In February 2023, Saka announced that he would stand for the city council, replacing Lisa Herbold who declined to run for re-election.[3][6] He said that his campaign aligned more with District 1, compared to Herbold's progressive policies.[2] Saka's platform focused on public safety and police reform, rejecting many of the policies championed by the city council at the time.[2][5] In the August primary, Saka came in second, with 24% of the vote.[7] Former Amazon worker and climate activist Maren Costa coming in first, with 33%. Costa was fired from Amazon in 2020 after publicly urging the company to do more to combat climate change and improve conditions for warehouse workers.[8] After the primary, the six other candidates endorsed Costa over Saka despite wide policy differences, saying "She has experience fighting for justice and a better world".[9]
Saka and Costa had some similar policy proposals regarding public safety and hiring more police. However, Saka accused Costa of flip-flopping on "defunding the police" when she stated her support for hiring additional police.[5][10] Costa did not support legislation passed by the city council to prosecute low-level drug offenses, while Saka urged the council to pass the legislation, calling it a "powerful tool".[8] Saka promoted sweeps of homeless encampments as another tool for the city to use to address homelessness and crime, while Costa openly rejected the sweeping policy under Mayor Bruce Harrell.[2][10]
In the November general election, Saka defeated Costa 54% to 45%.[11]
Once sworn in, Saka became chair of the Transportation Committee, stating he became the "king of potholes".[12] As chair, Saka proposed a $1.55 billion transportation levy, larger than the $1.35 billion levy proposed by Harrell, which would add an average of $41 for taxpayers.[13] Saka added in additional projects, including sidewalks, safe routes to schools, and safety on public transit, electric charging stations, a freight program, and a ‘district project fund.’[13] The council would unanimously pass the legislation and put it on the November 2024 ballot for voters to approve.[14]
While on the council, Saka supported hiring additional police, stating, "The public safety challenges that we're experiencing today are a shameful legacy of the defund the police movement. And that was wrong then. It's wrong now. Defund is Dead."[15] As a member of the Council's Public Safety Committee, he voted for a bill that would repeal the city's ban on police use of blast balls for crowd control.[16] During an earlier visit to a firing range where he saw a blast ball demonstrated, he asked to have a blast ball used on him directly, saying “I made the request, and the executive declined my request.”[16]
In office, Saka has courted criticism for his efforts to force the Seattle Department of Transportation to revise the RapidRide H Line bus rapid transit project in the Seattle neighborhood of Delridge. In October 2024, Saka attempted to dedicate $2 million in the city budget to remove a safety median that prevents drivers on Delridge Way SW from turning left into a preschool that Saka's children attend.[17] Saka compared the 8-inch tall median to President Donald Trump's attempts to build border walls on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Saka's May 2025 approval rating was negative with 13% approving of his job performance and 40% disapproving.[18]
