Initiative 2109 Defeated in a Landslide

Seattle, WA: Tonight Washington state voters resoundingly rejected Initiative 2109, which would have repealed the state’s limited capital gains tax that funds billions for education, childcare and school construction. Current results show I-2109 trailing a whopping 26 points with (63% voting NO) and (37% voting YES). The Initiative is behind across the state, including key counties in Eastern, Central, and Southwest Washington, and I-2109 opponents expect their lead to grow as more ballots are counted.

The NO On 2109 Campaign, a coalition of more than 150 organizations across our state representing childcare workers, parents, teachers, small business owners, and more hailed the victory as a major win for middle class and working families over mega-millionaires and billionaires who want to avoid paying what they owe. The campaign secured the endorsements of every major newspaper in the state that endorsed the measure, including The Seattle Times, Tri-City Herald, and The Columbian. Volunteers made over 126,000 phone calls to inform voters of what was at stake. Key members of the coalition issued the following statements:

“After more than a decade of relentless advocacy that included a legislative fight, legal challenges all the way to the United States Supreme Court, and now two ballot initiatives, Washington’s capital gains tax is now here to stay. Washington voters have made their voices heard and made clear what we have said all along, that the rich should pay what they truly owe in taxes,” said Treasure Mackley, Executive Director of Invest in Washington Now

“Washingtonians have spoken loud and clear for progress toward fixing our upside-down tax code, as the middle class pay three times their income in taxes as the wealthiest Washingtonians. Thanks to the capital gains tax, we have gone from 50th to 49th most regressive tax code in the nation. Tonight voters said, let’s continue going forward, not back,” said Stephan Blanford, Executive Director of Children’s Alliance

“Poll after poll has shown broad support for funding childcare in Washington State. Voters want a system where working and middle class families can afford childcare and childcare workers, who are disproportionately BIPOC and immigrant women, are paid fair wages. Tonight’s victory was a mandate for investing in our kids and our futures,” said Roxana Norouzi, Executive Director of OneAmerica

“The wealthy men backing Initiative 2109 claimed a capital gains tax to fund childcare wasn’t necessary, and that in fact child care could be solved with the free labor of ‘moms with good intentions’. To be clear, it was moms with good intentions who advocated for and won the capital gains tax. It was moms with good intentions who convinced the state’s leading newspapers to oppose I-2109. And tonight, it was moms and parents across Washington who defeated Brian Heywood’s cynical and selfish attempts to defund childcare,” said Maggie Humphreys, Senior Director of MomsRising

“With school districts across our state facing budget shortfalls, it’s no surprise that voters said no to an initiative that would have made these problems worse. We’re thrilled that I-2109 was rejected and that the state’s capital gains tax will remain a critical source of fair school funding, ensuring kids in Central and Eastern Washington have the same opportunities as kids in the Puget Sound, ” said Adrianne Moore, Senior Advisor at Rural People’s Voice