We’re endorsing Ry Armstrong for mayor! Armstrong is a candidate who believes in innovative solutions and radical empathy. They’re uniquely positioned to help the city navigate financial threats nationally and a growing disconnect between leadership and citizens locally. Their strengths couldn’t be overlooked, and for us, they present a meaningful, worthwhile alternative to the Harrell vs. Wilson dichotomy.
At this point in the primary race, it would be easy to have the mayoral conversation shaped solely by two people: Bruce Harrell and Katie Wilson — an experienced moderate vs. a thoughtful progressive, business vs. grassroots. However, as is the case with all things in politics, there’s always room for nuance and gray areas.
The whole reason we have Democracy Vouchers, after all, is to empower candidates who may have the support of the people but not naturally that of larger, corporate organizations. For smaller organizations like ours, we see an opportunity to be an extension of said empowerment.
Wilson is a fantastic organizer and political mind, and we’re glad to be witnessing her success. That said, she doesn’t need us. She has Seattle’s entire progressive arm blowing wind into her sails now. We’d just be a light breeze.
Instead, we’d like to present you with a second option, someone whose dedication to protecting the Queer community is undeniable, while bringing unique strength and policy ideas to the table. That person is Ry Armstrong, our endorsement for Seattle mayor.
First things first: Armstrong impressed us with their initiative. They were the only candidate to directly reach out to us about an interview, rather than the other way around. Once actually in conversation, we were surprised by how committed they were to advocacy. For example, when they saw that the Harrell administration was putting out mail flyers to support Prop 1B, they took out a personal loan to put Prop 1A flyers in those same mailboxes. They’re paying off that loan to this day, but they told us they have no regrets. The victory was more than worth it. It’s hard to imagine Armstrong wouldn’t bring that same level of commitment, sacrifice, and outside-the-box thinking if they had the tools of the mayoral office at their disposal.
Beyond that, Armstrong was able to highlight their strengths, to show they wouldn’t be a downgrade compared to Wilson but rather an interesting alternative. For example, they’re experienced with the intricacies of systemic finance, having maintained a seven-figure budget for the nonprofit Sustainable Seattle. They’ll thoroughly plan for any budget shortfalls brought on by Trump, with the intention of protecting public servants while finding opportunities to divest from bureaucracy and red tape.
They also want to establish direct accountability in the Mayor’s Office. They’ll do this through a digital ticketing system for complaints, accessible to all Seattle citizens. That represents a refreshing change of pace when you compare it to the existing precedent of skittish, unavailable leadership.
Armstrong has also proven their ability to bring unique solutions to issues that may go overlooked but remain vital to many of us. They were the only mayoral candidate we interviewed who brought up the need for better, more affordable childcare. Similar to how other candidates have discussed “corner stores” as a way to address food deserts, Armstrong wants to take full advantage of Durkan’s “Childcare for You” ordinance, which reduced zoning restrictions for childcare centers, to provide more accessible, neighborhood-based options to parents of any income bracket.
Armstrong’s candidacy is also historic. Seattle has never seen an openly Trans, Nonbinary person run for mayor. Their presence on the ballot is a testament to how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.
If you’re still planning to vote for Wilson in the primaries after all this, we fully understand. Right now, it feels like we urgently need progressive leadership, like if we make the mistake of putting an ineffective mayor in charge of defying Trump, it would seal the fate of Seattle for decades to come. With such monumental stakes, it’s hard to take a chance on a lesser-known candidate. Hard, but not impossible.
Take a chance on Armstrong, because you want a bolder, more socially engaged mayor than we’ve ever had before. Take a chance on Armstrong if you want the same level of thoughtfulness, passion, and commitment given to all issues, not just those that feel existential. For those who see themselves in a Nonbinary, Genderqueer mayor, taking a chance on Armstrong is to have hope in your own possibilities. As for everyone else, it’s a way to say that Seattle will never back down against the Trump administration, no matter what bullshit they throw at us.
Vote Armstrong.
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