'Let's Go Washington' Founder Reflects on Ballot Efforts

Washington voters have chosen to keep the state's controversial cap-and-trade program that critics say substantially raised fuel prices while generating billions of dollars, ostensibly to fight climate change. Initiative 2117, which would have repealed the Climate Commitment Act passed by lawmakers in 2021, was rejected by 61.7% of voters in Tuesday night returns. Just over 38% of voters supported the measure. Tuesday night results for Initiative 2109 show the measure to repeal the capital gains tax is failing by a wide enough margin for backers of the measure to declare defeat. As of Tuesday night, 63.2% of returned ballots voted against the measure, and 36.8% voted in favor. "This one is ugly," said Brian Heywood of Let's Go Washington during a Tuesday night election event in Kirkland. I-2109 was one of four initiatives on the Nov. 5 ballot backed by Heywood's organization. "Apparently a lot of people want to pay an income tax," said Heywood in gest as the crowd of supporters booed.