Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings urges Washington voters to reject tax repeal initiative

Ken Jennings, the record-setting Jeopardy! champion, has recorded a 30-second ad supporting the NO on 645 coalition’s effort to defeat Initiative 645 in Washington State. The initiative seeks to repeal the 9.9% tax on individual incomes exceeding $1 million, a levy enacted in 2026 that applies to about 25,000 of the state’s wealthiest earners. Jennings argues that eliminating the tax would trigger reductions in funding for public schools and other essential services, and notes that educators, healthcare workers and small-business owners are against the measure.

Travel expert Rick Steves also backs the coalition. Jennings, who lives in Seattle and was born in Snohomish County, points out that the vote in Snohomish—Washington’s bellwether swing county—could be decisive, especially if it aligns with King County, which is expected to vote against the initiative. The campaign highlights the broader debate over tax fairness and public-service financing in the state.