Dionne Foster Building Momentum in Seattle City Council Race, Qualifies For Democracy Voucher Program In Record Time

Just one week after announcing her candidacy for Seattle City Council, Dionne Foster has reached the Democracy Voucher Program threshold, securing 400 contributions and 400 signatures from Seattle voters in record time. Foster, a nonprofit executive director and former senior policy advisor for the City of Seattle, is challenging Councilmember Sara Nelson, who has opted out of Seattle’s public campaign financing system.

“Thank you to our early endorsers, voucher captains, and the incredible supporters who helped make our launch such a success,” Foster said. “I’m excited to engage with communities across Seattle about the future we can build together—one where we ensure public safety, expand affordable housing, and create a city that protects our rights and respects our voices.”

Foster has already secured endorsements from more than 30 elected officials and community leaders, including State Representatives Chipalo Street and Joe Fitzgibbon, Jeanie Chunn of Seattle Restaurants United, and kids and family advocate Kristen Rowe-Finkbeiner.

As executive director of the WA Progress Alliance, Foster played a key role in passing and protecting Washington’s capital gains tax, a measure that has invested over $51 million in childcare in King County, creating 2,300 new childcare slots for working families in its first year. She also helped fund initiatives supporting affordable housing, immigrant healthcare, reproductive rights, and democracy reforms aimed at expanding voter access and increasing civic engagement.

Foster’s extensive background in policy and advocacy includes serving as a senior policy advisor for the City of Seattle, where she worked to improve public safety, expand youth opportunities, and advance climate goals. Later, as a senior program officer at the Seattle Foundation, she managed public-private partnerships that developed new housing strategies, combated displacement, and invested in community-led solutions to address homelessness.

Her commitment to public service is deeply personal. Raised by a single mother who was an Army veteran and later a teacher, Foster worked two jobs in high school to help support her family. She put herself through college and later earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington, where she later returned as an adjunct faculty member to train graduate students.

Foster’s firsthand experience navigating low-wage work and economic insecurity has shaped her dedication to economic justice and strong labor protections. As a former restaurant worker, she relied on affordable healthcare through Apple Health to cover medical expenses when she had her son. Seattle’s Down Payment Assistance Program helped her achieve homeownership, creating long-term housing stability and a pathway to generational wealth.

Beyond her professional work, Foster serves on the board of Climate Solutions, is a former board member of Pro-Choice Washington, and donates a portion of her garden harvest to local food banks. A lifelong WNBA fan and Seattle Storm supporter, she enjoys spending time outdoors, rain or shine, with her son and their rescue dog.

Foster’s rapid qualification for the Democracy Voucher Program signals strong grassroots enthusiasm for her campaign. As she continues building momentum, she remains focused on addressing Seattle’s most pressing challenges and engaging voters in shaping the city’s future.