Hollingsworth bids political farewell to Mayor Harrell, looks ahead to 2026

Hollingsworth flanked by outgoing council president Nelson and D4 representative Rivera (Image: City of Seattle)

Harrell was at Hollingsworth’s side as she won the D3 seat in 2023

District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth will face a new landscape at Seattle City Hall in 2026 as she bids a political farewell to mentor and ally Mayor Bruce Harrell.

“His mother, Rose, and my grandmother worked together at Model Cities, a federal initiative dedicated to affordable housing, health and family services, youth programs, job training, and community-led planning,” Hollingsworth said in a recent message to constituents in the wake of Harrell’s election loss to Katie Wilson.

“From this work grew organizations like CAMP (now Byrd Barr), El Centro De La Raza, Head Start, Minority Health Clinics, and education reforms that helped shape generations of civic leaders, organizers, and public servants of color,” Hollingsworth wrote.

“Those values continued throughout Mayor Harrell’s career—from growing up in the historic Central District, to Division-I athlete, civil rights attorney, City Councilmember, and our 57th Seattle Mayor. We thank him and his team for their dedication to Seattle.”

A supporter of Harrell administration initiatives, collaborator on legislation including efforts to address the city’s Food Action Plan, and the legislative branch’s lead on pulling the Harrell administration’s comprehensive plan update across the finish line, Hollingsworth joined the D3 race in 2023 with cannabis justice, hunger advocacy, three generations in the Central District, and early, out of the gate support from the mayor on her side. Harrell endorsed her campaign later that year.

In 2026, she will be part of a more progressive new mix on the council including the exit of council president Sara Nelson and a new leader in District 2. Eddie Lin, previously an assistant attorney in the Seattle City Attorney’s office, is already active on the council representing South Seattle. With the new year, Dionne Foster will take over Nelson’s citywide seat.

The rest of the council will remain Rob Saka representing West Seattle’s District 1, Maritza Rivera representing the city’s northeast in District 4, Debora Juarez representing the city’s north in District 5, Ballard, Fremont, and Magnolia lover Dan Strauss in District 6, and public safety-focused Bob Kettle representing downtown and Queen Anne in District 7.

This week, in one of the last major votes for the current council lineup, Hollingsworth sided with Rivera, Juarez, Strauss, Kettle, and Nelson in a 6 to 3 approval of the new police contract.

Lin, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, and Saka voted against it over concerns the new deal did little to add new accountability and oversight measures for the city’s police force.

How this political dynamic will play out for Hollingsworth and her District 3 initiatives in 2026 remains to be seen.

Hollingsworth, meanwhile, says she is ready to work with the incoming Wilson administration, saying only she looks forward “to building a Seattle we can all proudly call home” with the new mayor.

2026 will also bring a change for the political dynamics in Hollingsworth’s own family.

Girmay Zahilay who won his bid for the King County Executive seat, defeating Eastside county councilmember Claudia Balducci in the race to replace longtime executive Dow Constantine in a victory powered by Seattle voters, is Hollingsworth’s brother-in-law.

“We will be strengthening and improving the partnership between King County and the City of Seattle,” Hollingsworth said.

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