Preliminary results are in for the Seattle City Council election, and it appears far-left candidates who were expected to be hostile to business interests have faltered after Amazon dumped more than a million dollars into the race in October.
Self-proclaimed socialist Kshama Sawant, an incumbent from the city’s 3rd District, trailed her more moderate challenger Egan Orion by about eight points as of Wednesday morning.
Orion celebrated his lead with supporters Tuesday night and said he was “90% confident” that he’d hold onto it, The Seattle Times reported.
Sawant capitalized on her opposition to Amazon in her campaign.
“This year, corporate PACs are unleashing a record-breaking corporate onslaught against Councilmember Kshama Sawant. Wealthy Republicans, notorious real-estate developers, and dozens of top Amazon executives are bankrolling her opponent,” Sawant wrote on her site, referencing her rival Egan Orion. “What’s at stake this year is who runs Seattle — Amazon and big business or working people.”
However, conservative radio host Jason Rantz pointed out that campaign filings show that Sawant’s team bought a printer, tables and other items from Amazon early in the campaign.
Seattle voters went to the polls Tuesday, and seven of nine city council seats were in play.
Big names like presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized Amazon for getting involved in the race.
Read the rest at: Seattle Wins
