ELECTION 2020: Transit, hospital taxes approved, and other local/state results

King County is out with its first and only results report – 72.4% of county votes have been counted. Locally, the ballot measures are tonight’s biggest news:

SEATTLE PROPOSITION 1
Sales tax for transit funding
82% yes
18% no

ADDED 8:33 PM: West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold on Prop 1:

“Today’s vote in support of Proposition 1 for transit funding is good news for West Seattle. Proposition 1 specifies that up to $9 million annually to support mobility needs related to the closure of the West Seattle Bridge, and COVID-19 response and recovery. With the West Seattle Bridge closed through at least 2022, traffic and access issues will only increase once social distancing ends or decreases. Transit service will be critical to meeting the ambitious goals of SDOT’s Reconnect West Seattle plan. The ballot measure notes Investments could include, in addition to transit service, speed and reliability improvements, first-last mile transit connections, and Transportation Demand Management strategies described in the community-driven Reconnect West Seattle plan.”

Back to results:

KING COUNTY PROPOSITION 1
Harborview Medical Center property tax
78% yes
22% no

ADDED 8:49 PM: From King County Executive Dow Constantine:

“While there are still many votes to be counted, I thank the voters of King County for their support for Harborview Medical Center. These investments will ensure that our region continues to be the best place in the country to receive emergency medical care, and needed seismic upgrades will protect the lives of patients, employees, and visitors to Harborview. Besides helping people with behavioral health needs and better preparing the region to fight pandemics, the measure creates thousands of family-wage construction jobs at a time when our region needs them the most.”

Back to results:

KING COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT 5
Change sheriff from elected to appointed?
56% yes
43% no

We’ll be adding more. Meantime, major races are for Congress and state offices – plus one state ballot measure of note – those results are here:

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 7
(Includes West Seattle)
Pramila Jayapal (D) 85%
Craig Keller (R) 15%

ADDED 11:45 PM: Rep. Jayapal (a West Seattle resident) thanked voters via Twitter, adding:

I am humbled, grateful & ready to serve again. Our path to truly build a more just & equitable country is long. But we are bold, progressive & unafraid, and if we believe in the possible & organize, we WILL win!

GOVERNOR
Jay Inslee (D) 60%
Loren Culp (R) 40%

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Denny Heck (D) 47%
Marko Liias (D) 34%

SECRETARY OF STATE
Kim Wyman (R) 52%
Gael Tarleton (D) 48%

STATE REFERENDUM 90
Sex education
Approved 60%
Rejected 40%

Unlike the Seattle/King County-only races, the statewide ones will change through the night because of other counties, so we’ll keep updating.

P.S. If you’re interested – the presidential race in King County so far is Biden 77%, Trump 21%; statewide, it’s Biden 61%, Trump 36%.

Jort November 3, 2020 (8:33 pm)

This is your semi-annual reminder that the “conservative” voices that you see so frequently in online comments here on West Seattle Blog and other internet comment sites are a deep, deep minority. When people talk about how “out of control” liberalism is in King County, they are in a deep, fundamental minority. Liberalism is overwhelmingly popular, by enormous, gigantic, superlative margins in this county, and there is no audience whatsoever for conservative governance, period, end-of-story. I don’t know how many elections we need to have before people get this through their heads. The transportation benefit tax should have been 10 times this Durkan-uninspired amount, but she was too afraid of the imaginary spectre of conservative boogeymen to be an ACTUAL liberal and do something bold.

D November 3, 2020 (9:02 pm)

Way to be inclusive! I guess “diversity” doesn’t mean diversity of ideas.
- Jort November 4, 2020 (1:35 pm)
  
  Hey, you can be conservative all you want! Go for it, my friend! Here’s the thing though: you are a deep minority in this city, and it is not even close. This is inarguable and not a debate. There is no “both sides” of the political spectrum in Seattle. Those of you claiming to be purported conservatives may show up in online message boards with more frequency, but at the actual ballot box, where your opinions actually matter, you are a tiny fractional percentage of this population. It is long past time for the political leadership of this city to stop cowering in fear of the supposed “silent conservative majority” that simply DOES NOT EXIST in this city. Again, I don’t know how many overwhelming blowout elections we need to have around here before this city’s leaders start to govern like the massively liberal, progressive city we are.
A November 3, 2020 (9:07 pm)

Jort don’t cry too hard when Trump wins
Nora November 3, 2020 (9:09 pm)

As someone who generally identifies as conservative, it’s good to know I’m a figment of my own imagination. Be sure to tell my employer so they can stop paying me ;)
John November 3, 2020 (9:23 pm)

Jort,

It takes both sides of the political spectrum to get things done. Sorry you don’t understand that.

The sorry condition that Seattle is in now is because of the one sided governing over these many years.
James November 4, 2020 (9:20 am)

Jort, please stop giving conservatives your time and energy. They are a lost cause, even if Biden wins the presidential race. The rest of us are trying to have a society here and conservatives are too selfish to understand that. Without a state income tax, we need sales tax to help pay for schools, transportation, and infrastructure. If it was left to the conservatives and their blind faith in “f*** you, I got mine,” The Free Market would take care of everything. Never mind that it’s The Free Market that removed pensions in favor of 401(k); or abolishing unions that protect workers; or forced public school teachers to fund their own classrooms; or turned sites like GoFundMe into a safety net for people who can’t afford healthcare in the U.S.; or left veterans homeless and without the medical coverage they need and deserve. The conservatives just don’t care about anyone else other than themselves. They think life dealt them an unfair hand so it’s their job to make everyone else hurt. They simply don’t want to help others who aren’t just like them—and even then they are hypocrites. Let them post comments online; meanwhile the rest of us can work together to improve quality of life for everyone.
- zark00 November 4, 2020 (11:37 am)
  
  James. Spot on.
- Jort November 4, 2020 (2:05 pm)
  
  I understand that, James, but I think it’s important for the leaders of Seattle to really understand how liberal this city actually is. The fact that Pedersen and Mayor Jenny “I Love Cars” Durkan were too chicken and a-skeered to run a robust transportation benefit district tax says it all. That tax should have been much, much larger, and it would have passed, because this is an ultra-mega-super LIBERAL town! This city’s leaders keep thinking that this time, maybe, just maybe, the Seattle Times Editorial Page will actually be right (for the first time in 15 years). START GOVERNING LIKE LIBERALS!
  - 1994 November 4, 2020 (8:55 pm)
    
    You do realize that higher sales taxes are not helpful to low wage earners who also need to make purchases……at least I hope you do. And believe me, there are plenty of low wage earners in Seattle. Maybe Mayor Jenny understands this situation.

amateur psychic November 3, 2020 (8:55 pm)

I am calling the presidential race for Biden, and the democrats will be taking the house.

If my reading is wrong, I hope some of you enjoy this projected reality for a moment anyway, feel some relief, and get a good nights sleep.

🤞

GOP in WS November 3, 2020 (9:34 pm)

President Trump replayed his 2016 path to the White House and will be re-elected.
- Kat November 3, 2020 (9:52 pm)
  
  Arizona went for Biden. So will Pennsylvania. Not 2016.
- amateur psychic November 3, 2020 (11:14 pm)
  
  That was 2016, this is 2020.
  
  Looking at the state of our country, it makes no sense for Trump to be reelected.
  
  I’m reading Arizona and Michigan will go to Biden… and maybe Nevada.

Yma November 3, 2020 (8:57 pm)

@Jort methinks you might want to meet your neighbors. Some folks lean to conservative, some folks lean toward liberal. Some are extreme and many are not.

K. Davis November 3, 2020 (9:28 pm)

Speaking as a left-leaning D, nonetheless Jort is a troll … why people bother to respond to him, I can’t for the life of me understand. He posts his rants here and people take the bait. Why?

A November 3, 2020 (10:13 pm)

I’d actually like to meet Jort. In my opinion he/she is a lonely, sad person who could use a hug. I disagree with you 100 percent of the time Jort but I truly wish you the best and hope you can find happiness in your life
- amateur psychic November 3, 2020 (11:30 pm)
  
  I’m reading this may be a projection.
  
  Give yourself a hug.
- MrsT November 4, 2020 (9:31 am)
  
  I like Jort. I also agree with Jort frequently. I think Jort sounds thoughtful and informed most of the time. Liberals need to stop being afraid of, and pandering to the squeaky whiny minority of conservatives.
skeeter November 4, 2020 (12:26 pm)

I love Jort’s contributions to the forums and comments. Especially on issues related to transportation and mobility, Jort has a keen insight and astute observations. I actually want to meet Jort in person. Is there a way to send a PM on these forums?

Erithan November 3, 2020 (10:18 pm)

Great more taxes…. Things are so expensive already, barley scraping by… :(

Chemist November 4, 2020 (12:07 am)

Voters think local transit is so essential that it should be funded by regressive sales taxes. Transit will soon be 2.45% out of the 10.25% sales tax rate Seattle will have once Prop 1 takes effect. (1.4% ST, 0.9% KCMetro, 0.15% STBD) The King County Council enacted a 0.1% sales tax hike just a few weeks ago.
baffled November 4, 2020 (5:46 am)

If you’re barely scraping by, your taxes will not go up if Biden wins. Unless, of course, you’re making over 400k and are barely scraping by, in which case I don’t think it matters who wins!
- WSREZ November 4, 2020 (10:44 am)
  
  Lol, Baffled. Erithan is clearly listening to Trump’s fear mongering. His tactics work for those who aren’t willing to educate themselves
  - The King November 4, 2020 (12:01 pm)
    
    How did this turn into a Biden – Trump issue. This is about local taxes, property taxes going up under prop 1, the transportation tax adding to the sales tax and retaining the $60 use fee on tabs for six more years. Do you people even know what you voted for?
    - 1994 November 4, 2020 (9:02 pm)
      
      Prop One was adding a Seattle sales tax increase only. The $60 car tab fee was not part of the Prop One and I think it expires in March 2021. Although, due to the WA court ruling a few weeks back undoing the $30 car tab initiative that voters passed another license tab tax increase remains an option for a future vote.
  - AMD November 4, 2020 (1:13 pm)
    
    I feel like I should point out that Erithan may not be talking about national politics and maybe his comment should be considered in context of the local tax increase. Seattle is passing an increase to sales tax. We have a pretty regressive tax structure here in Washington, so someone “scraping by” is going to be more affected by that than someone who is more financially stable. Yes, that tax is collected for a good purpose that could even potentially help Erithan down the road (I voted “yes” on it wholeheartedly and would again), but it’s still going to be a proportionally heavier burden on the poorest among us. Or if he is talking national politics, maybe he’s not happy about Trump’s tax increases (my taxes went up under Trump… so there’s that). His comment was too vague to make assumptions about where he’s coming from, making the dismissals even less necessary.
    - Erithan November 4, 2020 (7:10 pm)
      
      Thanks for that, I’m a she, and I’m 100% talking about local, I’m low income so it’s hard to deal with rising prices and taxes. I’m trying to save to move to somewhere I can afford, but it’s becoming harder and harder to do so. ><

Canton November 3, 2020 (10:34 pm)

As I teach my 1st grader, that voting is just a personal, hopefully educated opinion, everyone has their own. Each opinion should be respected as theirs, and hopefully discussed with a common goal. As long as we allow ourselves to be divided into agenda driven subdivisions as a people, there can be no inclusion.

KellyJJJ November 3, 2020 (10:43 pm)

Only people that actually own property should be authorized to vote for taxes effecting property.I find as a homeowner I am under constant threat from those demanding I subsidize their way of life. It is my home… not the local government’s ATM machine.

Frank November 7, 2020 (2:00 am)

Thanks Kelly, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

doxxed November 3, 2020 (11:55 pm)

Jort = Eddie Vedder

anonyme November 4, 2020 (5:33 am)

While West Seattle desperately needs better transportation options, I don’t understand why we are going to pay a city tax to support a county agency – Metro, which itself rakes in huge levies one after another. FYI, I’ve made multiple inquiries to Metro execs and Lisa Herbold regarding the shutdown of bus service to Arbor Heights and was myself shut down. They are completely uninterested. As for Jort’s comment, I agree with John, Nora, and others. A functional government represents more than one side. When there is an overwhelmingly dominant political bent with no balance, the only direction to go is to the extreme. The result is…Seattle. A mess. I think it is time we gave ranked-choice voting a try.

phil dirt November 4, 2020 (7:25 am)

I see that prop. 90 has passed. I’m so glad my 4th grade daughter will be learning sexual positions. Hopefully, there will be time to teach her a little arithmetic too.

shotinthefoot November 4, 2020 (8:23 am)

fully disgusted with my fellow americans this morning. after everything we’ve been through in the last 4 years.

Junction Dome November 4, 2020 (8:54 am)

Imagine looking at the last 4 years and saying you want more of that. We Americans clearly have a rich and storied history of voting against our own self-interests.

Huck November 4, 2020 (9:02 am)

The crazy lawlessness in Seattle pushed me over to the conservative side. Had the city cracked down on the violence, I would have voted liberal.

Jon Wright November 4, 2020 (9:54 am)

Apparently expressing frustration that people of color continue to be killed by police is “crazy lawlessness.”
MrsT November 4, 2020 (9:55 am)

The city is literally perpetuating the violence. There are hundreds of videos of this.
- zark00 November 4, 2020 (11:44 am)
  
  MRST – The city is not ‘literally’ inciting violence and you have no videos, let alone ‘hundreds’, to prove that because it’s not true. What we have seen, repeatedly, is conservative white men using the protest as an excuse to commit violence. You are on the wrong side of history. Keep your issues with people of color to yourself.

anonyme November 4, 2020 (10:05 am)

Huck, if your comment means you voted for Trump, what does that have to do with lawlessness in Seattle? Trump was president during the lawlessness (which, btw, I am also firmly against) and that didn’t change a thing, did it? If anything, his being president is exactly what was/is feeding the violence. The lame response was due to local non-government. While I fully agree that Seattle needs some sanity, so does our nation. And Trump is anything but sane.

Huck November 4, 2020 (12:19 pm)

@ANONYMETrump offered to come in and restore order. Jenny didn’t want that. She and the city council wanted more violence and destruction.If Trump wins, it’s because law abiding citizens like me want peace rather than this crazy violence. Note, I am not against the protesting, I’m against the violence against people and destruction of property.

anonyme November 5, 2020 (5:57 am)

Huck, again I agree with you except for the Trump part. Trump could care less about violence as long as it is carried out by his supporters, including white supremacists. His “offer” to send troops to Seattle (and other Democratic cities) was a purely partisan, self-centered gesture. And again, voting for Trump is not a vote for peace or law and order. It is also true that what happened here represents a complete failure on the part of Durkan and the council. Politicians and so-called ‘leaders’ can suck regardless of their party. And they do.

Huck November 4, 2020 (12:30 pm)

@JOHN WRIGHTThere is no excuse for violence. The message can be delivered and received peacefully. You are saying that this can’t be done without violence, and I’m saying, yes it can. MLK did it. And don’t tell me progress wasn’t made without violence. That’s just not true.

Lagartija Nick November 4, 2020 (5:02 pm)

And conservatives beat, gassed, arrested, jailed, and ultimately assassinated him for it. I am so tired of conservatives saying they support peaceful protest when all of history proves otherwise. Is Kaepernick playing ball yet?

GC November 4, 2020 (1:47 pm)

Jort, The liberals have been running this city/county/state for decades. Results? Higher taxes, less services (for middle class tax payer), higher crime, less community, more graffiti, more filth, more homelessness, less business, ……..Can’t wait for your Shangri-La

zark00 November 4, 2020 (2:13 pm)

Less business? Really? And more crime? Wow. Talk about having no clue what’s actually happening in the city where you live. Less community, maybe, because the tiny percentage of conservatives in this city are actively trying to tear it apart. Republicans can’t accept the fact that liberal democrats are responsible for their prosperity. Give it up, liberal democratic leadership, even when it’s flawed, is always more beneficial to a community than republican leadership. Every. Single. Time.