Here's Where Trump Donors Are Spending Their Money in Seattle City Council Races

In the city races, Trump donors have given the most money to Moms for Seattle PAC WUNDERVISUALS / GETTY IMAGES

In the last week Seattle has been treated to column after column of commentary on the nature of this year's race for Seattle City Council. Some writers appear to be struggling with the choice of voting for an Amazon-backed candidate or a progressive candidate. I can't say I sympathize with the struggle, but then again I can't say I regurgitate People for Seattle mailers by arguing that some candidates are "ideological" while others are not, either.

But I'll leave aside for a moment the particularities of their arguments and address their general view of the field, which boils down to, "Look, folks, this is a battle between the far-left and the not-so-far left."

While these local writers might not see much difference between candidates backed by big business and the progressives, local Donald Trump donors certainly do. With one funny exception, the 25 Trump donors I found playing around in the city elections are all putting their money behind the non-progressive candidates, or else political action committees who are spending on behalf of those candidates.

Here's the list.

And here's a brief rundown of current candidates and PACs who have received money from Trump donors. (Note: I only included Trump donors who gave the president more than $390.)

D1: Phil Tavel: $850

D2: Mark Soloman: $500

D3: Egan Orion: $3,100

D4: Alex Pedersen: $500

D5: Ann Davison Sattler: $750

D6: Heidi Wills: $500

D7: Jim Pugel: $1,900

D7: Andrew Lewis: $250

Moms for Seattle: $6,700

People for Seattle: $1,600

These candidates and PACs clearly aren't benefiting greatly from Trump donors. Compared to the amount of money corporations are spending in support of the Amazon-backed candidates, it's nothing.

But the fact that these campaigns are drawing donations from people who financially support the worst person the country has ever produced tells you something about the differences between the candidates running for city council. And it isn't, "Hey folks, this is a battle between the far-left and the not-so-far left." These people are trying to drag the council as far right as possible, and they're going out of their way to do it. All this hemming and hawing about the lack of good choices simply serves those ends. Don't let it.