Carmen Rivera is running for re-election for Renton City Council, Position 2. Since winning her first race in 2021, Rivera has been a progressive advocate in the Renton community. She was the first openly queer person, the first Boricua, and the youngest Latina to be elected to the Renton City Council. She is also currently the Assistant Dean for Student Engagement for the College of Arts and Sciences at Seattle University, and helped "spearhead LGBTQ and gender-responsive youth programming on campus."
As a city council member, Rivera used her background in criminal justice to advocate for reforms to the criminal legal system. In 2023, she was among three Renton City Council members who signed a letter asking for "reform and new solutions to address the roots of crime and to find 'data-driven' solutions as an alternative to punitive approaches to justice."
Throughout her tenure on the council, Rivera has consistently demonstrated herself to be a progressive leader for all her constituents. In 2024, she created more opportunities for public engagement through initiatives like "Word on the Street." She also supported strategies for planning for and creating affordable housing, such as the partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Willowcrest Phase II project. Additionally, Rivera has been an outspoken advocate for marginalized voices in Renton, most recently proposing that Renton be declared a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ community.
Rivera’s record includes some problems as well. In May of 2025, Rivera was accused of workplace harassment by six individuals, who alleged that Rivera had berated, bullied, and verbally harassed them for years. Rivera has since denied the allegations, and her campaign consultant called them "politically motivated retaliation." Additionally, Axios reported that Rivera faced charges for a domestic violence incident involving a former partner. The case was eventually dropped; however, the notes on the case were not available at the time the article was written. We are alarmed by the accusations and take them seriously, which is why we do not give her a sole recommendation.
Rivera is the most progressive candidate in the race and has earned the most endorsements from local leaders and organizations.
Carmen Rivera is running for re-election for Renton City Council, Position 2. Since winning her first race in 2021, Rivera has been a progressive advocate in the Renton community. She was the first openly queer person, the first Boricua, and the youngest Latina to be elected to the Renton City Council. She is also currently the Assistant Dean for Student Engagement for the College of Arts and Sciences at Seattle University, and helped "spearhead LGBTQ and gender-responsive youth programming on campus."
As a city council member, Rivera used her background in criminal justice to advocate for reforms to the criminal legal system. In 2023, she was among three Renton City Council members who signed a letter asking for "reform and new solutions to address the roots of crime and to find 'data-driven' solutions as an alternative to punitive approaches to justice."
Throughout her tenure on the council, Rivera has consistently demonstrated herself to be a progressive leader for all her constituents. In 2024, she created more opportunities for public engagement through initiatives like "Word on the Street." She also supported strategies for planning for and creating affordable housing, such as the partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Willowcrest Phase II project. Additionally, Rivera has been an outspoken advocate for marginalized voices in Renton, most recently proposing that Renton be declared a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ community.
Rivera’s record includes some problems as well. In May of 2025, Rivera was accused of workplace harassment by six individuals, who alleged that Rivera had berated, bullied, and verbally harassed them for years. Rivera has since denied the allegations, and her campaign consultant called them "politically motivated retaliation." Additionally, Axios reported that Rivera faced charges for a domestic violence incident involving a former partner. The case was eventually dropped; however, the notes on the case were not available at the time the article was written. We are alarmed by the accusations and take them seriously, which is why we do not give her a sole recommendation.
Rivera is the most progressive candidate in the race and has earned the most endorsements from local leaders and organizations.