Girmay H. Zahilay was sworn in Tuesday as the seventh elected King County Executive, becoming the youngest, the first millennial, the first immigrant, the first refugee, and the first resident from outside Seattle to hold the position. The inauguration, held in the King County Council chambers in Seattle, marked the first transition of county executive leadership in 16 years.
Administered by U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones, the oath of office signaled a new chapter for King County government. Zahilay now leads more than 18,000 employees and serves over 2.3 million residents in the 12th largest county in the United States. He was elected earlier in November with a nearly 10-point victory.
Zahilay was joined by outgoing Executive Shannon Braddock and former Executive Dow Constantine for the official swearing-in ceremony. Gratitude was extended to both leaders for their years of public service.
During his inaugural address, Zahilay laid out the central framework of his administration, guided by what he called the “Four B’s”: Breaking the Cycle, Building for Affordability, Boots on the Ground, and Better Government.
“We will seek to break the cycle of homelessness, addiction, crime and incarceration that is harming too many people in our region,” Zahilay said. He emphasized infrastructure investment and streamlined permitting to improve affordability, stating, “We believe more supply will lead to more affordability. That means increasing the supply of housing, childcare, transit, and business opportunities.”
Zahilay promised a more community-centered approach to governance. “I want you to see us outside, connecting and solving problems in a very tangible way: doing community cleanups, stocking food banks, knocking on doors in low-income communities, activating physical spaces through the arts, setting up more customer service centers, and more,” he said.
On government performance, he added, “We want to deliver government services more effectively, more equitably. We want to make our government more accountable and more transparent.”
Earlier in the day, a ceremonial event at NewHolly Gathering Hall in South Seattle brought together more than 200 community members. Zahilay addressed the crowd alongside Redmond Mayor Angela Birney and Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. The site was personally significant, as Zahilay lived in the NewHolly neighborhood as a child while his family experienced homelessness and moved through affordable housing in the region.
At the ceremony, Zahilay was joined by his wife, Joyce Bruce, and daughter, Jazzy, before taking a ceremonial oath with Judge Jones.
Zahilay has already begun staffing his administration, naming Karan Gill as Deputy Executive and Jasmin Weaver as Chief of Staff. Weaver’s appointment will take effect in January. The hires reflect a strategy of blending seasoned county governance experience with new talent to drive innovation. Zahilay’s transition will continue into early 2026 as he and his leadership team finalize the executive office structure.
Two weeks before taking office, Zahilay named the co-chairs of a 100-member Transition Committee. The group includes representatives from government, business, nonprofits, and philanthropy, each aligned with one of the Four B’s. A final report is expected in December. The committee is led by Katie Garrow, MLK Labor; Esther Lucero, Seattle Indian Health Board; Brad Smith, Microsoft Corporation; and Doug Baldwin, Vault89 and Family First Community Center.
Before becoming Executive, Zahilay served nearly six years as the King County Councilmember for District 2. One of his first executive actions will be to submit three names to the Council to fill the District 2 seat. He has committed to nominating only caretaker candidates who will not run in the next election.
In a letter to constituents, Zahilay announced a Regional Day of Service to take place Wednesday, focusing on food banks across the county. “This day isn’t just about volunteering, it’s about showing who we are when we come together,” Zahilay wrote. He encouraged residents to volunteer, donate, or support local food resources, linking to www.kingcounty.gov/food-resource-map for more information.
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, who ran against Zahilay for County Executive in the general elections, issued a statement honoring the leadership of outgoing Executive Braddock and Councilmember De’Sean Quinn, praising their service. Balducci also welcomed Executive Zahilay and new Councilmember Steffanie Fain, expressing commitment to collaborative governance on issues such as housing, homelessness, transportation, public safety, and government accountability.
