Washington will hold a general election on November 3, 2026, in line with the rest of the country. With no presidential race on the ballot, midterm elections like this year are often quieter affairs. That may not be the case for Washington’s 2026 ballot.
Millionaires’ Tax Repeal is Officially on the Ballot
Along with typical congressional and state legislative races, voters could weigh in on several high-profile issues. A proposed initiative seeks to repeal Washington’s new tax on households with income above $1 million. Opponents submitted more than 500,000 signatures this month, and the measure will appear inthe November general election.
Makeup of the State Supreme Court
Washington’s State Supreme Court races will also draw attention with five of the nine justices on the ballot. Those contests are formally non-partisan, but both parties are treating them as important statewide races. The court could play a major role in future disputes over major state policies.
Transportation Funding Remains in Focus
Local measures will also shape the ballot. On July 13, Pierce Transit’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to place a sales tax proposal on November’s ballot that would raise the tax rate from 0.6% to 0.9%.
Meanwhile, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has asked the Seattle City Council to place a measure on November’s ballot to raise the city’s transit sales tax from 0.15% to 0.30%. City Council members are expected to vote next week on the measure. Combined with King County’s separate 0.1% sales tax increase for roadwork, the measure would give Seattle the highest sales tax rate in Washington.
Looking Toward November
Together, these races and measures could make Washington’s 2026 ballot more active than a typical midterm ballot, especially for King. Voters will decide not only who represents them in Olympia and Washington D.C, but also how the state funds services, the makeup of its State Supreme Court, and how local governments address transportation needs going into a difficult 2027 session.