Shannon Braddock

Shannon Braddock (born 1969/1970)^[1] is an American politician and perennial candidate who was appointed as King County Executive on April 1, 2025, after Dow Constantine resigned.^[1] A Democrat, she is the first female King County executive.^[1][2]

Braddock was raised in Bellingham, Washington, where her father was a City Council member and state legislator before serving as secretary of the state Department of Social and Health Services.^[1] She graduated from City Council, and later the University of Washington where she earned her Master of Public Policy.^[1]

Prior to working in the King County government, Braddock worked as a congressional aide, an aide to the Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, and a legislative representative for Lafayette PTA.^[1][3] In 2010, she was hired as chief of staff to then-County Councilmember Joe McDermott after she volunteered for his campaign.^[1][3][4] In 2017, Braddock began working in the County Executive office under Constantine, moving up to Deputy Executive in 2023.^[2]

Braddock ran for the Seattle City Council in 2015 in the open District 1 seat, which encompasses West Seattle and South Park.^[5] She faced eight other challengers, which included Lisa Herbold, an aide to councilmember Nick Licata, Phil Tavel, a pro-tempe judge and public defender, and Brianna Thomas, a non-profit organizer.^[5] In the August primary, Herbold came in first, with 30.15% of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Braddock, who earned 27.78%.^[6][7]

Both Braddock and Herbold ran as progressives, but Braddock received $200,000 in outside spending, primarily from the Metropolitan Seattle Chamber of Commerce.^[1][8] In the November general election, Herbold narrowly defeated Braddock, 49.57% to 49.59%, a margin of 39 votes.^[8][9]

In 2018, Braddock ran for the open 34th district Senate seat after incumbent Sharon Nelson decided to retire at the end of her term.^[10][11] The 34th district includes White Center, West Seattle, Vashon Island, and part of Burien.^[10] She faced 10 other challengers, which included Joe Nguyen, a senior manager at Microsoft, and Sofia Aragon, a governmental-affairs adviser for the Washington State Nurses Association.^[11] In the August primary, Nguyen came in first, with 31% of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Braddock, who earned 24%.^[12][13]

Braddock focused her campaign on gun safety, early education, and tax reform, specifically creating a capital gains tax and lowering property taxes for low and middle-income individuals.^[11] Nguyen campaigned on increasing teacher pay, making health care and housing affordable, strengthening public transit, and protecting the environment without placing an undue tax burden on low-income households.^[11] Braddock was endorsed by The Seattle Times, Constantine, McDermott, 34th District Democrats, and the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.^[11][14] Mguyen was endorsed by U.S. representative Pramila Jayapal, The Stranger, 34th District Democrats, King County Democrats, and state senators. Maralyn Chase and Bob Hasegawa.^[11][14] Braddock outraised Nguyen, who refused corporate PAC money.^[3][14]

In the November general election, Nguyen defeated Braddock, 58.29% to 41.71%.^[1][15]

On April 1, 2025, Braddock was appointed King County Executive after Constantine resigned to become CEO of Sound Transit.^[2] She initially served on an acting basis until the King County Council voted unanimously to fill the position on an interim bases until the November general election.^[16] Braddock announced a "200 day plan" for her abbreviated term, which focued on passing a responsible budget and preparing the county for possible funding cuts from a hostile federal government.^[16]

Braddock is a single mother with three children.^[3][13]