(The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council’s progressive majority has a chance to expand its margin next year after one of its conservative members signaled his departure on Wednesday.
Councilmember Michael Cathcart declared his candidacy for Spokane County auditor, hoping to replace longtime incumbent Vicky Dalton. After nearly three decades of service, Dalton plans to retire after the 2026 midterm elections. She beat her last challenger by less than 1% of the vote.
If elected, Cathcart would leave a vacancy on the council that his peers must fill until the winner of the 2027 general election takes his spot. The progressive majority could appoint a candidate who aligns with their views, expanding their control if the right person steps up to the plate.
“This campaign, at its core, is about public trust,” Cathcart wrote in a press release on Wednesday. “The Auditor’s Office should set the gold standard for open, honest government.”
The council last filled a vacancy in 2024 to replace Betsy Wilkerson, who represented District 2 until voters elected her as council president in November 2023. Councilmember Lili Navarrete took the spot but announced her resignation last week, leaving another opening they must fill.
Navarrete’s replacement will serve for about four months once appointed until a new member is elected this fall. Councilmember Jonathan Bingle, representing the other half of the minority and District 1 with Cathcart, is also running for reelection against reproductive rights advocate Sarah Dixit this fall.
If Dixit stops Bingle from securing a second term, only Cathcart will remain unless conservatives running against Councilmember Zack Zappone win his or Navarrete’s seat on the dais; however, if the progressives prevail, and Cathcart wins his race, it could wipe out the conservative minority altogether.
Cathcart beat his progressive challenger, Lindsey Shaw, with 56% of the vote in 2023 to secure a second term. After spending much of his time advocating for fiscal responsibility, government transparency and taxpayer accountability, Cathcart now hopes to do the same as county auditor.
“Sunlight grows confidence,” Cathcart wrote in his announcement. “As Auditor, I’ll work to further shine a light on county finances and expand public access to information — empowering residents to understand how decisions are made and what results they produce.”
According to the release, Cathcart spent months consulting with Dalton before deciding to run for her office. As auditor, he would serve as the county’s top election official while examining financial records to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
Dalton, a Democrat, told Spokane Public Radio in 2023 that whoever replaces her will not have it easy. Her 2022 Republican challenger, Bob McCaslin Jr., who nearly had the job, has already endorsed Cathcart alongside several other current and former elected officials within the party.
“Being the county auditor is not an easy job,” Dalton said in 2023. “This is not a political position. This is a job. You. Do. Work. It’s important that whoever becomes county auditor after me understands the work of this office and is capable of doing the work of this office.”
