The following article is a joint report by The Ari Hoffman Show and Jonathan Choe, senior fellow for the Discovery Institute and reporter for Turning Point USA’s Frontlines.
On Saturday, more than 200 people packed the Washington Athletic Club for The Great Debate, a long-running Seattle political forum that has become a cornerstone of civic engagement in the city. The event blended politics and community, featuring live music, food, and drinks in a lively atmosphere that encouraged open dialogue and voter participation.
This year’s forum made history with what organizers hailed as the most diverse audience ever assembled for a Seattle political event. Attendees represented every walk of life, from business leaders and longtime residents to students and individuals experiencing homelessness, forming a rare, genuine cross-section of the city’s population.
But the event also faced unexpected turbulence. For the first time since The Great Debate’s beginnings in a Columbia City movie theater, several candidates backed out of their commitments. Organizers said Socialist City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes-Rinck declined the invitation early on, Erika Evans cited a family event, Dionne Foster withdrew during the week of the debate, and Katie Wilson canceled just one hour before she was slated to appear.
Despite the absences, the show went on. Candidates Rachel Savage, Sara Nelson, and Ann Davison each participated in 30-minute Q&A sessions, while Mayor Bruce Harrell joined for an extended one-hour forum. The discussions ranged from homelessness and public safety to Seattle’s budget priorities and civic trust.
Many in the audience, largely undecided voters, said afterward they appreciated the candidates who honored their commitments. Several expressed frustration toward those who bowed out so close to Election Day. “If they can’t show up for voters now, what happens when they’re in office?” one attendee asked.
Controversy soon followed regarding Evans’ absence. In an email, her campaign reportedly told organizers, “Erika is scheduled to attend a wedding on this date. Would it be possible to move the Seattle City Attorney’s debate start time to 11:00 AM? That way, Erika could attend the debate and make it just in time to the wedding.”
However, social media posts shared after the event appeared to show Evans attending a campaign fundraiser with Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Attorney General Nick Brown instead. In photos from the gathering, Evans wrote, “Thank you to everyone who came through for our campaign kickoff — we filled the joint!” Jayapal added in her own post: “Thrilled to support Erika Evans at her campaign kickoff! Erika is a proven fighter and a clear voice for justice – I know she’ll be a great Seattle City Attorney.”
The revelation raised questions: if Evans can’t manage a campaign calendar, how can she be expected to handle the demanding schedule of Seattle’s City Attorney, or worse, did she mislead organizers to avoid a tough debate on her far-left policies?
In the end, the message from The Great Debate was clear: commitment counts. As one organizer put it, “The voters deserve leaders who respect them enough to show up.”
