Dave Somers

Somers was elected to the Snohomish County Council from the 5th district in 1997, defeating incumbent Democrat R.C. "Swede" Johnson in the primary election and facing a Republican write-in candidate in the general election.^[3][4] Somers was elected on a platform of making real estate developers accountable for strains on infrastructure created by new housing in the county, including roads and schools.^[5]

Somers was defeated in 2001 by Republican Jeff Sax,^[6] whose campaign called Somers a "committed socialist" before retracting the statement. Sax favored local control of land use, opposing the state's Washington State Growth Management Act and federal policies.^[7] Somers campaigned again in 2005, facing Sax for his former council seat, and won by a narrow margin.^[8][9] Somers was re-elected to a third term in 2009, defeating Republican restaurant owner Steve Dana.^[10][11]

During his time on the County Council, Somers focused on land use regulation and strengthening environmental protections.^[12]

Somers announced his candidacy for the county executive office in May 2015, challenging incumbent Democrat John Lovick, appointed to the position in 2013 after the resignation of Aaron Reardon.^[13] In the primary election, Somers narrowly beat Lovick, and the two Democrats advanced to the general election ahead of two Republicans and an independent candidate.^[1] Somers won the general election and was sworn into office as the county's fifth executive in January 2016.^[14] State Representative Hans Dunshee was chosen in February to complete the rest of Somers's term in the County Council.^[15]

In addition to his duties as County Executive, Somers joined the Sound Transit Board in January 2016 and was named the board chair in January 2017.^[16][17] Somers was also elected the vice president of the Puget Sound Regional Council, a regional planning organization, in January 2016.^[18]

Somers ran unopposed for his second term in the 2019 election. He ran for a third term in 2023 and advanced from the primary election with 52 percent of votes alongside Republican challenger Bob Hagglund.^[19][20] Somers defeated Hagglund in the general election with 60 percent of votes and will serve his final term (due to term limits) from 2024 to 2028.^[21][22]

Somers met his wife Elaine while the two were in the University of Washington Husky Marching Band. Somers played the tuba for two years,^[23] served as Drum Major for three years, and marched playing bass drum at the 1978 Rose Bowl.^[24][25]