Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa Enters Race for King County Council, District 2
SEATTLE, WA — Via a press release this morning, Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa has officially announced her campaign for the King County Council, District 2 seat. The announcement positions Hasegawa as a candidate with deep community ties and extensive experience across public accountability, criminal justice, and equity-focused governance.
Hasegawa, a fourth-generation Japanese American, is a lifelong resident of Beacon Hill, where she is raising her two children in the family home previously occupied by her grandparents and parents. Her family's history, including her grandparents' forced removal and incarceration during World War II, is noted as a foundational element of her commitment to civil rights and social justice.
In her campaign statement, Commissioner Hasegawa highlighted her primary motivation: “I’m running to make King County more affordable and livable for working families.” Her platform includes expanding access to childcare, working to lower transportation costs, protecting housing stability, and ensuring public systems are effective for constituents.
Hasegawa has served on the Port of Seattle Commission for more than four years, including a term as President. Her work at the Port focused on policies supporting workers, expanding access to childcare and transit, strengthening workforce equity, and promoting the clean energy economy. She was recently re-elected countywide with 98.46% of the vote.
Prior to her service at the Port, Hasegawa worked for King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles and at the King County Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, where she led public engagement efforts on police accountability. She was also appointed to the Statewide Task Force on Deadly Force in Community Policing, which contributed to the formation of Initiative 940. Additionally, she served six years as Executive Director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) under Governor Jay Inslee. She holds a Masters in Criminal Justice from Seattle University.
The District 2 seat encompasses several Seattle neighborhoods, including the University District, Laurelhurst, Ravenna, Eastlake, Capitol Hill, the Central District, South Seattle, Skyway, and the Allentown neighborhood of Tukwila. The seat has historically chaired the King County Council’s Law and Justice Committee.
Hasegawa’s campaign has announced endorsements from a wide array of local leaders and unions, including:
King County and Seattle Leaders:
King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski and Teresa Mosqueda
Seattle City Councilmembers Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Eddie Lin, Joy Hollingsworth, and Dan Strauss
Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans
Representatives Sharon Tomiko Santos (37th LD), Chipalo Street (37th LD), David Hackney (11th LD), Steve Bergquist (11th LD), Gerry Pollet (46th LD), and Darya Farivar (46th LD)
Union Endorsements:
Deep Sea Fishermen's Union of the Pacific AFL-CIO
Inland Boatman’s Union
International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 19
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46
Pacific Northwest Ironworkers
Ironworkers Local 86
Masters Mates and Pilots Union
International Association of Firefighters Local 1257
Hasegawa currently serves on the transition teams for newly elected Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay.
