Election Day 2026: Key races, ballot measures most cared about in WA

Welcome in on this election day. I'm Erin Mayovsky. And I'm Bill Wixey. And there are a number of key races and ballot measures that people across the state and beyond will be watching closely in this election. Sean Chitin is live this morning with a breakdown of what many people locally and nationally will be keeping an eye on tonight. Sean, good morning. Bill, good morning. Well, we've got at least one congressional race that has national implications. We also have these statewide measures that are taking on economic and social issues. And then we have a potential remaking of the state Supreme Court. So let's start with the third congressional district that is in southwest Washington. And it is one that the country will be watching closely, potentially giving us a sense of where the country is as a whole going into these midterms. It is Democratic incumbent Marie Glusenkamp-Perez and Republican state Senator John Braun. The district is one of 18 races across the country truly considered a toss-up. Voters there sent Republicans to Congress. Congress for 12 years in a row before Glusenkamp Perez flipped it in 2022. She's emphasizing her bipartisan record in that time, while Braun has run on fiscally conservative policies as a veteran and manufacturing executive endorsed by Donald Trump. Three statewide initiatives take on crucial and sensitive issues, including 645. That's a repeal on the state's 9.9% tax on people making more than $1 million a year. It would also ban future state and local personal income taxes. The measure does reduce funding for education and health care programs. Two other initiatives take on matters in schools. Initiative 1 repeals recent amendments on specific rights for parents and guardians of public school students. So back to the previous law passed by another initiative. The other 638 would prohibit transgender girls from competing in a K through 12 sports program that doesn't match the gender they were assigned at birth. The measure would require students to verify their biological sex from a health care provider to compete in gender specific sports. And then there is the state Supreme Court with five positions on the ballot. This election of a total of nine, people are watching closely to see some of the issues that they may take on, including the future of the millionaire's tax. Live in Seattle, Sean Chitin, Fox 13 News.