New Poll: Voters Are Realizing This Income Tax Is Coming for Everyone

SEATTLE, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent real-time tracking poll shows Initiative 645 is very much in the fight. As voters learn that this really is an income tax coming for everyone, support for repeal rises to two-thirds. The results are consistent with several polls conducted earlier this year, both showing around 67% of voters oppose a state income tax. This latest survey, conducted by NMR Research with voters in Washington's 8^th and 5^th Congressional Districts, tested the official ballot language against a plain description of the tax. Districts like these, which provide a diverse cross-section of Washington voters, are where statewide majorities are won or lost.

"You can't cut money you don't have, and not a dime of this tax is collected until 2029. The ballot lets that lie stand, but voters know it's not true," said Jaime Herrera Beutler, spokesperson for Vote Yes Repeal the Income Tax. "These numbers show Washingtonians aren't fooled. They know this is an income tax designed to be expanded to working and fixed income families, and that it will capture every person, pension, and nonprofit in the state."

The Results

The survey of 188 voters in Congressional District 8 and 222 in District 5 was fielded Oct. 18-19 and has a margin of error of ±9.5 ±7 respectively. When voters surveyed were shown the official ballot language and statement in WA-8, they supported I-645 by 48% to 43%, with 9% undecided. When biased anti-repeal language was removed and voters were shown the truth, that this is an income tax, support for repeal rose to 67%, with 19% preferring to keep the tax and 14% undecided. In WA-5, voters supported I-645 by 46% to 43%, with 11% undecided. When that language was removed, support for repeal rose to 62%, with 20% preferring to keep the tax and 18% undecided. 

Model Districts Where Elections Are Won or Lost

These Districts are bellwether districts, covering over 7,300 square miles and nearly 800,000 residents across parts of King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kittitas, and Chelan counties, from suburban neighborhoods to Central Washington farmland. CD-5 covers Eastern Washington from Spokane to Walla Walla, with about 800,000 residents across ten counties and parts of two more. With District 8 leaning Democrat (D+3) and District 5 leaning Republican (R+5), these results suggest appeal for repealing the income tax reaches across party lines.

Voters can learn more at voteyes645.com. Ballots are in voters' hands now and are due Nov. 3.

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Media Inquiries: For all media inquiries, please contact Lee Keller at [email protected].

SOURCE Initiative 645 Repeal the Income Tax