Teresa Carmen Mosqueda (born July 4, 1980) is an American politician and labor activist from Seattle, Washington. She is a member of the King County Council and has represented District 8 since 2024.[1] Mosqueda was previously a member of the Seattle City Council from 2017 to 2023, in at-large position 8.[2]
Teresa Mosqueda | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the King County Council, District 8 | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Joe McDermott |
| Member of the Seattle City Council, At-large Position 8 | |
| In office November 28, 2017 – January 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kirsten Harris-Talley |
| Succeeded by | Tanya Woo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Teresa Carmen Mosqueda July 4, 1980 Olympia, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Manuel Valdes |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Queen Anne, Seattle |
| Alma mater | University of Washington (BA) Evergreen State College (MPA) |
| Website | Council page |
Career
In November 2013, she was the only member of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange who voted against increasing the salary of the health exchange's CEO by 13%.[3]
She ran for the 8th district seat on the King County Council in 2023 following the retirement of incumbent Joe McDermott. Mosqueda defeated Burien mayor Sofia Aragon in the general election on November 7, 2023.[1] She resigned from the city council on January 2, 2024.[4] Mosqueda joined the county council on January 9 as one of its first Latino American members alongside Jorge Barón.[5]
Personal life
Mosqueda is of third-generation Mexican descent on her father's side and Polish/Swedish/Norwegian on her mother's.[6] She grew up in a middle-income, politically active household.[7][8][9][6] Both her parents are educators.[6] Her father teaches political economy and social change at Evergreen State College, while her mother was an early learning professional who ended up working in higher education policy.[6]
Mosqueda lived in an apartment in the Queen Anne neighborhood until buying a townhouse in early 2019.[10][11][12] Her husband, Manuel Valdes, is an Associated Press journalist.[11] In April 2019 it was announced Mosqueda was believed to be the first sitting Seattle city councilmember to be pregnant[11] and she gave birth to a baby girl in October 2019.[13]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Teresa Mosqueda | 53,676 | 31.59% | |
| Nonpartisan | Jon Grant | 45,653 | 26.87% | |
| Nonpartisan | Sara Nelson | 36,495 | 21.48% | |
| Nonpartisan | Rudy Pantoja | 8,704 | 5.12% | |
| Nonpartisan | Sheley Secrest | 8,467 | 4.98% | |
| Nonpartisan | Charlene D. Strong | 7,562 | 4.45% | |
| Nonpartisan | Hisam Goueli | 5,407 | 3.18% | |
| Nonpartisan | Mac McGregor | 3,444 | 2.03% | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in | 486 | 0.29% | |
| Turnout | 187,741 | 40.49% | ||
| Registered electors | 463,660 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Teresa Mosqueda | 121,192 | 59.49% | |
| Nonpartisan | Jon Grant | 81,302 | 39.91% | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in | 1,239 | 0.61% | |
| Majority | 39,890 | 19.58% | ||
| Turnout | 224,808 | 49.21% | ||
| Registered electors | 456,871 | |||