Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan called a City Council candidate a socialist in an email to friends and supporters.

The candidate, Tammy Morales, then accused Durkan of "red-baiting" for calling her a socialist who would “cause more division” in Seattle.

The mayor's email was in support of Mark Solomon, another candidate for District 2 in southeast Seattle. Longtime councilmember Bruce Harrell, who represents that district, is not running for another term.

Durkan said in her letter that "adding another socialist like Tammy Morales, or a rigid conservative like Ari Hoffman to the City Council will cause more division in our city.”

Durkan told KUOW on Thursday that she did not mean "socialist" as a slur.

“In 2019 -- almost 2020 -- Seattle, the word ‘socialist’ is not pejorative,” she said.

She noted the rise of socialist celebrity politicians like Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Durkan said Ocasio-Cortez, the congresswoman from New York, has inspired people to get engaged.

Durkan also offered some praise for Seattle's current socialist Councilmember Kshama Sawant, saying, "While Councilmember Sawant and I don't agree on everything, surprisingly we do agree on some things. She is unabashed about who she is and what she believes."

Still, Durkan said Morales has sent mixed signals. She joined the Democratic Socialists of America earlier this year, but now said she doesn’t consider herself a socialist.

Durkan said Morales posted about joining the DSA on social media, but when she went back to verify that, the account was no longer active.

“I assumed when she joined it, that meant she was ascribing as a member,” Durkan said, adding somewhat tongue-in-cheek, “I apologize that I thought if she joined the Democratic Socialists, that meant [she was a member]."

Morales told KUOW that she's not a socialist.

"I've said many times that I identify as a Democrat and that I believe the Democratic Socialists, the DSA, is a more progressive wing of the Democratic Party. That's why I joined," she said.

Morales said that wing "is in ascendency and it's important for our elected leaders to understand that."

In a note to supporters, she called Durkan's critism "so 1950s."

“I'm not a socialist, but her implication that it's a bad thing is ridiculous,” she wrote.

Morales pointed to endorsements from Democrats.

Beyond party ties, Durkan said her opposition to Morales has to do with their approaches to issues like homelessness and policing.

“I think she’s divisive because we have really strong policy differences,” Durkan said.

She said Morales would reignite the “polarizing” debate over sweeps of homeless encampments and use of the city’s “navigation teams.”

“[Morales] wants to de-fund them and eliminate them because she believes that encampments should remain anywhere,” Durkan said. “What we’re doing now isn’t working perfectly but it’s working better. Last year we moved more people from homelessness to permanent housing than ever before.”