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Half-jokingly referring to it as “the first scandal of my political life,” Bruce Harrell challenger Katie Wilson has produced a smart video response to what she is calling “Momgate” after the incumbent’s campaign seized on last week’s report from KUOW that raised a political tumult over Wilson’s finances and affordability in the city.
In the video response, Wilson shares the screen with her mother who now has a surprising role in the 2025 election after KUOW reported that candidate’s parents are providing financial support for Wilson, her husband, and their young daughter.
Katie Wilson can barely afford to live in Seattle. That’s why she wants to be mayor, the headline reads.
“Mom, did you hear about this?,” Wilson asks her mother in the video, showing her a Harrell campaign text about the KUOW piece.
“No. Let’s see it,” Wilson’s mother says, reading the message: “Katie Wilson’s campaign built around working class identity. But parents pay her bills?,” she reads.
“So is this about Josie, my granddaughter’s child care? I mean, doesn’t he know that child care is really expensive in Seattle and aren’t families supposed to take care of each other?,” Wilson’s mother asks.
“Yeah, honestly, I think he’s kind of out of touch,” the candidate replies. “I mean, Harrell’s been in office for almost two decades, and now he’s suddenly talking about affordability.”
Zingers aside — Wilson also gets in a good line about the mayor’s deeper experience dealing with scandals — the video seems to be a successful counter-punch to a message the Harrell campaign and supporters have been blasting headed into next week’s election.
The story has also put parenthood and affordability in the city at the center of debate in the final days of campaigning. While Wilson’s earnings are reported to have come in at less than $100,000 a year in her role leading the Transit Riders Union, Harrell has reported a net worth over $15 million.
Money is shaping the race as the campaigns have been powered by tens of thousands of dollars in contributions with Harrell reporting more than $1 million given to his campaign including just under $500,000 in Democracy Vouchers. Wilson’s campaign is reporting just under $1 million in contributions including nearly $800,000 from the publicly-supported voucher system.
More than a $1 million has also been raised by the largest political action committee supporting Harrell as smaller PACs have raised hundreds of thousands more to boost both the incumbent and the challenger.
As for Momgate, Wilson may not need that parental support much longer. Should she win, the Seattle Mayor’s office comes with a salary of more than $230,000 a year.
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