Skip to main content

You make this possible. Support our independent, nonprofit newsroom today.

Give Now

The final woman drops from the race: Seattle supporters lament Elizabeth Warren’s departure

caption: Elizabeth Warren drew thousands of supporters in two Seattle Center speeches during her presidential campaign.
Enlarge Icon
Elizabeth Warren drew thousands of supporters in two Seattle Center speeches during her presidential campaign.
KUOW/Amy Radil

Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren had a lot of fans in Seattle. Now they are grieving her departure from the presidential race.

Elizabeth Warren came to Seattle Center twice during her presidential campaign. Both times she drew thousands of supporters, and urged people with disabilities, and families with young kids, to come to the head of the line to snap a photo with her.

Today at Seattle Center, people said they’ll miss her. Rachel Harris said Warren “would have definitely gotten my vote.” But she wasn’t shocked at Warren’s announcement. She said, “I felt like it was probably inevitable because we are just living with the sexism that won’t allow people to see that she could have been a viable option.”

Njeri Thande, who volunteered for Warren's campaign, called her withdrawal disheartening. Thande said she admired Warren's policy ideas about fighting corruption, as well as the base of support that she built by being willing to listen.

"It looked multi-racial and multi-generational to me, which was important," Thande said.

But Thande said as she canvassed and made phone calls for the campaign, she heard voters in other states hesitating about whether to support Warren.

“I do think part of it is people weren’t feeling very comfortable about voting for a woman," Thande said. "I did talk to people on the phone who said, ‘I need someone who’s electable.’”

For her part Thande said she's still "mourning and grieving" Warren's departure, but wants a progressive candidate so she's "definitely leaning towards the Bernie camp" in the upcoming primary.

Retiree Charlotte Mitchell, who was out walking near Seattle Center, is leaning the other direction now that Warren and Pete Buttigieg, her other favored candidate, have withdrawn.

"I'm sorry she dropped out, and I hope she gives her support to Biden," Mitchell said. "I think he'd have a better chance at beating Trump, and the important thing is to beat Trump!" Mitchell said.

By the Seattle Center fountain, Raul Cardona – a visitor from Georgia – said he supported Warren and admired her attempts to curb banking powers and hep consumers. He said she was more left-leaning than most candidates he’s supported.

“But I really like her; she’s bright, she’s energetic,” he said. “It’s really sad that she’s out.”

caption: Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign office near Seattle Center.
Enlarge Icon
Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign office near Seattle Center.
KUOW/Amy Radil

In announcing the suspension of her campaign, Warren said she's sorry that little girls will have to wait four more years to potentially see a female president of the U.S.

Warren said in her candidacy she tried to create a new “lane” for Democrats between moderates and progressives, but it didn’t work. She said she’ll take time to think before endorsing either Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders.

Why you can trust KUOW