Paul Queary

Paul Queary, a veteran AP reporter and editor, is founder of The Washington Observer, an independent newsletter on politics, government and the influence thereof in Washington State.

Money Watch: Where Last-Minute Campaign Money is Landing

A new infusion of $103,000 in support of Mayor Bruce Harrell brings the PAC’s spending on the mayor's race to $1.3 million overall, nearly all of which went to try to scrub new-candidate shine off Wilson.

Campaign Report: Port Commission, Sara Nelson and the County Exec Race

Ports, especially major ports such as Tacoma, are often hot arenas for a variety of political fights on issues ranging from labor rights to environmental protection.

Success by Association? Harrell Ad Piggybacks on Mariners

Will the Harrell side’s attack work? Harrell finished 18,000 votes behind in the primary, and the bettors on the prediction market Kalshi still peg Katie Wilson as a prohibitive favorite.

Builders Weigh in for Balducci; Late Money for Wilson

The Affordable Housing Council, a separate PAC, is the single largest donor to the independent PAC backing incumbent Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, which currently enjoys a lopsided cash advantage over challenger Katie Wilson.

Harrell Campaign Opens a Wide Lead in Donations

The PAC Bruce Harrell for Seattle’s Future has now raised more than $1 million, mostly from some of the region’s deepest political pockets and richest citizens. Katie Wilson for an Affordable Seattle, the PAC backing the progressive challenger, has pulled in just $86,000.

The Cowardly Killing of a Seattle Newsroom

When you rescue some starving news strays from the mean streets, as KCTS did with Crosscut, you should feed them up into a pack of ferocious new-school newshounds, not turn them into an expendable backwater of your moribund 20th-century organization.

Adding up the Money in the Seattle Mayor’s Race

Bruce Harrell for Seattle’s Future has raised more than $772,000 thus far, including about $470,000 since Harrell finished 18,000 votes behind Katie Wilson in the primary. Katie Wilson for an Affordable Seattle, meanwhile, has raised just $41,000 so far, per recent filings with the Public Disclosure Commission.

Olympia Update: Guns and Gas

Conservative megadonor Brian Heywood’s ballot measure machine is cranking up again.

Primaries: Left Turns in Legislative Races

Two closely-watched D-on-D matchups for seats in the Legislature were going the progressive candidate’s way.

Gov. Ferguson has tried to Have it Both Ways with the New State Budget

Most importantly, Gov. Ferguson didn’t veto any significant part of the budget package and force lawmakers back to Olympia for a deeper round of cuts to both spending and taxes. In fact, he didn’t veto anything of real consequence.

Latest