Ken Jennings Urges Voters to Repeal Washington's Income Tax

SEATTLE, Oct. 17, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Jeopardy star Ken Jennings has released a new video ad urging Washingtonians to vote Yes on Initiative 645, which would repeal the state's income tax. The initiative, Jennings argues, is a threat to the retirement savings of public workers, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers.

The income tax, Jennings notes, has erased 79-year-old pension protections for public workers. These protections, which have been in place since 1943, are now at risk. Jennings contends that lawmakers are removing these protections because the tax is "coming for everyone." The ad highlights the fact that Olympia has already swept approximately $4 billion from the Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement System Plan 1 (LEOFF 1) pension fund to plug budget gaps elsewhere.

Critics of the income tax argue that it fails to shield Social Security benefits, leaving retirees' Social Security checks exposed. Jennings emphasizes that these are not wealthy individuals; the pension protections are crucial for their financial security in retirement.

The campaign for Initiative 645 is urging voters to repeal the income tax, restore the pension protections that have been removed, and give voters the power to make decisions about their own taxes. The hashtag #voteyes645 is being used across social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, to encourage voter participation.

The initiative, if passed, would put an end to the income tax, which Jennings believes is a threat to the financial stability of public workers and retirees. The campaign is calling on Washingtonians to take action and vote Yes on I-645 to protect these vital pension protections.