King County Council's D2 Race Heats Up with Dueling Public Safety Platforms

Two candidates are vying for King County Council’s District 2 seat: Toshiko Hasegawa and Rebecca Saldaña. Both support violence prevention, LEAD diversion programs, gun violence prevention, and youth programs, but differ on approaches—Hasegawa champions zero youth incarceration, while Saldaña emphasizes rehabilitation within facilities. The race highlights county budget challenges, with a projected $90 million deficit in 2028-2029 threatening to limit prevention investments both candidates want to expand.