Girmay Zahilay leading in race for King County executive, Steffanie Fain up for council Scott Greenstone November 04, 2025 / 9:30 pm

It’s the start of a new era in King County government. Voters in the state’s most populous county are choosing new executive leadership for the first time in 16 years.

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay led on election night with 50% of the vote. King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci trailed with about 48% of the vote.

Zahilay is the favorite to win after a strong primary showing; between primary election night and final results in August, Zahilay gained 4 percentage points.

Longtime King County Executive Dow Constantine left the top county job earlier this year after almost four terms. Whoever succeeds him will manage the metro bus syst

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