"Let's bring a new era to king county.
Let's build a future where everyone is safe, housed, & healthy in a region that's affordable, clean, & connected!"
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Who is Girmay?
Girmay Zahilay is the Chair of the King County Council, a former business attorney, and a candidate for King County Executive. Born in Sudan to Ethiopian refugees, Girmay and his family immigrated to the United States seeking safety and opportunity. They found both in King County, where Girmay was raised in South Seattle public housing and graduated from Franklin High School. With the help of public programs like food assistance, Pell Grants, and quality public schools, he went on to earn degrees from Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Before public service, Girmay worked at the Obama White House and practiced law at major firms, including Perkins Coie and Skadden Arps. He later founded and ran a nonprofit for underserved youth and was elected to the King County Council in 2019. As Council Chair, Girmay has championed bold policies that expand mental health and addiction care, invest in affordable housing, prevent gun violence, and improve public safety. Now, he is running for Executive to bring innovative, accountable leadership to one of the largest local governments in the country.
Girmay lives in South King County with his amazing wife, Joyce, and his baby daughter Jazzy.
Before public service, Girmay worked at the Obama White House and practiced law at major firms, including Perkins Coie and Skadden Arps. He later founded and ran a nonprofit for underserved youth and was elected to the King County Council in 2019. As Council Chair, Girmay has championed bold policies that expand mental health and addiction care, invest in affordable housing, prevent gun violence, and improve public safety. Now, he is running for Executive to bring innovative, accountable leadership to one of the largest local governments in the country.
Girmay lives in South King County with his amazing wife, Joyce, and his baby daughter Jazzy.
What is the King County Executive?
Girmay Zahilay is running for King County Executive, the highest local office in Washington State. Just like a mayor oversees a city or a governor leads a state, the County Executive governs the region of King County.
As the County Executive, Girmay would lead a government of over 17,000 employees, manage a nearly $20 billion biennial budget, and deliver services to a diverse region of 2.3 million people.
King County is a vast and varied area, covering 39 cities—from Federal Way in the south to Shoreline in the north, and from Vashon Island in the west to Snoqualmie in the east—as well as numerous unincorporated communities. The County government plays a crucial role in providing essential services like public transit, public health, criminal justice, affordable housing, and wastewater treatment across this entire region.
Girmay is ready to bring his leadership to this role, ensuring these vital services meet the needs of every community in King County.
As the County Executive, Girmay would lead a government of over 17,000 employees, manage a nearly $20 billion biennial budget, and deliver services to a diverse region of 2.3 million people.
King County is a vast and varied area, covering 39 cities—from Federal Way in the south to Shoreline in the north, and from Vashon Island in the west to Snoqualmie in the east—as well as numerous unincorporated communities. The County government plays a crucial role in providing essential services like public transit, public health, criminal justice, affordable housing, and wastewater treatment across this entire region.
Girmay is ready to bring his leadership to this role, ensuring these vital services meet the needs of every community in King County.
Why is Girmay running for King County Executive?
Girmay is running for King County Executive because the stakes have never been higher. As someone who grew up in public housing and faced homelessness as a child, he knows what it means to fall through the cracks, and what it takes to build ladders back up.
But today, those ladders are broken for too many of our neighbors. King County needs a leader who combines life experience with proven results.
As Council Chair, Girmay has delivered: expanding mental health and addiction care, launching major housing initiatives, and protecting vulnerable communities. But the challenges ahead—homelessness, the cost of living, public safety—demand more urgency, more innovation, and more accountability.
Girmay is running to ensure that every person in King County can live safely, affordably, and with dignity. He is running to support our businesses and protect our environemnt. He believes government should be judged by outcomes, not slogans. That it should work for working people, not special interests. And that leadership is about building bridges, not deepening divides. This race isn’t just about who leads next—it’s about what kind of future we create together.
Vote Girmay Zahilay for King County Executive on August 5, 2025.
Girmay In The News
Help Shape A New Era In King County
