A ballot initiative to repeal Washington’s newly enacted “millionaires tax” has qualified for the November general election after collecting over 511,000 signatures, far exceeding the 308,911 required to reach the ballot. Initiative 645, sponsored by the group Let’s Go Washington, will give voters a direct say on the 9.9 percent income tax on households earning more than $1 million annually that was signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson in March 2026.
The Washington Secretary of State certified the initiative on July 17 after verifying the signatures. A 3 percent sample of the petition showed enough valid signatures that further review was not required, according to a statement from the Secretary of State’s office to The Seattle Times.
Senate Bill 6346, which established the tax, is projected to generate more than $3 billion in revenue per year for the state, with most earnings earmarked for K-12 education and other public services. The tax takes effect on income earned by Washington residents beginning in 2028, with the first payments due in 2029. Initiative 645 would repeal this provision and additionally prohibit state and local taxes on individual income.
Governor Ferguson launched a campaign against the repeal effort on July 15, arguing that a repeal would jeopardize critical state funding. Supporters of the “No on 645” campaign contend that the new tax addresses long-standing tax breaks that have been exploited for years. Ferguson rallied support from organized labor and other proponents of the tax to prevent repeal.
The millionaires tax is the first broad-based income tax in Washington state history. Washington is home to prominent billionaires including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and was once the primary residence of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The state has historically relied on sales and property taxes rather than income taxes.
Sources
- The Hill — Initiative 645 qualified for ballot; signature count and certification details
- The Seattle Times — Governor Ferguson campaign launch and opposition messaging
- KOMO News — Campaign details and organized labor support
- Ballotpedia — Tax rate, effective date, and revenue projections
- Washington State Standard — Signature collection and ballot qualification timeline
