Seattle Mayoral Candidate Katie Wilson Accused of Faking Endorsements from Black Leaders

September 17, 2025

The following article is a collaboration between Turning Point USA’s Frontlines reporter Jonathan Choe and Talk Radio 570 KVI’s Ari Hoffman

Claude Burfect, an 83-year-old labor organizer and civil rights activist who once marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is one of Seattle’s most sought-after political endorsements. Candidates across the city understand that Burfect’s backing carries weight, particularly among Black voters.

But Burfect says what mayoral candidate Katie Wilson recently did crossed an ethical line.

According to Frontlines, Wilson is accused of taking a photograph of Burfect standing alongside incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell, then cropping and republishing it on social media to suggest that Burfect endorsed her campaign. Burfect says the claim is false and misleading.

Community organizer Jim Buchanan launched a campaign called “Shady Katie” in response, saying Wilson’s actions aren’t just a mistake but part of a broader pattern. According to Buchanan, Wilson has also taken photos with other prominent Black leaders, former Black Panther Aaron Dixon and Africatown Land Trust President and CEO Wyking Garret, without permission. Wilson allegedly posted the snapshots online to imply endorsements that did not exist.

All three men objected, prompting Wilson’s campaign to quietly remove the photos from her website and social media platforms.

When pressed about the allegations at a recent women’s rally, Wilson dodged questions and left without addressing the controversy.

In response to the controversy, Wilson doubled down in a statement to local media writing that Burfect endorsed her over the phone and confirmed the endorsement through an email exchange.

However, emails obtained by Frontlines contradict Wilson’s claims. In an email dated August 18 with the subject line “Unauthorized Endorsement,” Burfect wrote to Wilson, “Approximately 1 1/2 to 2 weeks ago, you telephoned me to let me know that you are running for mayor of Seattle, and you wanted to discuss your platform. We spoke for approximately 1/2 hour while you were discussing your plans for Seattle if elected in November.” He added, “At the end of the conversation, you asked if I would endorse you. My question to you (was), ‘why me?’ You informed me that I was a strong Civil Rights and Labor Leader in Seattle, and I would appreciate if I could get your endorsement because it would mean a lot to me and my campaign.”

NEW: After Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson was accused of lying about receiving the endorsement of Black Civil Rights Leader Claude Burfect, Wilson doubled down on the claim

However, new emails show Burfect specifically said he did not endorse her, asked Wilson to remove… https://t.co/kl8yAVZVTh pic.twitter.com/2UKp1GzY7F

— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) September 10, 2025

Burfect added in the email to Wilson’s team, “I informed Katie that I had already endorsed Bruce Harrell and that I rarely do a dual endorsement. Also, I informed “You” Katie that I would need to do some research on your background and your Political Ideology, you then stated to me, ‘fine.’”Burfect continued, “Katie, I received numerous phone calls from colleagues and members in the community questioning my judgement of endorsing your campaign. Unfortunately they all caught me by surprise because not one time during our conversation did I express endorsing your campaign… I would appreciate if you take my picture which you took from my endorsement of Mayor Harrell that was taken 4 years ago that your people modified and took him off, and my unauthorized endorsement from your campaign literature immediately.”

Remember Ubax Gardheere? She ran for King County Council & was endorsed by Katie Wilson's Transit Riders Union AFTER video surfaced of the candidate threatening to blow up a SCHOOL BUS filled with kids

Now, Katie Wilson wants to be Seattle Mayorpic.twitter.com/jo01SRgdUC

— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) September 9, 2025

This controversy also comes on the heels of another scandal tied to Wilson’s political orbit. A video recently resurfaced of the 2010 arrest of Ubax Gardheere, a former candidate for King County Council, who threatened to blow up a bus filled with middle schoolers in the Highline School District. Just days after the video went viral, Wilson’s radical Transit Riders Union still endorsed Gardheere, sparking outrage in the community.

Wilson has not responded to requests for comment.

Wilson, who has never held elected office, is considered a rising star in Seattle’s progressive movement. She won more than 50 percent of the vote in the city’s primary election and has been compared by political observers to New York socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani. However, she has struggled to build trust with Seattle’s Black community and was called out over the issue during a recent candidate forum.

The fake endorsement scandal and the fresh controversy around her organization’s backing of Gardheere may deepen those doubts. Burfect has publicly stated he is endorsing Mayor Harrell in November’s general election and is now considering legal action against Wilson’s campaign.

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