2001 Seattle mayoral election


The 2001 Seattle mayoral election took place on November 6, 2001, to select the Mayor of Seattle, Washington. Incumbent Mayor Paul Schell ran for election to a second term. Schell faced criticism over his handling of the Mardi Gras riot, the relocation of Boeing's headquarters out of the city, and the 1999 WTO protests.
In the primary election, Sidran and Nickels placed first and second by a wide margin, with Sidran receiving 34 percent of the vote and Nickels receiving 33 percent. Schell placed a distant third with 22 percent of the vote, becoming the first incumbent Mayor since 1956 to lose re-election.
The general election was close, and though Nickels narrowly led Sidran on election night, the race was too close to call. Nickels ultimately defeated Sidran, winning 50 percent of the vote to Sidran's 48 percent, in what was the closest mayoral election since 1912.

Primary election

Candidates