Progressive Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington questioned Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s leadership as officials examined the city’s response to the deadly shooting at a food festival.
Jayapal voiced serious doubts about the self-described socialist mayor after the July attack at the Bite of Seattle left three people dead and four others injured.
“Give me a ring. I’m wondering if we should be there at all,” Jayapal wrote in a series of text
messages to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on July 26, according to KOMO News.
“I’m not confident she knows what she is doing.”
The five-term congresswoman appeared to be referring to a news conference that was postponed for roughly five hours before officials addressed the public about the shooting, which killed two men, ages 19 and 44, along with a 56-year-old woman.
During the exchange, Ferguson encouraged Jayapal to contact Wilson herself rather than rely on him to obtain updates from the mayor’s office.
The lengthy delay drew sharp criticism, leaving Seattle residents without official information for hours after the violence broke out near the Seattle Center, close to the Space Needle, at approximately 6 p.m.
The messages between Jayapal and Ferguson were included in a broader release of documents issued Wednesday by the governor’s office, detailing officials’ communications after the shooting.
Jayapal, who has represented Washington’s 7th Congressional District—including much of Seattle—since 2017, had been working with Ferguson to obtain details about the attack.
Earlier in the evening, the congresswoman had proposed joining Wilson at any public briefing about the shooting.
“I spoke to her. Suggested that if they are doing a public conference, it would be good if we are all there,” Jayapal told Ferguson, who “agreed.”
Officials participated in briefing calls between approximately 8 and 9 p.m.
Jayapal later said she had been instructed not to go to the Seattle Center because investigators were still treating the area as an active crime scene.
Ferguson and Jayapal learned at about 10:10 p.m. that an 11 p.m. news conference had been scheduled, prompting both officials to head to the Seattle Center.
“They’re waiting for both of us,” Jayapal wrote. “I will be there in 15 minutes.”
According to the governor’s office, Jayapal sent that message at 10:32 p.m., two minutes after Ferguson reached the location.
Later reports suggested the briefing had been delayed because officials were waiting for “dignitaries,” without attributing the explanation to the mayor’s office.
“I’m having Rachel call Brian and say this is outrageous that someone said the delay was because of dignitaries. You may want to have your folks do that too,” Jayapal wrote to Ferguson. “We can raise it directly to her too.”
After the governor’s communications became public, Jayapal continued to criticize Wilson’s handling of the explanation for the delayed briefing.
“I spoke to the Mayor on my way to the Seattle Center, and she told me they were awaiting our arrival,” Jayapal told KING5. “Any delay in waiting for the Governor and I to arrive was about a matter of minutes, not hours.”
During the hectic several hours, Jayapal says she thought police were consistently sharing information with the public instead of waiting for the press conference.
Seattle Police shared a single post to X as the shooting unfolded at 6:29 p.m.
“Police are investigating a shooting. Multiple shooting victims. Shots fired at the Seattle Center. More information to come. Please avoid the area,” the post read.
Jayapal, on Thursday, stood by her criticism of Wilson regarding her leadership in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
“My messages also reflected my serious concerns that no information had been shared with the public prior to this press conference,” she told KING5.
Jayapal’s recollection has been confirmed by police officials who said their department was ready to brief the public but had to wait for Wilson.
“What happened that day was tough. We were ready to go. I was gonna really walk down there and handle it. I did talk to the deputy mayor, just kind of let them know as a courtesy, we’re gonna go down and conduct the interview. And then I was told we needed to wait for the mayor,” Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis told the City Council last week, according to KOMO News.
Wilson’s office did not respond to Jayapal’s criticism.
Instead, officials said Wilson was focused on “strengthening public safety communications, reducing gun violence and proposing investments in public safety and well-being.”