One seat is up for grabs on Seattle City Council this election.

It represents neighborhoods in the northernmost part of the city, from Maple Leaf to Lake City.

We collaborated with KNKX reporter Mitch Borden to explain what you need to know.

Affordability and public safety are top among the issues in the race to represent North Seattle.

In 2025, city councilmember Cathy Moore resigned.

That's why the special election is happening.

Deborah Juarez was appointed to fill the seat but did not run in this election.

Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang emerged as the top two candidates in the August primary, with Jenks receiving more than half of the votes.

The winner will only fill the seat for the last year of Moore's term, before facing re-election in 2027.

Jenks is a political director for nonprofit Fair FairVote Washington.

She says food deserts in the area are concern after Lake City lost its only full-service grocery store last year.

That's part of what prompted her to run.

- I'm running because I think blue cities should show they can govern and meet our needs public safety, transportation, housing, shelter, but also really basic infrastructure.

- Kang is a college instructor and says she heard a clear message while out canvasing with voters.

- People just want the basics to work.

Safe streets, vibrant parks, clean neighborhoods.

These are not things that are gonna cost a lot of money, or it's something out of extraordinary.

These are the basics.

- They both say if they were elected, they would run for re-election to a full four-year term next fall.

Next time, we'll take a deeper look at some of Washington's open congressional races.

I'm Paris Jackson.

Thanks for watching The Newsfeed.