Erika Evans, a seasoned federal prosecutor and former Assistant Seattle City Attorney, has entered the race for Seattle City Attorney, setting up a high-profile challenge to Republican incumbent Ann Davison. Evans, who began her career in the very office she now seeks to lead, framed the election as a pivotal moment for the city’s legal leadership, emphasizing her commitment to public safety, civil rights, and restoring trust in the City Attorney’s Office.
“Seattle needs and deserves an experienced City Attorney committed to public safety, dedicated to serving all communities, and who will not hesitate to fight back to defend our rights and freedoms,” Evans said in her campaign announcement.
Evans brings a unique blend of federal and municipal experience to the race. She most recently served nearly four years as an Assistant United States Attorney in Seattle, prosecuting cases involving violent crime, narcotics and firearms trafficking, wage theft, and hate crimes. Her legal career began in the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted misdemeanor crimes and represented the city in complex civil litigation.
She said her campaign would focus on ensuring the City Attorney’s Office plays a more active role in public safety and community partnership, including addressing misdemeanor-level crimes, collaborating across jurisdictions on serious offenses, and supporting harm reduction efforts in the midst of the fentanyl crisis. “My experience enables me to collaborate seamlessly across jurisdictions and rebuild community trust in the City Attorney’s role as a dedicated partner in safety, crime prevention, and harm reduction,” she said.
Evans’ professional credentials are only part of her story. Evans was raised in Tacoma by a family steeped in civil rights activism. Her grandmother, a public servant and movement organizer, helped plan human rights demonstrations at the 1968 Olympic Games. Her grandfather, Lee Evans, won two gold medals at those same games and raised his fist on the podium in a powerful call for racial justice. From a young age, Evans was taught not only to serve—but to stand.
“Those values—learning how to stand up for people—taught me how critical it is to protect underserved and historically excluded communities,” she said.
That legacy has shaped every chapter of her career. From volunteering at a legal aid clinic in college to representing the United States in complex criminal cases, Evans has consistently advocated for fairness, equity, and safety. In her early legal work, she served as an infraction prosecutor while attending law school, later rising through the ranks to become an Assistant City Attorney, where she handled civil litigation for the City of Seattle.
Her time as a federal prosecutor broadened her reach. She worked cases involving wage theft, violent crime, firearms and narcotics trafficking, crimes against children, and hate crimes—experiences that give her insight into how local and federal efforts must align to create safer communities.
Evans has also served as a municipal court pro tempore judge, presiding over criminal cases, and understands firsthand how courtroom decisions impact lives in real time.
While public safety is a central pillar of her campaign, Evans is equally concerned with democratic values and civil rights protections—especially under the shadow of past federal policies that threatened them.
“I have seen how the Trump Administration is attempting to destroy foundations of our democracy, forcing former colleagues and fellow federal government workers across the country to lose their jobs, sometimes because they stood for what is right,” she said. “We need a City Attorney who understands these threats and the struggles of our friends, families, and neighbors in the crosshairs of these aggressions.”
Evans’ work outside the courtroom reflects her commitment to equity and service. She is a past president of the Loren Miller Bar Association—one of Washington state’s largest and oldest civil rights legal organizations—and a former co-chair of the Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum, an initiative that builds trust between youth and law enforcement.
She has already secured endorsements from a broad coalition of civic and legal leaders, including King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth, State Senator Rebecca Saldaña, and State Representative Chipalo Street.
“I’m grateful for the support of so many members of the legal community who know my work and understand that the job of City Attorney requires both legal expertise and coalition-building skills to be an effective advocate for the people and values of our diverse city,” Evans said.
Evans is a proud product of Washington’s public schools. She graduated from UW Tacoma, earned her law degree at Seattle University School of Law, and worked odd jobs to help make ends meet—experiences she says give her a strong connection to working families and young people trying to break into the legal profession.
Her public service has been recognized widely. She received the Loren Miller Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Award, was named Alumni of the Year by Seattle University’s Black Law Students Association, and in 2024, she earned a coveted spot on the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list.
Evans lives in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood with her husband, Christopher Sanders, a civil litigator and former public defender, and their playful Goldendoodle, Daisy.
As the campaign unfolds, Evans says she’s focused on meeting voters where they are—listening, learning, and leading with both compassion and conviction.
“As our elected City Attorney, I will show up, listen, and be a champion for all Seattle residents,” she said.
Source: Seattle Medium
