Democrats are BAITING us to do an income-tax-repeal initiative THIS fall. They’ve been setting this up FOREVER. NOTHING THEY’RE DOING IS A MISTAKE.

Fri, May 8th, 2026

To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state
(cc’d to the media, house & senate members, and Governor, and other candidates for office)

From: Tim Eyman
Fighting for taxpayers for 29 years

I hated Inslee as Governor.

But at least he was stupid (he always reminded me of Baby Huey).

He never had the political savvy or discipline to implement a broad plan to do anything.

That’s not the case with Bob Ferguson and Jamie Pedersen.

They are brilliant attorneys, politically savvy, choose their words carefully, and are both master chess players. 

We underestimate them at our own peril.

Since December, our side has been rightfully apoplectic / apocalyptic about the Democrats’ passing an income tax.

It will shatter the foundation of our state’s economy forever.

None of us should doubt for a second that the Democrats have devised a thorough plan for defending it once they passed it during the legislative session. 

But along the way they were saying things and doing things that appeared to be mistakes.

But were they REALLY mistakes?

Or were they all part of their plan to bait us?

EXAMPLES:

1) Jamie Pederson is in a safe seat. He can say ANYTHING and he won’t get voted out. So have you noticed he has been absolutely EVERYWHERE, granting media interviews to EVERYONE, and saying stupid things that ABSOLUTELY infuriate us? “NO, NO, NO, income is NOT property” — Two years ago when we passed the initiative banning income taxes, “that was, what did Mary Poppins call it? A pie crust promise. Easily made, easily broken.”

We hear that and we instinctively say to ourselves “we’ve gotta hurry and get this on the ballot NOW so we can use these quotes against him in ads.”

Doesn’t it make more sense that he’s saying those things to bait us into doing just that because that’s what he wants? 

2) The Center Square did a public records request and received nearly 1000 documents that showed Jamie Pedersen, Bob Ferguson, and the AG working together to draft the initiative. Many of those documents were marked “ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE” which should be redacted or blacked out before being turned over. They weren’t. Yes, these documents have resulted in some embarrassing news stories — bad PR — but none of them have any legal effect (some of those documents were submitted to the state supreme court during the referendum lawsuit but because of the “Enrolled Bill Doctrine”, the courts can only consider what’s in the legislation, not what was said or done to get it passed).

Does anyone really believe the AG’s office ACCIDENTALLY disclosed ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGED documents?

Doesn’t it make more sense that they purposely released those documents to bait our side to rush to the ballot? 

3) They put an emergency clause on the bill to block us from doing a referendum. Our side immediately assumed that showed the Democrats were afraid of the voters having the chance to vote on it this November.

But doesn’t it make more sense that the Democrats are salivating for the initiative to be on this November’s ballot because they want the voters to reject the repeal BEFORE the state supreme court hears the legal challenge?  

THINK ABOUT THAT – the lawsuit by former AG Rob McKenna is brilliantly argued (you can read it here).

When the lawsuit was filed, Rob said the state supreme court would hear the case in January or February of next year.

I’m as cynical about the high court as anyone. That being said, I firmly believe — after reading his brief — that we have a very good chance of the high court sticking with legal precedent and overturning the income tax IF THE VOTERS HAVEN’T VOTED ON IT YET.

How much easier will it be for the high court to uphold the income tax if the voters reject an income-tax-repeal initiative this November, two months before the court hears the case? 

Answer: a lot easier.

As I wrote on Monday and Tuesday, it’s unclear which path Brian Heywood is going to take: letting voters vote on it in November 2026 or in November 2027.

Until he makes that final decision and petitions are printed, I will continue to highlight the reasons why I believe it’s better to go to the voters next year. 

It’s true that a lot of successful people and businesses are moving out of Washington now. And so I understand the natural instinct to want to try to stop that as soon as possible. But when confronted with this:

It’s better to wait & win than to rush & lose. 

As always, I welcome your feedback.

For 29 years, I’ve been fighting for our state and our nation.

Is it any wonder Bully Bob Ferguson is trying so hard to impose a lifetime ban on all my future political activity? 

I urge you to help me survive this political persecution by donating to the Tim Eyman Legal Defense Fund so we can get the AG’s ridiculously unconstitutional ruling overturned.

Mail your check to: 
Tim Eyman Legal Defense Fund
17404 Meridian Ave E #F PMB 176
Puyallup, WA, 98375

Or donate online:
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The only reason I’m still here and I’m still fighting is because of the prayers, love, and support of wonderful friends like you who’ve seen this gross injustice and abuse of power and are willing to help.

I love you all.

Onward!

Tim 

You can call or text me anytime: 509-991-5295

You can email me anytime: Tim@TimDefense.com

For more details, go to: TimDefense.com