House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary joins TVW to discuss 2026 session, new state income tax
In a sine die interview with TVW’s Mike McClanahan, House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary delivered a blunt assessment of the 2026 legislative session and the direction Democrats are taking Washington.
Stokesbary said that while House Republicans succeeded in blocking several proposals they believed would have made life more expensive and communities less safe, the Legislature still passed policies he warned could hurt Washington’s long-term economic competitiveness. Chief among them, he said, was the state’s new income tax on high earners.
Stokesbary said Republicans believe the tax is unconstitutional and predicted it will face a major legal challenge. He criticized the majority for rejecting efforts to send the tax to voters and for voting down proposals to lock the $1 million threshold into the state Constitution, warning the policy could eventually expand beyond the wealthy.
He also pushed back on claims that the new tax will help working families. Stokesbary said the legislation does nothing to meaningfully lower the tax burden on Washingtonians already struggling with rising costs for housing, child care, groceries and gas.
The House Republican leader also discussed several other key issues from the session, including funding for public defense, bipartisan support for the capital and transportation budgets, and legislation regulating artificial intelligence chatbots. He said Republicans worked to stop a series of “anti-tech” proposals that could have undermined Washington’s reputation as a technology leader.
Stokesbary also highlighted bipartisan legislation allowing electric vehicle manufacturers Rivian and Lucid to sell directly to consumers in Washington, calling it a long-awaited solution lawmakers had been working on for several years.
On energy and infrastructure, Stokesbary addressed concerns about data centers and electricity demand. He said many facilities pay special utility rates that can help stabilize costs for other customers and argued the real solution is expanding Washington’s electrical grid and investing in reliable energy sources, including hydropower and emerging technologies such as small modular nuclear reactors.
Looking ahead, Stokesbary said House Republicans will remain focused on affordability and policies that make Washington a place where families can afford to live and businesses can grow. He warned that policies targeting employers and job creators risk driving investment, companies and jobs out of the state if lawmakers continue down the same path.
