Joy Hollingsworth

Jacqueline J. "Joy" Hollingsworth (born March 15, 1984) is an American politician, businessperson, and former basketball player. She is a member of the Seattle City Council from the 3rd district, having been elected in 2023 and has served as President of the City Council since 2026. She played basketball at the college level for the University of San Francisco and later the University of Arizona. She served as an assistant coach at Seattle University. Hollingsworth is now part of her family's local marijuana business, The Hollingsworth Cannabis Company (THC Co.), which is based in Washington.

Early life and basketball career Joy Hollingsworth was born in Seattle on March 15, 1984. Hollingsworth's paternal grandmother, Dorothy Hollingsworth, was a prominent educator and civil rights activist in Seattle. Her uncle is former Sonics player, Bruce Seals. Hollingsworth's mother, Rhonda, moved from New Orleans to Seattle to be closer to her brother, Bruce. She started playing college basketball at the University of San Francisco and then later transferred to the University of Arizona after two years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2007 from the University of Arizona and in 2009, earned a master's degree in Education in Intercollegiate Athletics Leadership from the University of Washington. Hollingsworth also played basketball in Athens, and has written for ESPN The Magazine.

San Francisco and Arizona statistics

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Post-basketball

Hollingsworth left coaching in 2012. They opened the Hollingsworth Cannabis Company (THC Co.), located in Shelton, with Hollingsworth overseeing processing. Their marijuana farm has around 9,000 plants and appeared on an episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.

Hollingsworth and her family were crucial in ensuring a law supporting more people of color entering the cannabis industry in Washington state passed. In her announcement, Hollingsworth state she would "develop and promote progressive and practical strategies to address root causes..." Later that week, incumbent Kshama Sawant, the council's only socialist member, announced that she would not run for reelection.

In the primary, Mayor Bruce Harrell endorsed Hollingsworth of the eight challengers for the open seat. She earned the most votes in the August election, with 36.87% of the vote, and advancing to the general election alongside transportation advocate Alex Hudson, who earned 36.53%. Hollingsworth and Hudson agreed that homelessness, housing affordability, and public safety, but differed on approach, with Hollingsworth supporting moderate solutions and Hudson more progressive ones.

In the November general election, Hollingsworth defeated Hudson, 52.94% to 46.71%.

Tenure Hollingsworth took office on January 2, 2024. She was sworn in with five other new council members who all ran on a moderate platform, representing the largest turnover in the city council since 1911.

In July 2024, Hollingsworth proposed legislation that would continue exempting businesses with less than 500 employees from matching the minimum wage for companies with 500+ employees and increasing the minimum wage based on inflation. The plan was meant to advert small businesses from wages increasing by $3 per hour.

Hollingsworth also voted in favor of the controversial exclusionary zones known as the Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA) and Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution (SOAP). She added amendments that would create a SODA zone in the Capital Hill neighborhood to disrupt drug trafficking in the area.

On January 6, 2026, Hollingsworth was unanimously selected to be President of the Seattle City Council after incumbent president Sara Nelson lost her bid for reelection.

In July 2026, the Seattle City Council voted to approve Mayor Katie Wilson's plan on implementing the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promises (FEPP) Levy, which included funding for universal school meals for the 2026-27 school year. During the special meeting, Hollingsworth, along with Dionne Foster and Debora Juarez, introduced an amendment to delay the universial school meals to add $500,000 a year to a food assistnce program for at-need families during weekends and school breaks. Although the amendment received pushback from public commentors, the amendment passed 6-3. The following day, Foster, Hollingsworth and Dan Strauss announced a plan to fund universial school meals for the 2026-27 school year through the general fund.

Electoral history 2023 election