Right-wing extremism had been having a moment, but tonight's election could be a major setback against that push and a leftward shift for the United States – at least if polling is on the mark. While polls have been positive for Democrats, right-wing leaders are not taking this lying down. In fact, the wealthy elite are spending at unprecedented levels.
Elon Musk alone has poured nearly a half billion dollars into the midterm elections, hoping to keep Republicans in power and hold back a blue wave. As the world's richest person, Musk obviously has an interest in continuing Trump tax cuts, shielding his personal and corporate wealth and lining up further political favors for his companies.
Some of Washington state's wealthiest people are also looking to influence elections in a big way. Hedge fund manager Brian Heywood is leading the way with his three statewide initiatives that will strip rights from queer students, require genital inspections for female athletes, and block the state's new millionaires tax, which is set to go into effect in 2029.
With Washington voters increasingly backing Democrats and giving them a strong trifecta in Olympia, uberwealthy conservatives increasingly are getting creative in their attempts to control political outcomes, spending millions on signature gathering efforts to force initiatives onto the ballot to repeal laws or pass new ones. Beyond the statewide measures, Heywood and his conservative cronies are looking to restructure Snohomish County government to make it easy for conservatives to veto progress, even when in a legislative minority.
Microsoft and Governor Ferguson lock horns
Corporate elites are getting into the act, too. Microsoft and other top companies put together a Washington Need to Compete political action committee (PAC) with a huge war chest. So far, the PAC has run an ad criticizing the direction in Olympia during two primetime Seahawks football games. Washington Observer's Paul Query reported that Washington Need to Compete has amassed $14 million, but has spent only $3 million, keeping most in reserve for 2027.
"[The ads are] intended as a warning shot to the Legislature and Gov. Bob Ferguson, and it seems to have pissed the latter right off," Query wrote. "Last week, at the Seattle Chamber’s Regional Leadership Conference, a schmoozy affair held out at the Suncadia resort, Ferguson teed off on the Redmond-based software behemoth."
The ad struck a nerve, with Ferguson bringing up that the state was smashing records for venture capital investment in startups.
"If we're partners, partners should treat partners like partners, right," Ferguson said in the recording. "If I ran some multi-million-dollar ad criticizing Microsoft for some things, you guys all would think I've lost my mind."
Ferguson continued to extend an olive branch, even as he questioned the communication style Microsoft and friends were using. He also cast doubt on the threat they appeared to be trying to deliver that they could dislodge him with big campaign spending to propel a political challenger from the right, adding he planned on being governor for a "long time."
"Washington State sure as heck as a government can do more and do better by all of you folks and all the workers you represent, but it works both ways, right?" Ferguson told the chamber crowd. "It works both ways, and so that's what I would say: I plan on being governor for a long time. I work with all of you, Microsoft included, who I work well with. But I do have some questions about how we communicate."
Microsoft targeting Ferguson is a bit surprising since he's operated as a centrist and taken pains to push for budget cuts over new taxes. Even though Ferguson ultimately signed the millionaires tax, he quickly pivoted to saying it was time for budget cuts after setting the new tax in motion, which will take several years to bring in revenue given its long implementation runway.
The millionaires tax clearly is high on the list of policy changes angering the corporate establishment. One of the legislative races that the Microsoft-funded PAC has spent most heavily is the state senate race in the 48th Legislative District, where more union-backed, left-leaning Redmond Mayor Jessica Forsythe is seeking to unseat Senator Amy Walen, who was one of the few votes against the millionaires tax in the Democratic caucus. The PAC has spent more than $700,000 defending her. Clearly, the ultrarich do not want to see Walen go.
The push for universal health care
While millionaires worry about slightly higher tax bills, many Americans have growing concerns about covering basic necessities and making ends meet as Trump's war in Iran drags on, driving up fuel prices. Trump's tariff regime is also driving up consumer prices, taking money out of families' pockets while alienating allied nations.
Health care workers and advocates under the banner of the Healthcare and Human Rights Coalition held a rally in Renton last week to demand universal health care. A chorus of speakers made the case, noting that Trump's actions were driving up health care costs for many Americans by kicking people off Medicaid and disrupting insurance marketplaces that had moderated costs.
King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who is up for reelection and is endorsed by The Urbanist Elections Committee (on which I serve), spoke at the rally, saying a crisis also brings opportunity.
"Now is the time for action. Don't waste a crisis," Mosqueda said. "We know that other countries with similar GDP, similar economies, similar capitalist mentalities have already committed to healthcare as a human right, and that's why we're demanding universal healthcare for all. And we're not here to wait for the cavalry to come from the feds. We're not here to wait to make sure that the D.C. folks can hear us and take action to repeal H.R. 1. We're here to call for action right here in Washington State, right here in King County."
Speakers decried work requirements that Trump added to Medicaid as part of H.R. 1, which could lead to millions more being uninsured and without health care access. In addition to harming those in poverty, health care policy changes also put women and trans people at risk.
Jaelynn Scott, who is running unopposed for the state House in the 37th Legislative District, with The Urbanist's endorsement. Scott is executive director of the Lavender Rights Project, a national Black trans feminist organization advancing justice for gender diverse communities, and noted a proxy way was going on targeting the bodies of LGBTQ people.
"I want to [give a] thank you to the Healthcare and Human Rights Coalition for organizing this gathering as we watch the Trump administration give billionaires tax cuts and pass through costs to our state," Scott said. "We're sitting aside and waiting on action from our state legislature. Look, the billionaires and Trump administration are playing proxy wars on our bodies. Nowhere, nowhere is that more evident than with the communities that I organize with – that's LGBTQ communities, the communities that I'm running to represent in the 37th."
Scott alluded to Republican increasing attacks on trans people as a means to fire up their base despite failures and broken promises on other issues.
"They are attacking specifically trans communities and stripping our health care," Scott said. "So, now we're in the position as a state that we have to do Medicaid backfill, and we're going to do the bare minimum. But we have to do more than the bare minimum. How can we ensure that we show that Washington State is a state that actually is a sanctuary for all, and that healthcare is a human right, and that gender-affirming care is great in this state?"
If Democrats succeed nationally in retaking Congress, repealing H.R. 1 would be a bold goal, but one within their reach. Barring action, health care will become increasingly unaffordable for working families and some will lack access altogether.
Andrew Villeneuve (Guest Contributor)
Doug Trumm
