[1] In what was characterized as a "sea change in the power structure of Seattle," McGinn differentiated his campaign by his opposition to the proposed tunnel replacement to the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

[5][6][7] McGinn is credited with increasing the influence of the Sierra Club, helping transform it into a "real political force" in Seattle.

[8] McGinn is the founder and former executive director of the Seattle Great City Initiative, a nonprofit advocacy group, and a former head of the Greenwood Community Council.

[4] As a neighborhood organizer and head of his nonprofit, McGinn endorsed his future opponent Mayor Greg Nickels and worked with him to bar development of large, commercial "big box stores", eliminate street parking in favor of bus lanes and push for changes in zoning laws to encourage greater density in the Greenwood neighborhood.

It appointed Seattle Parks Foundation Executive Director Karen Daubert as co-chair to help save the levy campaign.

He advocated replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a surface street instead of the planned tunnel; supplanting private broadband Internet service with a fiber optic system built and operated by Seattle City Light, the city's municipally owned electric utility; and greater local neighborhood control of parking taxes and meter rates.

McGinn said that Nickels and fellow candidate Joe Mallahan, who also favored repealing the tax, were "out of touch" and too close to the "business elite".

In an upset, aided by exposure in the form of a cover profile from The Stranger,[15] McGinn led the August primary with 39,097 votes, ahead of Mallahan's 37,933 and Nickels's 35,781.

[16] In the general election, T-Mobile executive[17] Mallahan was perceived as the "insider candidate", endorsed by Governor Christine Gregoire, a supporter of the tunnel.

Although the race was so close in the early vote count that a recount was considered a possibility, the gap between the candidates widened as the tally proceeded.

He placed second in a field of nine candidates in the Seattle mayoral primary, and lost the general election with 47% of the vote to Ed Murray's 52%.

[33][34] After winning election, McGinn forwarded an expanded education levy that would raise $115 million in additional taxes for the Seattle Public School District.

[42] McGinn supports the legalization and taxation of marijuana, saying on KUOW-FM, "We recognize that, you know, like alcohol, it's something that should be regulated, not treated as a criminal activity.

Some of these programs have been well received as improving safety for bicyclists and lowering vehicle speeds while others have been opposed as hurting local business and inappropriate for arterial routes.

[52] During his campaign for mayor, McGinn said that the deep bore tunnel replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct was "a huge waste of money that's completely indefensible.

"[53] His opposition to the tunnel was criticized by groups like the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce,[54] the downtown business community,[55] the King County Labor Council[56] and the Seattle Times, which, in an editorial critical of both candidates, called McGinn's surface street plan "impractical" and claimed it would clog downtown and overwhelm nearby Interstate 5.

[57] Down in the polls during the final days of the campaign, McGinn, while reiterating his opposition to the tunnel, promised that as mayor he would honor the then-recent unanimous City Council vote to move forward with the project.

Ron Judd, an aide to Governor Gregoire, sent emails to staff and DOT officials saying McGinn's position was "BS" and accusing him of stoking populist anger and relying on voter's ignorance about funding details to advance opposition to the tunnel.

Washington State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond described McGinn's budget forecasting as "wild accusations" as she monitored a campaign debate on her Blackberry, and in response to questions raising concerns about her involvement in opposing the McGinn campaign said, "I can't stand it when politicians make things up in order to win an election.

State officials were criticized for supporting Mallahan and opposing McGinn, and for releasing a video of a 2007 computer animation showing collapse of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in a hypothetical earthquake just nine days before the election.

[59] Citing potential cost overruns, he proposed a surface street replacement of the viaduct and the reduction of cars on that portion of the Washington State Route 99 corridor from 105,000 to 50,000 per weekday.

[60] He said the lost traffic capacity could be offset by diverting more cars to Interstate 5, increased transit use, walking, biking and drivers staying home.

"[61] In February 2011, when the Seattle City Council voted 8-1 to sign an agreement allowing the tunnel project to proceed, McGinn vetoed the ordinance.

The president of Ballard's North Seattle Industrial Association called the likely fallout of early closure "a horror show", citing the corridor's role as the primary arterial for workers, equipment and supplies between manufacturers along Seattle's two key manufacturing zones, the Duwamish Waterway and along the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

[80] Conversely, many members of the community and the Williams family expressed gratitude and John Diaz, Seattle Chief of Police, declared the invitation to the event "an honor.

"[78] In his first two years as mayor, McGinn spearheaded a new program in the Seattle Police Department to expand foot patrols around entertainment venues and nightlife hot spots during the summer, predominantly in the Belltown neighborhood.

[84] In March 2011, the City Council rejected McGinn's plan for the permanent facility in Georgetown, citing the mayor's failure to secure the environmental review required by state law in order to make the necessary zoning changes.

[86][87] He cited concerns about free speech rights, the panhandlers not having access to lawyers, and that the bill could compel people into mental health and drug treatment programs instead of what he called the "normal civil commitment process.

"[88] In a "stunning display" of the clout of McGinn and his political allies to stop a measure that was widely expected to be implemented, the city council failed to override his veto of the panhandling law.

SPOG President Rich O'Neill went on record at a news conference to criticize McGinn's lack of an adequate policy position regarding public safety.