In a One-Party State, Dems Challenge Remaining Checks and Balances

In this article:

• History of the Voter Initiative Process, created by Democrats in WA
• Current efforts to "kill" or make the Initiative Process impossible for others to use
• Examples of Voter-Approved ballot Measures passed, but ignored by the State
• Important implications to the loss of Voter Voice and the weakening of our actual Democracy.

Two voter initiatives, (that when polled by an independent agency showed overwhelming support among Washington voters), that collected over 400,000 signatures each, were officially certified and approved by the legislature, but are still not being taken seriously to have hearings heard on the matters that voters are concerned about:

Reinstating Parental Rights in the Educational Process, and Fairness in Girls Sports.

According to Let's Go Washington,
"Legislative Democrats have blatantly rejected their responsibility to give the initiatives a hearing in the state house. Senator Pedersen recently stated that 'nothing good' would come from hosting hearings to allow supporters and opposers to voice their opinions on the measures. It’s unclear when Senator Pedersen became the final say on how people participate in democracy, but because of their arrogance and clear disdain for the voice of the people, LGW is hosting a Listening Session (on Feb 3rd at the State Capitol steps) to allow voices from both sides of the issues the opportunity to make their voices heard. This kind of hearing is apparently a luxury and not a guaranteed right, according to Speaker Jinkins and Senator Pedersen."

For those unfamiliar with the history or the purpose of the Initiative process:

📜History of the Initiative process in WA state

In 1912, Washington was deep in the Progressive Era, when many Democrats (along with Progressive Republicans) believed the state legislature was dominated by railroads, timber companies, and political machines. Lawmakers were seen as unresponsive—or outright captured—by powerful business interests.

Democrats supported the initiative process because it:

• Bypassed a corrupt or unresponsive legislature
  If lawmakers wouldn’t pass reforms, voters could do it themselves.
• Reduced corporate and railroad influence
  Big industries had outsized control over elected officials; initiatives let citizens go around them.
• Expanded direct democracy
  Progressives believed government should reflect the will of the people more directly, not just elected elites.
• Fit a broader reform package
  In 1912, Washington adopted the initiative, referendum, and recall together—tools meant to make government more accountable.
• Mobilized working-class and rural voters
  Democrats saw initiatives as a way to empower farmers, laborers, and urban workers who felt ignored.

So the initiative process wasn’t about partisan advantage in the modern sense—it was about reforming a political system Democrats believed was broken and dominated by special interests.

The purpose of the Washington State Initiative process is to empower citizens to take an active role proposing, amending, or repealing new legislation for consideration by Washington voters.

Washington State uses the initiative process which gives direct power to the voters to enact new laws or change existing ones effectively allowing the electorate to place legislation on the ballot so long as they meet certain criteria. By collecting a certain number of signatures, an initiative can be placed on the ballot. This is a form of direct democracy .

Citizens of Washington can use the initiative process to enact two separate types of initiatives as well as two separate type of referenda:
• Initiatives to the People – to directly enact a new state law
• Initiatives to the Legislature – indirectly enact a new state law
• Referendum Measures – Laws recently passed by the legislature and put to a vote by the people
• Referendum Bills – Laws referred to the voters by the legislature

Enter Senate Bill 5382 & SB 5973 AKA "the Initiative Killers"

These bills aim to add new requirements to the state’s citizen initiative process, such as requiring signature gatherers to sign detailed declarations and requiring verification of addresses on petition signatures — changes opponents argue would make it much harder for grassroots initiatives to qualify for the ballot. Critics, especially Republican lawmakers, have labeled SB 5382 an “initiative killer.”

Opponents — including many Republicans, initiative sponsors, and even some Democrats like Secretary of State Steve Hobbs — argue:

❗The proposals would make ballot access harder — by adding upfront signature requirements and extra procedural hurdles that didn’t exist before. 
❗It comes at a time when many citizen initiatives challenging Democratic-backed laws are underway, leading critics to say the timing looks political. 
❗It could suppress civic engagement by discouraging grassroots efforts or making it expensive and complex to qualify an initiative. 
❗Some initiatives — like those on parental rights and transgender athletes — have received very high signature numbers but Democrats have been criticized for not holding hearings or acting on them quickly, which opponents say undermines the intent of voters. 

Other significant history of voter-approved measures being overturned, blocked, or stymied by courts or legislative action.

🗳️ Voters approved Initiative 2066 in 2024

• In the November 5, 2024 general election, Initiative Measure No. 2066 passed with about 51.6 % of voters voting “Yes.” 
• I-2066 was branded by supporters as protecting “energy choice” and preventing state or local governments from “prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging the use of natural gas” in buildings. It also would have repealed parts of recent state laws aimed at planning a transition away from natural gas and supporting electrification. 

Natural Gas Court decision- approved by voters, but the state thinks it knows better

• After voters approved Initiative 2066, it was quickly challenged in court by cities and environmental groups. In March 2025, a King County Superior Court judge struck it down, ruling that the initiative violated Washington’s constitution (mainly the single-subject rule). Because of that ruling, I-2066 never took effect.
• Supporters appealed, and the Washington Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. The court heard arguments in January 2026, but has not yet issued a final decision. Until it does, the initiative remains blocked, and existing state energy and electrification policies continue.

🗳️Initiative 976 (2019) — “$30 Car Tabs”

• Voters approved I-976 in November 2019, which would have cut annual car registration fees to $30 statewide.
• However, the Washington Supreme Court struck it down in October 2020, ruling it violated the state constitution’s single-subject and ballot-title requirements. As a result, it never went into effect as written. 

To Add Injury to Insult:

• A new Senate Bill 6176 was introduced in the 2026 legislative session and would substantially increase penalties for expired vehicle registration. This bill seeks to increase fines for people who don’t pay their car tabs, as over 600,000 have let their laps as a form of silent protest of what they deem an unconstitutional action of the state to ignore the 'will of the people'.

🗳️Initiative 1185 (2012) — Supermajority for tax increases

• Voters passed Initiative 1185 in 2012, requiring a two-thirds legislative vote to raise taxes.
• In 2013, portions of that law were declared unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court, although parts of the measure initially went into effect. 

We Know How That One Ended -with Washington State Passing the largest Tax Increases in Washington State History with a Simple Majority with No Voter Input.

🗳️Initiative 960 (2007) — Tax vote requirements

• This earlier “supermajority for tax increases” style initiative passed but was suspended by the Legislature and later effectively overridden and superseded by a later initiative (I-1053). It also faced legal challenges tied to constitutional constraints. 

So even when voters tell the state what they want using our democratic processes that should take precedent and priority, it appears that it isn't "We The People" they are listening to anymore.

[This article was written with the help of AI. See our polices on the use of AI as a supportive tool.]