Happy New Year, Seattle. Today, Katie Wilson officially becomes Mayor. The inauguration (she is sworn in tomorrow) is a moment for big ideas, but the next 365 days will be defined by big math and high-stakes defense against federal uncertainty. Here is the calendar of the challenges we’re watching in 2026:

Q1: The Seattle Shield & The First 100 Days

• Late January: The Federal Cliff. As federal funding for SNAP and housing vouchers faces potential lapses, Wilson must deploy the $27.6 million Seattle Shield —a local backstop designed specifically to protect the city’s social safety net.

• February: The CARE Rollout. The budget includes $9.5 million to double the CARE Department’s responder teams. Success here means proving that unarmed specialists can effectively take the load off SPD.

Q2: Social Housing & The $1.5B Levy

• April: The $1 Billion Housing Bond. Wilson will introduce her signature proposal: a massive bond for “union-built, publicly owned” housing. This will be her first major showdown with Council moderates over debt limits and the role of the Social Housing Developer.

• May: The Corner Store Rezone. Expect the first draft of the neighborhood residential rezoning, a crucial part of her plan to make it easier for small businesses like cafes and markets to open in residential areas.

• June: Transportation Accountability. While the $1.55 billion levy is approved, Q2 is when the first project milestones are due. Wilson must prove she can move faster than her predecessors on sidewalk repairs and the RapidRide J Line.

Q3: The World Cup & The $125M Deficit

• June/July: The World Cup. With the world watching, Wilson’s ability to manage transit reliability and public order will be her first executive trial by fire.

• September: The 2027 Budget. This is Wilson’s first original budget. To solve the $125 million deficit, she will have to choose between the progressive revenue her base demands (like a local capital gains tax) and the austerity measures the Council centrists will push for.

Q4: The Final Reckoning

• November: Final Budget Vote. This determines if Wilson’s left lane supporters stay in her camp or if she has to move further right to get a majority.