Kshama Sawant
Kshama Sawant (/kʃʌmɑː sɑːˈwʌnt/; born October 17, 1973) is an Indian-American far-left politician and economist who served on the Seattle City Council from 2014 to 2024. She is a member of Socialist Alternative, the first and only member of the party to date to be elected to public office.
Kshama Sawant | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Seattle City Council | |
| In office January 1, 2014 – January 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Conlin |
| Succeeded by | Joy Hollingsworth |
| Constituency | Position 2 (2014–2016) 3rd district (2016–2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 17, 1973 Pune, India |
| Political party | Socialist Alternative (since 2008) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America (since 2021) |
| Spouses | Vivek Sawant (before 2016)Calvin Priest (m. 2016) |
| Education | University of Mumbai (BS) North Carolina State University (MA, PhD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Government website |
A former software engineer, Sawant became an economics instructor in Seattle after immigrating to the United States from her native India. She ran unsuccessfully for the Washington House of Representatives in 2012 before winning her seat on the Seattle City Council in 2013. She was the first socialist to win a citywide election in Seattle since Anna Louise Strong was elected to the school board in 1916. Sawant narrowly survived a December 7, 2021 recall election for her position on the council by a margin of 310 votes, or 0.76%. It was the first held in Seattle since 1975.
In January 2023, Sawant announced that she would not seek re-election, and would instead promote the Socialist Alternative campaign Workers Strike Back to unionize workers.