Results are in: Will Democrats hold onto majority on Pierce County Council?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Democrats retained Pierce County Council majority with Bryan Yambe winning District 5.
- Yambe campaigned on housing, public safety and childcare; he starts a four-year term.
- Council now stands 4 Democrats to 3 Republicans, reinforcing county Democratic control.
It appeared that Democrats would hold onto a majority on the Pierce County Council and with a Democrat county executive will have the upper hand in Pierce County government, according to early polling results Tuesday.
Incumbent Democrat Bryan Yambe garnered 55.32% as of the first tally of votes (6,980 votes), with more to be counted in the coming days. Republican Terry Wise, a real-estate broker and land-use consultant, trailed with 44.42% (5,604 votes). Yambe was sworn into the Pierce County District 5 seat to replace Marty Campbell after several hours of debate in January.
Yambe’s victory means the Pierce County Council will have four Democrats and three Republicans. It solidifies a Democrat stronghold in the county, as Democrat Ryan Mello won the election to be county executive in 2024.
Yambe beat Wise by 2% of the vote in the August primary. Wise led an aggressive campaign against Yambe, bringing right wing national politics into a local race. Wise promised to “not play partisan games” in his statement in the Pierce County voter’s guide, but he sent out mailers to constituents that painted Yambe, a progressive Democrat, as a “leftist extremist, who refuses to condemn the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
Yambe lost The News Tribune’s editorial endorsement when he came under fire for previously using a credit card meant for official government purposes on personal expenses while serving on the Fife City Council in 2018 and 2019.
“After the six-month suspension period, Yambe said he decided not to obtain another credit card for official use. In an interview, he told us that was because he wanted to be extra cautious about not repeating his mistakes,” the editorial board wrote on Oct. 31.
Among the issues Yambe campaigned for were supporting “investments in affordable housing, public safety, homelessness solutions and accessible childcare,” according to his statement in the Pierce County voter’s guide. Yambe also vowed to listen to constituent needs and “build coalitions” to find solutions.
If his lead holds, Yambe would serve as the District 5 Pierce County councilor for four years, starting in January. Council members made $137,889 in 2025, according to the county’s current salary class plan. District 5 includes the communities of Browns Point, Dash Point, Fife Heights, City of Fife, Midland, North Clover Creek, Tacoma’s Eastside and Northeast Tacoma, Parkland, Spanaway, Summit-Waller and Port of Tacoma.
When called Tuesday night, Yambe said he was “really humbled” by the results and grateful to the volunteers, small businesses, unions, tribal members and neighbors who made it possible.
“It was a tough race, and I just tried to stay focused on what I was hearing while door knocking and the district’s priorities,” he said. “The results are a clear message from the people in my district that they want a safe, affordable and more connected county.”
Wise did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.
Find live election results for other Tacoma area races including mayor, city council and school board seats online on The News Tribune’s website.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM.
