Spokane Mayor
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Brown | 36,435 | 52.01% |
| Nadine Woodward | 33,613 | 47.99% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
Results by Precinct
The Candidates
Lisa Brown
- Age:
- 68
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Robinson High School in Illinois in 1974. Graduated from the University of Illinois in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Graduated from the University of Colorado in 1986 with a doctorate in economics.
Work experience: Chancellor of Washington State University Spokane from 2013-17. Associate professor of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University from 2001-2012. Assistant and associate professor of economics at Eastern Washington University from 1981-2001. As a young adult, worked in fast food restaurants and bookstores, as well as a summer working at the Marathon oil refinery where her dad worked. Formerly served on the boards of YWCA, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, Greater Spokane Incorporated, the University District Public Development Authority and Innovate Washington.
Political experience: State Department of Commerce from 2019 to early 2023. Ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2018, losing to U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Elected as a state representative for the 3rd Legislative District, serving from 1993-96. Elected a state senator of the 3rd District, serving from 1997-2012. Served as Senate Majority Leader from 2008-2012.
Family: Married to Brian McClatchey. Has one adult son and one grandson.
Political donations: Reported raising about $464,000 as of Oct. 16, including major donations from the Washington state Democratic Central Committee, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, unions including the Laborers International Union of North America Local 238, and the Denny Heck for Congress campaign. Other notable contributors include former Spokane Mayor John Powers.
Nadine Woodward
- Age:
- 62
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington, in 1980. Graduated from University of Portland in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in communications management.
Work experience: Worked as a broadcast journalist for 35 years, 28 in Spokane, first at KREM-TV and then KXLY-TV. Formerly served as honorary chair for organizations that included Spokane County Alzheimer’s Association, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Go Red for Women/American Heart Association, Anna Ogden Hall, Teen Challenge, Rescue 4 All/Inland Northwest Animal Rescue, Women Helping Women, March of Dimes, Red Cross Heroes, Children’s Miracle Network and Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Serves on boards for the Downtown Spokane Partnership, Visit Spokane, Greater Spokane Incorporated, the WSU Advisory Board, WorkSource Spokane and the University District Public Development Authority.
Political experience: Elected Spokane mayor in 2019.
Family: Married to Bruce Felt. Two adult children.
Political donations: Reports raising about $508,800 as of Oct. 16, with major donations from a long list of Realtors, developers, property managers, security companies and business owners. Has received financial support from police Chief Craig Meidl and former Spokane Mayor David Condon.
Complete Coverage
‘Uniting the community’: Spokane Chinese Association gifts painting symbolizing harmony to the city
A dragon and a phoenix dance in the sky over the Monroe Street Bridge and the Great Northern Clocktower in a painting presented on Thursday to Mayor Lisa Brown from the Spokane Chinese Association.
Inslee presents ‘incredibly visionary’ Spokane with award for relaxing land-use restrictions
In 2022, politicians and city staff in Spokane responded to the growing housing crisis by drastically relaxing land-use restrictions to allow for denser housing like fourplexes and townhomes to be built in all residential areas in the city.
New process created to review offensive landmarks and street names in Spokane, including Monaghan statue
Spokane now has a process to review potentially offensive landmarks and street names located on city property, spurred by concerns over the downtown statue of Ensign John Monaghan.
Spokane City Council wavers after activists threaten to sue city over new public testimony rules
When the Spokane City Council last week approved controversial changes to rules for public testimony, council member Zack Zappone insisted that a new ban on certain behaviors like people standing or turning their backs were well within the council’s rights to enforce.
Getting There: Mayor satisfied with Spokane’s snowplow response, though director acknowledges issues downtown
Spokane’s snowplow system recently faced its first test under the new administration, and Mayor Lisa Brown is satisfied with the city’s performance after record-breaking snowfall on Jan. 17.
Former Mayor Nadine Woodward had a stalker with a criminal history during her years in office, court documents say
Former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward was harassed and stalked by a man who threatened to kidnap her throughout her time in office, according to court documents filed last week.
‘A little bit more in the tank’: Julie O’Berg never planned to become a firefighter, let alone lead the Spokane Fire Department
Julie O’Berg became a firefighter by accident.
Frigid stretch draws Spokane’s unhoused population indoors: ‘I’m done with the cold’
Bobbi Ebel was warming up Friday afternoon in the Spokane Transit Authority Plaza before making the trek to the Trent homeless shelter with her dog, Syntax. Having been homeless for four years, Ebel is more concerned for her dog in the freezing cold than herself.
First woman to lead Spokane Fire Department during search for permanent chief
Editor’s note: Check back soon for a full profile on Julie O’Berg, the Spokane Fire Department’s interim fire chief and first woman to lead the department.
Spokane declares state of emergency, increasing homeless shelter capacity as temperatures plummet
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown declared a state of emergency Thursday due to the extreme cold forecast for the next week and the risks it poses to the unhoused population. She also expressed frustration that the system her administration inherited was “not as coordinated as I would like it to be.”
Matt Boston, budget adviser for Spokane’s City Council, named chief financial officer by Mayor Brown
Matt Boston, who has been the lead financial and budgetary adviser for the Spokane City Council since 2021, has a new job on the other side of City Hall.
Spokane city attorney, spokeswoman and housing and homelessness leaders approved by City Council
Three of Mayor Lisa Brown’s cabinet appointments were confirmed by the Spokane City Council on Monday night, including the new city spokeswoman, city attorney and director of the division that oversees the city’s homelessness and housing initiatives.
Many Cougs will set rivalry aside, cheer on home state Huskies in title game
You wouldn’t find a Coug cheering on the Huskies six weeks ago when Washington escaped Husky Stadium with a three-point win over Washington State in the Apple Cup.
Mayor Lisa Brown appoints Dawn Kinder as new Neighborhood, Housing and Human Services director
Filling out her administrative staff in the first week of her tenure, Mayor Lisa Brown has appointed Lisa Kinder as the new director of Spokane’s Neighborhood, Housing and Human Services division.
Spokane is on watch for possible sub-zero temperatures heading into next weekend
While not a “slam dunk” yet, National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Fox said, Spokane is on watch for below-zero temperatures heading into next weekend.
Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer to be replaced; few details forthcoming
Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer will be replaced by Mayor Lisa Brown’s administration, according to a Wednesday news release.
Lisa Brown names chief of staff, city spokeswoman and more leadership positions as she prepares to take office
Incoming Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown announced her third batch of cabinet-level appointments Friday, most of whom are being retained in their current positions.
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward looks back as she prepares to leave City Hall behind
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward, who was elected in 2019 and led the city during a global pandemic and other historic challenges, officially leaves office on New Year’s Day.
Incoming Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown sworn in during Wednesday ceremony
Lisa Brown was sworn in Wednesday night at a ceremony at the downtown Central Library, five days before she formally takes office as mayor of Spokane.
Incoming Spokane mayor announces interim police chief, assistant city administrator appointments
Incoming Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has tapped Assistant Police Chief Justin Lundgren to lead the Spokane Police Department on an interim basis and Maggie Yates, who ran unsuccessfully last year for a seat on the Spokane County Commission, as assistant city administrator.