News

Another Poll shows Brian Heywood's I-645 is deep underwater with Washington Voters

No on 645 press release, August 5, 2026

“Hedge fund mogul Brian Heywood may oppose taxing the very wealthy a little bit more to fund core public services, but Washington voters are not buying his arguments. The data is clear: voters are primed to reject Heywood’s fiscally irresponsible effort to cut his own taxes while blowing a $13 billion hole in our state’s budget…”

Former Governor Jay Inslee endorses NO on 645

No on 645 press release, July 28, 2026

“I emphatically oppose Brian Heywood’s Initiative 645 and his attempts to cut his own taxes by destroying the state budget. Just like in 2024, Heywood has applied his trademark lack of intellectual rigor to the initiative process, choosing a ballot measure that would cut his own taxes while gutting funding for K-12 education, health care, and child care. The policy is bad, the politics are bad, the legal analysis is bad, and even Tim Eyman isn’t a fan…”

Travel guru Rick Steves and TV host Ken Jennings endorse campaign to defeat Initiative 645

No on 645 press release, July 21, 2026

“Today, the NO on 645 campaign announced the endorsements of prominent Washingtonians Rick Steves and Ken Jennings, who will be among the 1% of Washington households – around 20,000 – that will pay the Millionaires Tax when it goes into effect…”

Governor Ferguson and dozens of coalition members kick off campaign to defeat Brian Heywood’s Initiative 645

No on 645 press release, July 15, 2026

“Yesterday, Governor Bob Ferguson and dozens of coalition members kicked off the NO on 645 campaign, which has come together to defeat hedge fund mogul Brian Heywood’s Initiative 645, a fiscally irresponsible effort to roll back the Millionaires Tax package will fund core services like education and health care as well as significant tax cuts for working and middle class families and small businesses. It is expected to qualify for the November ballot…”

Broad coalition announces formation of I-645 opposition campaign with $3 million in initial pledges

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…”

IP26-645 opposition coalition unveils new polling, legal research as Brian Heywood prepares to turn in signatures for tax repeal

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…”

New poll shows voters rejecting by nearly 20 points Brian Heywood’s initiative that would cut billions from education and health care

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…”

Could initiative to kill WA ‘millionaires tax’ also kill capital gains tax?

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…”

Initiative to repeal WA income tax would ax revenue, keep added costs

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…”

Foes of WA high-earners income tax launch repeal initiative

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…”