Egan Orion

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Egan Orion

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2019

Personal

Birthplace

Auburn, Wash.

Contact

Campaign website

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Egan Orion ran for election to the Seattle City Council to represent District 3 in Washington. Orion lost in the general election on November 5, 2019.

Orion completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Egan Orion was born in Auburn, Washington. Orion attended Green River Community College for undergraduate study. Orion has served as a founder and executive director with Seattle PrideFest, and as executive director with the Broadway Business Improvement Area. Orion has also been affiliated with the Washington Trails Association, the GSBA, and the Capitol Hill Eco-District.

Elections

2019

See also: City elections in Seattle, Washington (2019)

General election

General election for Seattle City Council District 3

Incumbent Kshama Sawant defeated Egan Orion in the general election for Seattle City Council District 3 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kshama Sawant (Nonpartisan)	51.8	22,263
		Egan Orion (Nonpartisan)	47.7	20,488
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	205

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,956
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Seattle City Council District 3

The following candidates ran in the primary for Seattle City Council District 3 on August 6, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kshama Sawant (Nonpartisan)	36.7	12,088
✔		Egan Orion (Nonpartisan)	21.5	7,078
		Pat Murakami (Nonpartisan)	13.0	4,279
		Zachary DeWolf (Nonpartisan)	12.6	4,147
	Submit photo	Ami Nguyen (Nonpartisan)	9.2	3,028
		Logan Bowers (Nonpartisan)	6.8	2,250
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	59

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 32,929
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Click here for more information about the 2019 race, including endorsements and campaign finance data.

Campaign themes

2019

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released October 17, 2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Egan Orion completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Orion's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a 4th generation District 3 resident, a small business owner and advocate, and running to serve the community that has given me a home for over twenty years. As a gay man raised in an era that didn't understand or advocate for me, Capitol Hill was the first place I could truly express myself. Now, I run the largest celebration of the LGBTQ community in our city, PrideFest. I decided to enter this race because I had to fight for minority protection, small business ownership, and compassionate treatment of our homelessness problem, all without the support of my councilmember.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Shelter is a human right
• Move Seattle forward through more accessible transit options
• A Green New Deal we can fight for

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing: If we don't increase the supply of affordable housing in Seattle, homelessness is only going to rise, and more people will be displaced. We need more density in all neighborhoods, emergency assistance for those who fall on hard times, and a holistic response to the homelessness crisis that is effective.

The Environment: I support a Green New Deal, electrifying our mass transit system by 2025, and incentivizing green building and remodeling.

Transportation: Single occupancy vehicles are not sustainable. We need more public transit -- especially in neighborhoods that are currently underserved.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Leaders who lead and inspire with compassion and strong values. Like Elijah Cummings. Brene Brown. Oprah. Harvey Milk. All of these leaders demonstrate that you can create change while being a positive influence on people. Leadership does not have to be won through anger, it can be fought with love and compassion.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Contender. It's about keeping fast to your values even-or especially-when it's inconvenient.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Collaborative leadership. Someone who is interested in representing their constituents through strong ties to the community and the ability to listen.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I lead collaboratively. I always look at the problem we need to solve and bring together a coalition to get it solved. Some of our region's greatest achievements were as a result of collaborative governing. Housing affordability laws were passed in partnership between tenants and developers. The minimum wage law was passed by working collaboratively with labor and business communities. I also lead with compassion by ensuring that the most marginalized voices have a seat at the table. I am a good listener. I will be accountable to the constituents in District 3, it is their voices that matter most.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To represent the needs of their constituents faithfully. An elected official needs to be accountable and responsive to the people who live and work in their district. They need to show up to City Council and committee meetings, so they can participate in their duties to represent the interests of their constituents.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I had a paper route when I was 10 and 11. Those early mornings taught me the value of work and its influence on other people's lives.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Power of One because it shows how one person can make a difference.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

My Shot (from the musical Hamilton)

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2019 Elections

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