Process begins to replace Upthegrove on King County Council

Published 3:08 pm Wednesday, January 15, 2025

With Dave Upthegrove wrapping up his career Jan. 14 on the King County Council, the process begins to appoint his replacement for the rest of the year.

Upthegrove resigned to begin his position Jan. 15 as the state lands commissioner.

King County Executive Dow Constantine will nominate three people to replace Upthegrove, with the county council appointing one of those three.

“The executive is carefully evaluating options for the appointment and has not yet made a final decision,” said Amy Enbysk, a spokesperson for Constantine’s office in a Jan. 15 email. “He is committed to ensuring the process is fair and will proceed at a pace that supports that principle.”

Enbyski said once the executive names his three nominees and shares them with the council, they will have 60 days to act from the date of the vacancy.

An election for the seat will be held in November 2025.

Voters elected Upthegrove, a Des Moines Democrat, as state lands commissioner on the November 2024 ballot. He has held the District 5 seat since 2014. District 5 includes parts of Kent, Tukwila, Renton and the cities of Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park and SeaTac.

Voters elected Upthegrove to a third, four-year term on the council in 2021. He defeated Shukri Olow, of Kent, with 63.9% of the vote. Prior to council, he represented the 33rd District, which includes parts of Kent, in the Legislature from 2002 to 2013.