This election, Washington state voters made it clear they want to uphold the commonsense Millionaires Tax, which Washington’s legislature passed earlier this year. It remains law and will take effect in 2029. Additionally, results are promising that voters rejected I-001, which would have undone important safeguards that protect the privacy and safety of kids experiencing abuse.
It is distressing, however, that I-638 – a measure that would require girls who want to play school sports to undergo invasive genital or DNA exams – passed. This is a big setback for the well-being of trans girls and LGBTQ+ kids, as well as for cisgender girls who want to play sports.
In other elections across the country, we are heartened that results showed the electorate voted for lawmakers who represent the values of everyday people and who put those values over wealthy special interests.
Millionaires Tax victory will improve our tax code and help everyday people
People in our state once again showed, like they did in 2024, that they are increasingly fed up with a tax code that gives rich people and corporations a special deal at the expense of everyone else.
We all are feeling the fallout from HR 1, the U.S. Congressional Republican bill that gave the uber-rich tax breaks while gutting critical supports for communities, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. This is happening as the price of gas, healthcare, groceries, and other necessities continues to skyrocket. It’s a smart move that voters in Washington upheld the Millionaires Tax.
People in our state once again showed, like they did in 2024, that they are increasingly fed up with a tax code that gives rich people and corporations a special deal at the expense of everyone else.
When the Millionaires Tax takes effect in 2029, we will begin to see an improved tax code, with the ultra-wealthy paying more of what they owe. And as we’ve noted before, with this new tax revenue, everyday Washington residents will see the benefits through funding for critical programs as well as tax breaks and exemptions:
- There will be new revenue to fund healthcare, affordable childcare, and schools – including free school meals for all K-12 students
- Small businesses will see the largest tax break in Washington history
- More than 460,000 additional people will become eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit, which provides an annual cash boost to lower-income families
- We all will get a sales tax break on some basic necessities – like hygiene products and over-the-counter medicines
WA voters send mixed messages to kids about who belongs and should be safe
We are glad that it looks encouraging that I-001, the so-called “parents’ bill of rights,” is going to be overturned. It would have put children experiencing abuse at even greater risk. While most parents are loving and supportive, we know that some children are not safe in their own homes. Thanks to voters, schools will not be forced to hand over sensitive information about these kids to abusive parents, further endangering them. This was a confusing, poorly written initiative and would have been a big setback for some of our most vulnerable kids.
But we are extremely disappointed that I-638 has passed. I-638 is another confusing, poorly written initiative, and it will make it harder for both cis and trans girls to play sports with their friends. It is the most extreme right-wing, anti-trans measure of its kind in the country. It will subject both trans and cisgender girls to invasive, medically unnecessary genital exams – or their parents would have had to pay for costly genetic or hormone testing – just so they can play sports.
In other races, there were big wins for representation and progress
Across our state and the country, voters showed they want to elect lawmakers who represent everyday people and support policies that will actually make all our lives better.
Nationally, the makeup of elected officials is moving in the right direction – toward better representing the diversity and lived experience of their constituencies. For example, six transgender and nonbinary candidates won races in states that have never elected a trans person into their legislature before, including in Washington state. With the election of Jaelynn Scott as a state representative, Washington now has the first-ever openly trans Black woman legislator in the U.S. And the 37th legislative district now has an all-Black slate in the state legislature. Many governors’ races saw firsts with Indigenous, Black, Latino, and female candidates winning their seats. The U.S. Congress has its first Muslim senator, first Indigenous senator, and first openly gay senator.
Many of these and other candidates around our state and throughout the country ran on affordability issues like Medicare for All, affordable housing, better funding for public schools, and other issues that affect the economic security of everyday people. The people are sending a message that they want everyone to have the opportunity to thrive.
Tuesday’s results were also strong rebukes against the far-right, hateful policies of the Trump administration. What’s more, people power won out over the efforts of billionaires and Donald Trump to try to buy the election.
What’s next for Washington state
Our state is home to amazing child and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations that will continue to champion the safety and well-being of trans kids. We will follow efforts to challenge the initiative on trans girls in sports, and we will keep our audiences in the loop on how they can support these efforts. We remain a proudly trans-led organization committed to supporting inclusive policies that allow all kids to feel a sense of belonging.
We are pleased that voters otherwise upheld the Millionaires Tax and seem to be upholding protections for children experiencing abuse. These victories reflect the hard work of so many coalitions and people committed to supporting and uplifting their communities and all our kids.
Now, we turn our attention to the legislative session and to continuing our work to pass policies that support and advance economic and racial justice. And we hope you’ll join us at our annual Budget Matters policy summit in Tacoma on November 17. The theme of this year’s summit is building momentum to transform our tax code.
