Meet the Candidates! Fall 2026 Candidate Forums in King County
Many of our community partners are hosting candidate forums for elected office around King County this fall. These discussions will help you make some important decisions for the Nov. 3 general election – for Congress, the Washington state legislature, King County Council, and city/local positions. (We will also vote on some major initiatives this fall.)
While you’ll also see candidate forums and debates being hosted by major news organizations, political organizations, and others, we’re focusing here on our community partners and community media.
If your community organization is hosting a candidate forum that’s not listed here, please send it to us!
For more information about the general election, visit the King County Elections website. It’s available in multiple languages. There, you can learn how to register to vote, how to submit your ballot, and more.
If you’re not sure what district you live in, you can visit another extremely helpful web page, King County Find My District. Enter your address, and find out your district for Congressional, legislative, county, and in some cases city elections.
37th Legislative District Candidates Forum, Tuesday, Sept. 8
Hosted By: Whose Streets? Our Streets! with partners
Tuesday, September 8, 5:30 PM
Estelita’s Library, 2901 17th Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98144
More than a dozen community organizations are hosting this Candidate Forum with candidates for the Washington State Legislature District 37, and King County Council District 2. Topics include gun violence, housing, and surveillance.
Learn More and Register Here: https://bit.ly/WSOSforum26
East King APIC Candidate Round Table
Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m.
With the State Legislature Candidates for the 41st, 45th, & 48th Legislative Districts
Location: North Bellevue Community Center 4063 148th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA
Eastside For All is co-sponsoring this special evening with East King APIC, IACS, CISC, NAMI Eastside and JACL. Join them for a buffet dinner and roundtable conversations with the candidates.
Cultural Candidates Forum, King County Council District 8
Monday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
With Candidates Nick Duda & Teresa Mosqueda, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, click here to register
–> Special guest performers: ArtsCorps All-City Choir
Hosted by Inspire Washington in partnership with ArtsFund.
These events will provide general election contenders the opportunity to outline their plans for restoring, supporting, and expanding the region’s cultural arts, heritage, and natural science fields. The forums will feature performances from local artists between moderated sessions with the candidates. In-person audience participation is encouraged but all events will be livestreamed. The venue is ADA accessible, and the event will be close captioned. Free and reduced access supported by 4Culture.
Register Here for King County Council District 8 Cultural Candidates Forum
Cultural Candidates Forum, Seattle City Council District 5
Friday, October 2, 7 p.m.
With Candidates Nilu Jenks & Julie Kang, at Aspire Kinetic Arts
–> Special guest performer: Aspire Kinetic Arts Dancers
Hosted by Inspire Washington in partnership with ArtsFund.
These events will provide general election contenders the opportunity to outline their plans for restoring, supporting, and expanding the region’s cultural arts, heritage, and natural science fields. The forums will feature performances from local artists between moderated sessions with the candidates. In-person audience participation is encouraged but all events will be livestreamed. The venue is ADA accessible, and the event will be close captioned. Free and reduced access supported by 4Culture.
Register Here for Seattle District 5 Cultural Candidates Forum
Cultural Candidates Forum, King County Council District 2
Monday, October 5, 7 p.m.
With Candidates Toshiko Hasegawa & Rebecca Saldaña, at Rainier Arts Center
–> Special guest performer: Paul Nelson from Cascadia Poetics Lab
Hosted by Inspire Washington in partnership with ArtsFund.
These events will provide general election contenders the opportunity to outline their plans for restoring, supporting, and expanding the region’s cultural arts, heritage, and natural science fields. The forums will feature performances from local artists between moderated sessions with the candidates. In-person audience participation is encouraged but all events will be livestreamed. The venue is ADA accessible, and the event will be close captioned. Free and reduced access supported by 4Culture.
Register Here for King County Council District 2 Cultural Candidates Forum
LD 45 & LD 48 Housing Equity Candidate Forum
Monday, October 5, 6-7:30 p.m., online
With candidates from the 45th and 48th Legislative Districts
Join Eastside Housing Equity Coalition virtually on Monday, October 5th from 6-7:30 PM to hear from general election candidates from the 45th and 48th Legislative Districts about affordable housing, equitable growth, and community need. They expect:
Osman Salahuddin, Candidate for LD 48 Position 1
Jessica Forsythe, Candidate for LD 48 Position 2
Amy Walen, Candidate for LD 48 Position 2
Roger Goodman, Candidate for LD 45 Position 1
Vanessa Kritzer, Candidate for LD 45 Position 2
Register Here: LD 45 & LD 48 Housing Equity Candidate Forum – General Election
This event is hosted by the Eastside Housing Equity Coalition (EHEC), which is a collaboration between Eastside For All, Indian American Community Services, Muslim Community Network Association, Africans on the Eastside, and the Housing Development Consortium.
King County Candidate Forum, hosted by Coalition of Immigrants Refugees and Communities of Color (CIRCC) and partners – 37th District
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
The McKinney Center for Community and Economic Development, 2120 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
Meet the 37th Legislative District candidates for Senate, State Representative Pos. 1, and State Representative Pos. 2. Connect with community, and get clear on the issues shaping our neighborhoods. Free entry, lunch, parking, and childcare with RSVP. More than a dozen community organizations are partnering to host this Forum, including our COO funded partner Surge Reproductive Justice.
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Save the Date: Candidate Forum - King County District 2, Seattle City Council District 5
Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle
Save the Date: Building Bridges Candidate Forum
Saturday, October 24, 11 a.m., Byrd Barr Place
Watch for more forums to come; and if you’re hosting one, please send us your information!