Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and supporters of the state’s new income tax on high earners have launched a campaign against a ballot measure that seeks to repeal the law. Although the proposal has not yet officially qualified for the November ballot, both supporters and opponents are already preparing for a statewide campaign.
Speaking at an event in Seattle, Ferguson said voters will have an important choice if the measure reaches the ballot. He said keeping the tax would help support public services and provide financial relief for many families and businesses. He argued that repealing it would reverse those plans.
The ballot proposal, known as Initiative 645, was submitted earlier this month by the political committee Let’s Go Washington. The group delivered more than 500,000 petition signatures, well above the number required to qualify. State election officials are now reviewing the signatures to confirm whether the initiative will appear on the November ballot.
Verification is expected to be completed soon. If enough valid signatures are confirmed, voters across Washington will decide whether to keep or repeal the new income tax law.
The income tax was signed into law by Governor Ferguson in late March. It applies a 9.9 percent tax on household income above one million dollars each year. If the law remains in place, the tax is expected to begin in 2029.
State officials estimate the tax will affect about 21,000 tax filers. The one-million-dollar income threshold would also be adjusted for inflation every two years.
Supporters say the new tax will make Washington’s tax system more balanced by asking the state’s highest earners to contribute more. They argue that the revenue will help fund tax relief, education, and other public services while reducing costs for many working families.
The state estimates the tax could generate about three billion dollars in annual revenue. Part of that money would support tax reductions included in the same legislation.
The law removes sales taxes on products such as diapers, many over-the-counter medicines, and personal care items. It also expands tax credits for hundreds of thousands of residents and provides additional tax relief for many small businesses.
Governor Ferguson said these benefits would help families, business owners, and students across Washington. Supporters believe the package will improve affordability while strengthening public services.
Labor unions representing teachers, state employees, and service workers are among the leading supporters of the campaign to defeat the repeal initiative. They argue that the tax provides important funding while offering financial benefits to many residents.
Opponents strongly disagree with the new law. Brian Heywood, who leads Let’s Go Washington, argues that the income tax could eventually expand beyond the state’s highest earners. He said the measure could lead to broader tax increases in the future.
Ferguson has rejected those claims, saying he does not support extending the tax to lower-income households.
Alongside the political debate, the law also faces a legal challenge. Washington’s Supreme Court has historically ruled that personal income taxes conflict with the state constitution. The current case could lead the court to reconsider that long-standing legal position.
If the initiative fails and the court allows the law to stand, the tax would move forward as planned. If voters approve the repeal, lawmakers may need to decide whether to remove the tax relief included in the law or identify new sources of funding.
Before the initiative can appear on the ballot, additional legal and financial reviews must be completed. The attorney general’s office will prepare a public investment disclosure statement explaining which government services could be affected if the tax is repealed. The Office of Financial Management will also publish an estimate of the initiative’s financial impact.
With both sides now beginning their campaigns, the debate over Washington’s income tax is expected to become one of the state’s most closely watched political issues ahead of the November election.
