legislative District Senate election
In 2018, Braddock ran for the open 34th district Senate seat after incumbent Sharon Nelson decided to retire at the end of her term.[10][11] The 34th district includes White Center, West Seattle, Vashon Island, and part of Burien.[10] She faced 10 other challengers, which included Joe Nguyen, a senior manager at Microsoft, and Sofia Aragon, a governmental-affairs adviser for the Washington State Nurses Association.[11] In the August primary, Nguyen came in first, with 31% of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Braddock, who earned 24%.[12][13]
Braddock focused her campaign on gun safety, early education, and tax reform, specifically creating a capital gains tax and lowering property taxes for low and middle-income individuals.[11] Nguyen campaigned on increasing teacher pay, making health care and housing affordable, strengthening public transit, and protecting the environment without placing an undue tax burden on low-income households.[11] Braddock was endorsed by The Seattle Times, Constantine, McDermott, 34th District Democrats, and the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.[11][14] Mguyen was endorsed by U.S. representative Pramila Jayapal, The Stranger, 34th District Democrats, King County Democrats, and state senators. Maralyn Chase and Bob Hasegawa.[11][14] Braddock outraised Nguyen, who refused corporate PAC money.[3][14]
In the November general election, Nguyen defeated Braddock, 58.29% to 41.71%.[1][15]
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King County Executive
On April 1, 2025, Braddock was appointed King County Executive after Constantine resigned to become CEO of Sound Transit.[2] She initially served on an acting basis until the King County Council voted unanimously to fill the position on an interim bases until the November general election.[16] Braddock announced a "200 day plan" for her abbreviated term, which focued on passing a responsible budget and preparing the county for possible funding cuts from a hostile federal government.[16]
Personal life
References
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