Girmay Hadish Zahilay

Girmay Zahilay was born in Sudan to Ethiopian refugees and immigrated to the United States at the age of three. He grew up in public housing in South Seattle, including Holly Park and Rainier Vista. He graduated from Franklin High School, earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Stanford University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. His career includes working as an intern in the Obama White House, as a community organizer for the Congressional Hunger Center, and as an attorney at the law firms Skadden Arps and Perkins Coie. He also founded Rising Leaders, a nonprofit that provides mentorship to underserved middle school students. In 2019, he was elected to the King County Council, representing District 2.