Melissa Santos
@melissajsantos.bsky.social
Reporter at Axios Seattle, with a focus on Washington state and local politics. (But also doughnuts). Formerly a state politics reporter for Cascade PBS and The News Tribune in Tacoma.
Like, the building, or....?
It's true there's not some clear progressive majority on the City Council now, but I'm still not tracking totally what's being said here.
It's true there's not some clear progressive majority on the City Council now, but I'm still not tracking totally what's being said here.
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Like, the building, or....?
It's true there's not some clear progressive majority on the City Council now, but I'm still not tracking totally what's being said here.
It's true there's not some clear progressive majority on the City Council now, but I'm still not tracking totally what's being said here.
The national media has realized that Seattle's next mayor is going to be a socialist who has never before held elected office. Those things are true.
But mayor-elect Katie Wilson is no neophyte when it comes to local politics.
But mayor-elect Katie Wilson is no neophyte when it comes to local politics.
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The national media has realized that Seattle's next mayor is going to be a socialist who has never before held elected office. Those things are true.
But mayor-elect Katie Wilson is no neophyte when it comes to local politics.
But mayor-elect Katie Wilson is no neophyte when it comes to local politics.
Well, that's a wrap -- The Seattle Times has called the Seattle mayor's race for Katie Wilson with these numbers. She's now up about 0.7% and hardly any ballots remain. Out of recount territory #waelex
November 12, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Well, that's a wrap -- The Seattle Times has called the Seattle mayor's race for Katie Wilson with these numbers. She's now up about 0.7% and hardly any ballots remain. Out of recount territory #waelex
Wilson is now capturing 49.83% of the vote to Harrell's 49.79%.
That's a shift from election night, when Wilson trailed Harrell by about 7 percentage points. #waelex
That's a shift from election night, when Wilson trailed Harrell by about 7 percentage points. #waelex
November 11, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Wilson is now capturing 49.83% of the vote to Harrell's 49.79%.
That's a shift from election night, when Wilson trailed Harrell by about 7 percentage points. #waelex
That's a shift from election night, when Wilson trailed Harrell by about 7 percentage points. #waelex
Katie WIlson has barely overtaken incumbent Bruce Harrell in the Seattle mayor's race, per the latest count on Monday.
She has 49.83% to Bruce Harrell's 49.79%
She has 49.83% to Bruce Harrell's 49.79%
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Katie WIlson has barely overtaken incumbent Bruce Harrell in the Seattle mayor's race, per the latest count on Monday.
She has 49.83% to Bruce Harrell's 49.79%
She has 49.83% to Bruce Harrell's 49.79%
Day 4 of counting and fairly notable jump for Katie Wilson today. Now only less than 2 points separate her and Harrell. He's at 50.74% and she's at 48.86%. #waelex
November 7, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Day 4 of counting and fairly notable jump for Katie Wilson today. Now only less than 2 points separate her and Harrell. He's at 50.74% and she's at 48.86%. #waelex
Wilson gained a fair amount on Day 3 of ballot counting. Harrell now leads her by about 5.7 percentage points, versus about 8.1 points yesterday. She has 46.93%, he has 52.64% in latest count. #waelex
November 7, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Wilson gained a fair amount on Day 3 of ballot counting. Harrell now leads her by about 5.7 percentage points, versus about 8.1 points yesterday. She has 46.93%, he has 52.64% in latest count. #waelex
The mayor's campaign now says Harrell's 2021 pledge was just to "identify" 2,000 units, but that doesn't match how Harrell talked on the campaign trail back then. www.axios.com/local/seattl...
September 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The mayor's campaign now says Harrell's 2021 pledge was just to "identify" 2,000 units, but that doesn't match how Harrell talked on the campaign trail back then. www.axios.com/local/seattl...
Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell pledged on the campaign trail in 2021 to build 2,000 units of shelter or permanent supportive housing in a year. More than three years into his term, he still hasn't added that many net new units, an Axios analysis finds.
September 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell pledged on the campaign trail in 2021 to build 2,000 units of shelter or permanent supportive housing in a year. More than three years into his term, he still hasn't added that many net new units, an Axios analysis finds.
What are the Seattle cafes that most scream "old school Seattle" coffee shop experience to you? I'm thinking like: Cafe Allegro, Cafe Umbria, the Cherry Street Coffee on 1st and Cherry, and Zeitgeist Coffee (where I am now). Where else?
September 29, 2025 at 11:42 PM
What are the Seattle cafes that most scream "old school Seattle" coffee shop experience to you? I'm thinking like: Cafe Allegro, Cafe Umbria, the Cherry Street Coffee on 1st and Cherry, and Zeitgeist Coffee (where I am now). Where else?
The perils of taking an iPhone on a ferry. My keys are fine in my bag, not in the bay
September 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The perils of taking an iPhone on a ferry. My keys are fine in my bag, not in the bay
Katie Wilson now has more than 50% of the primary vote in the Seattle mayor's race. That's definitely not where Bruce Harrell wants to be as the incumbent. #waelex
August 8, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Katie Wilson now has more than 50% of the primary vote in the Seattle mayor's race. That's definitely not where Bruce Harrell wants to be as the incumbent. #waelex
Our reporting found that the state auditor's office also flagged concerns about Webb's conduct to one of Ferguson's top deputies in the attorney general's office in 2019. That chief deputy, Shane Esquibel, followed Ferguson to the governor's office and is now Ferguson's chief of staff. #waleg
July 24, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Our reporting found that the state auditor's office also flagged concerns about Webb's conduct to one of Ferguson's top deputies in the attorney general's office in 2019. That chief deputy, Shane Esquibel, followed Ferguson to the governor's office and is now Ferguson's chief of staff. #waleg
The governor's office acknowledges that multiple female employees took their concerns about Webb's workplace conduct directly to Ferguson earlier this year, before Webb resigned. But the governor's office still says there were no formal or informal HR complaints against Webb. #waleg
July 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The governor's office acknowledges that multiple female employees took their concerns about Webb's workplace conduct directly to Ferguson earlier this year, before Webb resigned. But the governor's office still says there were no formal or informal HR complaints against Webb. #waleg
Mike Webb, one of Bob Ferguson's top aides for years, resigned in March amid claims he created a hostile work environment. But Webb told Axios he flew on the governor's plane last month and meets with the governor's campaign team "at least once a month" to be "a sounding board" for Ferguson. #waleg
July 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Mike Webb, one of Bob Ferguson's top aides for years, resigned in March amid claims he created a hostile work environment. But Webb told Axios he flew on the governor's plane last month and meets with the governor's campaign team "at least once a month" to be "a sounding board" for Ferguson. #waleg
I actually pay $2,500 a month, or over $29K a year, for infant care in Seattle. That's after moving from another day care where infant care prices hit $3K a month 🙃
And if you have a second kid, well.... good luck. #waleg
And if you have a second kid, well.... good luck. #waleg
May 29, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I actually pay $2,500 a month, or over $29K a year, for infant care in Seattle. That's after moving from another day care where infant care prices hit $3K a month 🙃
And if you have a second kid, well.... good luck. #waleg
And if you have a second kid, well.... good luck. #waleg
That UW tuition estimate is based on a standard three quarter academic year (but the infant tuition would still top UW tuition prices even if you added in a summer quarter). 😢
May 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
That UW tuition estimate is based on a standard three quarter academic year (but the infant tuition would still top UW tuition prices even if you added in a summer quarter). 😢
These allegations come several years after Rivera was arrested and charged with malicious mischief, a gross misdemeanor, following an alleged domestic violence incident. The charges were later dropped. www.axios.com/local/seattl... #waleg #waelex
May 20, 2025 at 4:45 AM
These allegations come several years after Rivera was arrested and charged with malicious mischief, a gross misdemeanor, following an alleged domestic violence incident. The charges were later dropped. www.axios.com/local/seattl... #waleg #waelex
Five people told Axios that Rivera has yelled at them while using profanity or acted in a way they found physically aggressive or intimidating. She also was accused of harassing behavior while on the Seattle Pride board, the former executive director said.
May 20, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Five people told Axios that Rivera has yelled at them while using profanity or acted in a way they found physically aggressive or intimidating. She also was accused of harassing behavior while on the Seattle Pride board, the former executive director said.
This is the second time since 2023 that Washington lawmakers have passed a law trying to regulate and inspect the Tacoma detention center, which has been the subject of more than 1,500 complaints in less than two years, the state Department of Health says. #waleg
May 12, 2025 at 10:14 PM
This is the second time since 2023 that Washington lawmakers have passed a law trying to regulate and inspect the Tacoma detention center, which has been the subject of more than 1,500 complaints in less than two years, the state Department of Health says. #waleg
Both chambers have approved the legislation, which will allow more drinking outside of designated beer gardens at World Cup fan events. Sponsor @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social says she's recommending that the House concur with minor amendments made in the Senate. #waleg
April 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Both chambers have approved the legislation, which will allow more drinking outside of designated beer gardens at World Cup fan events. Sponsor @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social says she's recommending that the House concur with minor amendments made in the Senate. #waleg
Local World Cup organizers in Seattle are seeking over $19 million from the Legislature for improvements to Lumen Field, which will host six #WorldCup matches next year.
So far, state lawmakers aren't totally on board, saying they "have to be realistic" given the state's budget challenges. #waleg
So far, state lawmakers aren't totally on board, saying they "have to be realistic" given the state's budget challenges. #waleg
April 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM