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Katherine Barrett Wilson (born July 12, 1982) is an American politician and activist who is the 58th mayor of Seattle since taking office in 2026. Wilson is the co-founder and executive director of the Transit Riders Union, a group that focuses on improving public transportation and Labor rights. In August 2025, Wilson placed first in the primary for the 2025 Seattle mayoral election and advanced to the general election against incumbent mayor Bruce Harrell, whom she ultimately defeated.
In fall 2011, Wilson co-founded the Seattle Transit Riders Union (TRU), a nonprofit 501(c)(4) focused on improving public transportation in Seattle and King County, where she has been a paid, full-time employee since 2019. Tax records show she earned almost $73,000 from the nonprofit in 2022. She also served as Executive Director and the group’s board president, an unpaid position. The TRU is an organization that campaigns and lobbies for progressive causes.
The organization was formed after a proposed 17% cut to King County Metro and an elimination of the fare-free zone in downtown. In 2014, Wilson and the TRU successfully lobbied King County for the creation of the ORCA Lift program, which provided reduced fares for low-income individuals. The TRU previously campaigned for increases to the minimum wage in Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila, as well as greater renters' rights, and better public transport.
In 2020, Wilson played a role in the creation of Seattle's JumpStart tax, a payroll tax on private employers to fund affordable housing. She was critical of Mayor Bruce Harrell for proposing redirecting JumpStart funds to balance the city budget instead of affordable housing projects. Wilson was also a member of Harrell's Seattle Revenue Stabilization Workgroup, which explored and recommended additional progressive revenue to address the city's budget deficit. For several years, Wilson was also a member of the board of the Economic Opportunity Institute.
Wilson has written policy columns for KCTS-TV and The Stranger.
In the weeks leading to the primary, polls indicated a close race between Wilson and Harrell, with both raising nearly $500,000. In the August nonpartisan primary, Wilson placed first among a field of eight candidates, with 50.9% of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Harrell who earned 41.3%.
Wilson's campaign was likened to the campaign of Zohran Mamdani in the 2025 New York City mayoral election by several publications, including The Nation and The Stranger. According to The Nation, Wilson's victory was won by the precariat of Seattle renters, Sound Transit riders, and Democratic Socialists of America members. She criticized Harrell for being part of the "status quo" and not properly addressing homelessness and sweeping individuals, while also not lowering the cost of living. Harrell touted his administration's efforts on public safety, transportation, and housing affordability, while criticizing Wilson's previous support for the "Defund the police" movement. During the campaign Wilson did not call for defunding the police, instead arguing that armed officers are not needed to respond to mental health and other non-crime calls that should be handled by other kinds of professionals.
Wilson won by a margin of 0.73% in the November 4, 2025 general election, the closest mayoral election in Seattle by percentage since 1906.
Since taking office Wilson has defended Seattle's Somalian community against attacks spurred on by Republican led oversight committees galvanized by fraud investigations into the Somalian immigrant community in Minneapolis. Wilson has also defended local Seattle immigrant communities and activist networks to resist ICE arrests in Seattle.
Wilson's mayoral campaign platform included support for improvements to accessibility and safety on Sidewalk and bicycle lanes in Seattle. Her platform also endorsed a program to Pedestrian zone and limit car access to Pike Place Market and portions of Capitol Hill.
During her mayoral campaign, Wilson proposed additional taxes to generate revenue for the city, including a tax on Landlord that own vacant properties and a capital gains tax.
Wilson does not own a car and primarily rides public transit to get around Seattle with her daughter. Wilson has also previously used a bicycle for transportation, although she relies more on transit since having a child.
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