News

No on 645 press release, July 8, 2026

“Teachers, labor unions, nurses, early learning providers, and small business owners are joining forces to oppose hedge fund mogul Brian Heywood’s self-serving ballot measure: Vote no on cuts to health care and education, vote no on tax increases on working families, vote no on Initiative 645…”

KUOW, July 2, 2026

“Brian Heywood, a wealthy hedge fund founder, and his conservative political action group, Let’s Go Washington, rallied outside the secretary of state’s office, unloading cardboard boxes full of signatures supporting the repeal. Workers in the secretary of state’s office will now verify the half-million signatures before the measure qualifies for a spot on November ballots…”

The Cascadia Advocate, July 2, 2026

“Right wing mega-millionaire Brian Heywood’s bid to overturn legislation that would require 20,000 of Washington’s wealthiest individuals to pay a 9.9% tax on incomes above a million dollars a year could be a tough sell with the voting public this autumn…”

No on 645 press release, July 1, 2026

“The top line result of the poll – before any message testing – shows only 38 percent of Washington voters support passing Initiative 645, with 57 percent saying they would vote ‘No’ – a 19 point margin against the measure. Conventional wisdom is that initiatives need to start above 60% in polling, and Initiative 645 starts 22 points under that benchmark…”

Seattle Times, June 29, 2026

“Initiative 645, likely headed for a vote this fall, explicitly aims to repeal the so-called ‘millionaires tax’ signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson this year…”

Washington State Standard, June 17, 2026

“Democratic lawmakers in Washington paired their new income tax on high earners with a pledge to use billions of dollars from the annual proceeds to help small businesses compete and lower-income families get by…”

Seattle Times, May 12, 2026

“Money raised by the levy would mostly go the state’s operating budget, which funds schools, universities, healthcare and other state services. A 5% slice is legally dedicated to childcare and early learning programs. The legislation creating the income tax also included some tax relief…”