TACOMA VOTERS ON TRACK TO APPROVE INITIATIVE #1

“We’re Going to Win the Strongest Tenant Protections in Washington”

Tacoma for All Election Night Press Release

Despite the election night tally showing Initiative #1 trailing by just under 600 votes, Tacoma for All declared a likely victory at their election night party. “We know that our base of support – tenants, young people, working class folks – tend to vote late,” said Tacoma for All Campaign Manager Ty Moore. “Half of the votes have yet to be counted, and we feel confident they will trend heavily in our direction. We only need to get 51% or 52% of the remaining votes to win, but all bets are on us getting a lot more than that.”

The likely victory for Tacoma for All’s grassroots coalition comes despite outside landlord and real estate interests spending a record-shattering $365,000 on a dirty disinformation campaign against Initiative #1.

“We’re thrilled to be on the verge of this victory for 100,000 tenants and all working families in Tacoma,” Moore said. “We’re going to win the strongest tenant protections in Washington State. The people of Tacoma face the highest eviction rates in the state and have seen rents rise 43 percent over the last five years, so no one should be surprised by this result.”

Moore credited the victory to the strength of the labor and community movement organized by the Tacoma for All and supported by numerous prominent endorsing organizations and individuals.

“This win comes down to the power of our coalition and a real army of volunteers,” Moore said. “The members of Tacoma DSA and UFCW 367 deserve special recognition for launching this campaign and seeing it across the finish line. We were endorsed by Pierce County Central Labor Council and many member unions early on in this fight, alongside political leaders like State Senators Yasmin Trudeau and T’wina Nobles, Representatives Melanie Morgan and Sharlett Mena, and others.”

Moore said the passage of the initiative is a powerful sign that tenant rights are popular and on the rise. “We believe this changes the game statewide. Families across Washington face the same dire housing crisis as we do in Tacoma, and are demanding change. This should give everyone confidence that when working people get organized and fight, we can defeat the corporate landlords, billionaire investors, and real estate interests who have for decades blocked progress at all levels of government.” Moore said Tacoma for All is just getting started. 

“We aim to expand our political influence and continue to fight for better living conditions for working families. This victory is a testament to working-class Tacomans collective strength, resilience, and commitment to justice. Let this be a reminder that together, we can overcome adversity and pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future for all,” Moore said.. 

For more information, visit www.Tacoma4All.org.