[4][5][7] Morales completed a two-year term as a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Seattle in July 2019 and also served on the board of the Rainier Beach Action Coalition.

[16][17] Morales, along with incumbents Lisa Herbold and Kshama Sawant, received national attention when Amazon donated $1.45 million to support opposing candidates via the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce's political action committee, the Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy (CASE).

[20] In February 2023, Morales announced that she would run for reelection, focusing her campaign on her progressive accomplishments, such as creating the Jumpstart tax.

[21] She faced two challengers, community activist Tanya Woo and Green Party member and disabled veteran Margaret Elisabeth.

[23] After the primary, Woo held a press conference with councilmember Sara Nelson and community leaders who all criticized the city's and Morales' response to address the drug use and illegal market that had negatively impacted the Little Saigon neighborhood.

[28] Morales would vote in favor of a nonbinding resolution that, in part, supported defunding the police and defended her position, saying, "This is about allocating resources in a way that starts to actually serve the community better.

"[29] Morales had been criticized by some constituents in the Chinatown International District for a lack of city response to increased crime and homelessness in the neighborhood.

[30] In response to the criticism, she pointed to monthly meetings with community leaders and touring the neighborhood, and stated, "I would say absolutely, all levels of government need to be more authentic in their engagement with the CID in particular.

"[31] In 2024, Morales would be the lone vote against legislation that would create Stay Out of Drug Areas, including one located in the Little Saigon neighborhood, stating it would be ineffective.