It is still 10 months away from the general election, but the race for a seat on the Seattle City Council is already getting crowded.
On Thursday, Alex Hudson announced she will seek the District 3 seat being vacated by Councilmember Kshama Sawant.
Hudson, who is the executive director of the Transportation Choices Coalition (TCC), said she's been mulling a run for a while.
"Transportation is the intersection of our society, cross of labor, business, environmental and social justice organizations collaboratively to solve this issue," said Hudson, while sitting in a park in her home district.
The TCC has been a breeding ground for civic leadership and a launching pad for multiple political campaigns, including former Seattle City Council member Rob Johnson and current Director of Sustainability and Environment Jessyn Farrell.
"I don’t think the representation of District 3 has been oriented towards collaboration, and I think that District 3 residents expect and deserve that their leader is going to be a listener, not a shouter," said Hudson in a veiled reference to Sawant.
In a release, Hudson touted that she lives happily car-free and will work to establish the Center City Connector Streetcar and develop the Move Seattle Levy. In an interview, she also said she's open to a significant rezone if it helps with the homelessness crisis because it is "basic geometry."
She joins a race that already includes third-generation Central District resident and business owner Joy Hollingsworth, who announced her candidacy on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
On Thursday, West Seattleite Maren Costa, who was fired by Amazon for speaking about the company's climate impact, said she will run for the seat vacated by Lisa Herbold.
It means that 15 people have already formally filed or announced their intentions.
While it may seem early, candidates are likely positioning to ask voters to send Democracy Vouchers to their respective campaigns. Those will be mailed out on Feb. 21, but candidates have until May to officially file.