Washington Secretary of State Certifies Millionaires Tax Repeal Ballot Measure

The Washington Secretary of State certified Initiative 645 for the November ballot on July 15, 2026, after verifying that the measure exceeded the required signature threshold. Sponsored by financier Brian Heywood and the Let’s Go Washington political committee, the initiative submitted over 511,000 signatures with a validity rate of 82.3%. The measure seeks to repeal a state income tax on households earning over $1 million annually, which was signed into law in March 2026.

Governor Bob Ferguson launched a campaign on Tuesday to defeat the initiative, arguing that the tax is projected to generate $3 billion annually starting in 2029 to fund K-12 education, childcare, and tax credits. Ferguson contends that a repeal would create a $13 billion budget deficit over four years and threaten universal school lunches. His opposition campaign has already secured $3 million in pledges from public-sector unions.

Supporters of the repeal, including Heywood and the Washington Realtors Association, argue the tax is unconstitutional and encourages wealthy residents to leave the state. They claim the tax may eventually expand to affect lower-income brackets. While Let's Go Washington cites a poll showing 57% of voters oppose the income tax, opponents like Soleil Boyd of the Children's Alliance warn that resulting budget cuts would be devastating to families. The tax also faces a separate legal challenge in the Washington Supreme Court.