Washington voters delivered a decisive defense of the state's progressive tax framework on Tuesday, rejecting Initiative 645 in early general election returns.
Election administrators across all 39 counties processed more than 1.8 million ballots by midnight, reflecting high voter engagement in an off-year federal cycle driven by three high-profile statewide citizen initiatives.
That dedicated fiscal pipeline made the tax a primary focal point for both business associations seeking its elimination and public sector unions fighting to retain school funding.
The organization, which previously sponsored several high-profile initiatives during the 2024 general election cycle, gathered more than 350,000 voter signatures to place the millionaire tax repeal on the November 2026 ballot.
The local voting pattern directly connects to the acute financial pressures facing West Sound public school systems.
Washington voters delivered a decisive defeat to Initiative 645 in early general election returns, safeguarding a 9.9% surcharge on earnings over $1 million to preserve education and healthcare revenue.