Supporters Mobilize to Defend Washington Income Tax Against Repeal Effort
Gov. Bob Ferguson and unions are backing the effort as supporters say the measure would protect a 9.9% tax on incomes above $1 million.
- On Tuesday, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson launched the "No on 645" campaign at Food Lifeline in Seattle, urging voters to reject an initiative repealing the state's 9.9% millionaires tax on household incomes exceeding $1 million.
- Hedge fund manager Brian Heywood and supporters turned in more than 511,000 signatures earlier this month to qualify Initiative 645 for the November ballot, vastly surpassing the 308,911 required signatures.
- The opposition campaign has secured $3 million in pledges from major public-sector unions, while advocates warn repeal would blow a "$13 billion hole" in the state budget over four years, jeopardizing education and childcare funding.
- Ferguson vowed to veto any effort to apply the income tax to households earning less than $1 million, stopping short Tuesday of pledging to block other tax increases the Democratic-majority Legislature might send him.
- This effort follows three previous Let's Go Washington initiatives, including measures on natural gas and police pursuit rules, as voters decide the fate of the tax Ferguson signed into law on March 30, 2026.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Campaign launches to save education, healthcare funding
With a repeal of the Millionaires Tax likely to appear on the November ballot, working people launch “NO on I-645” campaign SEATTLE, WA (July 15, 2026) — With billions in funding for education, health care, and child care on the line, the campaign to defeat the Millionaires Tax repeal is off and running. A coalition […] The post Campaign launches to save education, healthcare funding appeared first on The STAND.
'He has struck out': Ferguson says voters will reject Heywood's millionaires' tax repeal as advocates warn of billions in education cuts
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is ramping up efforts to stop the repeal of the state’s millionaires’ tax. At a press conference Tuesday, Ferguson said he is confident voters will reject Initiative 645, the effort by Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood to repeal the millionaires’ tax, as advocates warned the repeal would lead to billions of dollars in cuts to education. “Hedge manager Brian Heywood is, of course, behind this initiative,” …
Your Alaska Link
Supporters mobilize to defend Washington income tax against repeal effort
(The Center Square) - Governor Bob Ferguson and other supporters of Washington’s new income tax held a press conference Tuesday to encourage residents to reject an initiative that would repeal the tax.
Ferguson kicks off fight to defeat Washington initiative to repeal income tax
SEATTLE — The initiative to overturn Washington’s new income tax on high earners hasn’t officially qualified for the fall ballot yet, but on Tuesday, Gov. Bob Ferguson and other opponents of the measure kicked off a campaign to defeat it. At Food Lifeline in the city’s South Park neighborhood, Ferguson said that with Initiative 645, voters will have a decision between upholding the tax and “moving our state forward by making life more affordable…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
