Initiative Measure No. IP26-645

Argument for

By Chris Gildon, State Senator, Republican, Puyallup; Jesse Proudman, Lifelong Washingtonian and Three-Time Entrepreneur; Patti Mann, Retired Firefighter/Paramedic, Seattle Fire Department; Viet Nguyen, Small Business Owner, Independent, Seattle; Semmelle Abraham, Small Business Owner; Julie H. Olds, Grandmother and Small Business Owner

Glittering GeneralitiesCard StackingAppeal to Fear

Vote Yes: Repeal the Income Tax, Make Olympia Keep Its Word Trust isn’t built by passing another tax, it’s earned by keeping promises. Over the last 90 years, Washingtonians have rejected an income tax ten times because they knew it would threaten economic growth, discourage investment, and reach beyond the people originally targeted. This year, the Legislature enacted a new income tax anyway.

Glittering Generalities · “Trust isn’t built by passing another tax, it’s earned by keeping promises.” — Vague positive appeal to 'trust' and 'keeping promises' used as a rhetorical flourish without specifics.

Card Stacking · “because they knew it would threaten economic growth, discourage investment, and reach beyond the people originally targeted” — Presents only the rejection history and one-sided predicted harms as settled fact, omitting counterarguments or evidence.

Appeal to Fear · “threaten economic growth, discourage investment, and reach beyond the people originally targeted” — Evokes anxiety about economic harm and tax creep to push a vote.

I-645 restores your right to decide. Taxes Always Expand Supporters insist the tax is narrow, applying only to income above $1 million. But lawmakers rejected opportunities to permanently limit its reach, giving Olympia the ability to expand the income tax to everyone. Before asking taxpayers for more, they should demonstrate they can keep the commitments they’ve already made.

A History of Broken Promises 80 times in the last five years Olympia has moved money from dedicated accounts to the general fund. They’ve taken money from state healthcare, flood control, pipeline safety, school employees’ insurance, and others to backfill the general fund.

The capital gains tax was promised to support early learning and childcare, yet those commitments were delayed, reduced, or cancelled. First responders spent careers relying on promises about their retirements, only to watch the legislature raid their pensions to plug holes in the general fund. Trust erodes when dedicated funding doesn’t produce the results people were promised.

Voting Yes repeals the new income tax before it begins, preserves the Working Families Tax Credit, paid family leave, and small-business tax relief. Voters have the final say.

From sos.wa.gov, the official voter guide.

Argument against

By Janie White, President, Washington Education Association; Matt Hipp, Small Business Owner, Halcyon Brewing Company; Rosa Potts, Registered Nurse, Vancouver; April Sims, President, Washington State Labor Council; Thom Garrard, Retired classroom teacher, Edmonds School Board Member; Lindsay Johnson, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Greater Washington, Yakima

Card StackingBandwagon Appeal

Washington has one of the nation’s most upside-down tax systems, where working and middle class families pay a far higher tax rate than the wealthiest. I-645 would make that worse. I-645 is fiscally irresponsible, slashing billions in funding for education and healthcare, increasing taxes on 460,000 hard-working families, and jeopardizing tax cuts for thousands of small businesses.

Vote No: Stop a Tax Break for the Wealthiest Hedge fund mogul Brian Heywood has spent millions backing I-645 because he wants a tax cut for the top 1%, while sticking working and middle class families and small businesses with higher costs.

I-645 could mean higher taxes for thousands of small businesses, force families to pay sales tax for basic household items like diapers, and raise taxes for 460,000 Washington families – just so those making over a million dollars in a year get a tax break.

Vote No: Stop Cuts to Schools, Healthcare, and Childcare This measure cuts funding for K-12 public schools, healthcare, childcare, and other important public services by $13 billion over four years. That means larger class sizes, higher costs for healthcare and childcare, and the elimination of free school lunches for many children.

Vote No: Stop Higher Costs for Working Families I-645 gives the wealthiest a big break while the rest of us face higher healthcare and childcare costs and cuts to public schools and higher education. Join Washington nurses, teachers, and small business owners. Vote No on I-645.

Card Stacking · “gives the wealthiest a big break while the rest of us face higher healthcare and childcare costs and cuts to public schools and higher education” — Presents only the costs and cuts side of the measure and omits any benefits or counterarguments, framing it as purely a giveaway to the wealthy.

Bandwagon Appeal · “Join Washington nurses, teachers, and small business owners.” — Urges the reader to join a group of respected professionals to pressure conformity with their position.

From sos.wa.gov, the official voter guide.

Supporting

Let's Go Washington (Sponsored by Brian Heywood)

Ballot measure committee, sponsored by Brian Heywood

Raised $3,936,675 · spent $3,918,276 · as reported through Oct 16, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• HEYWOOD BRIAN · $607,136 · individual
• Hughes Lawrence · $250,000 · individual
• Gordon Steve · $250,000 · individual
• Crow Robert · $245,000 · individual
• Kelley DevCom LLC · $200,000
  Company

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Vote Yes Repeal the Income Tax

Ballot measure committee

Raised $2,040,595 · spent $1,579,072 · as reported through Oct 16, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• Madrona Venture Group, LLC · $250,000
  Company
• Hughes Lawrence · $250,000 · individual
• Gordon Steve · $250,000 · individual
• Gordon Larry · $200,000 · individual
• Gordon Truck Centers · $100,000
  Company

47TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS (47th District GOP)

Political party

“We are active members of the Republican party who live or work in the 47th legislative district.” — its website

Raised $14,930 · spent $12,548 · as reported through Oct 20, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• NEW TECH WEB, INC. · $2,265
  Company
• KELTS DONALD · $2,130 · individual
• ROBERTS RAYMOND · $1,796 · individual
• Clark Cobi · $1,075 · individual
• TOMLINSON CECIL J · $1,062 · individual

A political party committee registered on this measure. Its totals cover all its activity, including candidates; its filings don’t divide them by measure.

SKAGIT/ISLAND COUNTIES BUILDERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (SICBAPAC)

Political action committee, sponsored by Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association (from the registered committee name)

“Established in 1979, we are your neighbors and community leaders, providing education and support for building industry professionals.” — its sponsor’s website

Raised $100 · spent $30 · as reported through Oct 13, 2026

This committee does other political work too; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Straight Talk Republican Caucus of Douglas County Sponsored by Holly Duffy (Straight Talk GOP)

Political action committee, sponsored by Holly Duffy

Registered; no financial report filed yet.

A political party committee registered on this measure. Its totals cover all its activity, including candidates; its filings don’t divide them by measure.

Skagit Young Republicans (SYR)

Political action committee

Registered; no financial report filed yet.

A political party committee registered on this measure. Its totals cover all its activity, including candidates; its filings don’t divide them by measure.

Opposing

No on 645

Ballot measure committee

Raised $12,546,413 · spent $7,354,425 · as reported through Oct 20, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• Washington Education Association · $3,024,436
  Labor union
• Washington Federation of State Employees · $2,501,817
  Labor union
• SEIU 775 Ballot Fund · $1,500,000
  Political action committee, sponsored by SEIU 775 (from the registered committee name)
• National Education Association · $1,000,000
  Labor union · federal PAC contributions, 2025–26: $1,966,500 to Democratic and $11,000 to Republican candidates and party committees, $35,000 to others (FEC)
• SEIU Initiative Fund · $1,000,000
  Political action committee

Since then, $149,150 more reported in contributions of $1,000 or more, through Oct 19, 2026.

Defend Washington

Ballot measure committee

Raised $352,407 · spent $337,626 · as reported through Oct 12, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• No on 645 · $207,000
  Ballot measure committee
• Washington Education Association · $90,000
  Labor union
• SEIU 775 · $40,000
  Labor union
• Coffey Robert · $1,000 · individual

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Millionaire's Tax Washington

Ballot measure committee

Raised $243,799 · spent $219,039 · as reported through Aug 31, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• Invest in Washington Now · $68,799
  Other
• SEIU Initiative Fund · $50,000
  Political action committee
• SEIU 775 Ballot Fund · $50,000
  Political action committee, sponsored by SEIU 775 (from the registered committee name)
• Washington Education Association · $50,000
  Labor union
• Washington Federation of State Employees · $25,000
  Labor union

Snohomish County Democratic Party (Campaign - Non-Exempt)

Political party

Raised $162,727 · spent $140,126 · as reported through Oct 19, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• CINDY RYU SURPLUS FUNDS · $73,000
  Candidate-controlled committee, sponsored by Cindy Ryu
• CHELGREN SCOTT · $8,600 · individual
• MCGEE ROBIN · $8,428 · individual
• PAINE SUSAN · $8,325 · individual
• WASHINGTON VALUES PAC · $6,000
  Political action committee

A political party committee registered on this measure. Its totals cover all its activity, including candidates; its filings don’t divide them by measure.

Planned Parenthood Advocates Of Greater Washington PAC Sponsored by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Greater Washington and North Idaho

Political action committee, sponsored by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Greater Washington and North Idaho

Raised $56,644 · spent $51,320 · as reported through Oct 16, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES OF GREATER WASHINGTON AND NORTH IDAHO · $33,649
  501(c)(4) nonprofit
• North Deborah · $5,000 · individual
• Bradshaw Lucy · $2,000 · individual
• West Maureen · $1,225 · individual
• Natarajan Kottayam · $1,175 · individual

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Seattle Indivisible

Political action committee

“We are a local chapter of the Indivisible movement, and are inspired by the Indivisible Guide.” — its website

Raised $44,530 · spent $23,555 · as reported through Oct 12, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• Seattle Indivisible · $29,530
  Political action committee
• Orenstein Lisa · $1,158 · individual
• Cleland Katherine · $1,038 · individual
• Loughry Michael · $1,000 · individual
• Stansbury Michael Burke · $500 · individual

This committee does other political work too; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Children's Campaign Fund Ballot Measure Committee

Ballot measure committee

Raised $30,000 · spent $6,350 · as reported through Oct 12, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• Washington Youth Aliance & Action Fund · $20,000
  Other
• Washington Progress Alliance · $10,000
  501(c)(4) nonprofit

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Snohomish County Democratic Party (Operations - Exempt)

Political party

Raised $24,600 · spent $24,072 · as reported through Oct 12, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• WASHINGTON VALUES PAC · $19,000
  Political action committee
• CITIZENS TO ELECT RICK LARSEN · $1,200
  Candidate-controlled committee, sponsored by Rick Larsen (U.S. House candidate, WA-02; FEC principal campaign committee)

A political party committee registered on this measure. Its totals cover all its activity, including candidates; its filings don’t divide them by measure.

Seattle DSA PAC (SDSA PAC)

Political action committee, sponsored by Seattle DSA (from the registered committee name)

“We are the Seattle chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.” — its sponsor’s website

Raised $13,085 · spent $5,830 · as reported through Oct 16, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• Democratic Socialists of America, Inc · $9,500
  501(c)(4) nonprofit
• Seattle DSA · $1,000
  501(c)(4) nonprofit
• Mayorga Jessica · $500 · individual
• Roblee Alice · $500 · individual
• Herde Eric · $250 · individual

This committee does other political work too; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Permanent Defense PAC

Political action committee

Raised $7,710 · spent $7,355 · as reported through Oct 12, 2026

Largest contributors as filed:

• Cleland Katherine · $1,625 · individual
• Strengthening Communities PAC · $1,000
  Political action committee
• Gooding Mark · $500 · individual
• Allen Victoria · $250 · individual
• King Sue · $200 · individual

This committee is registered for more than one measure; these are its whole totals, which its filings don’t divide by measure.

Pacific County Voices Uniting (PCVU)

Political action committee

“Pacific County Voices Uniting is a 100% BIPOC-led organization in Southwest Washington.” — its website

Registered; no financial report filed yet.