Tim Eyman Formally Announces 2020 Bid For Governor

OLYMPIA, WA — Longtime anti-tax activist Tim Eyman formally announced a 2020 campaign for governor Monday, filing the first round of paperwork to run as an independent. Eyman, whose Initiative 976 was approved by voters in the 2019 General Election, first announced his intent to run during a Sound Transit meeting last week.

The Associated Press reports Eyman joins a growing list of candidates who are running against Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, including Republican Senator Phil Fortunato and Republic Police Chief Loren Culp.

Eyman held a press conference at the Secretary of State's office in Olympia Monday. The News Tribune reports Eyman cited repeated legal challenges to his ballot initiatives among the reasons he decided to run. On his campaign website, Eyman pledges to veto all tax increases if elected. Crosscut reports some are skeptical about the seriousness of his gubernatorial aspirations, citing a long history of political stunts.

According to the Associated Press, Eyman filed for bankruptcy last year and is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit from the state Attorney General's Office, alleging Eyman broke state campaign finance laws. Eyman has denied the allegations.

A joint lawsuit over Eyman's Initiative 976 was filed eight days after Election Day and claims the measure misled voters and violates the state constitution. Plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to keep the law from going into effect on December 5. Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office filed a brief in defense of the measure Friday, arguing that I-976 does not break the law.

Gov. Inslee announced his bid for a third term as Washington's governor after dropping out of the 2020 presidential race in August.