Opinion: 2026 Washington Poll: Voters want economic focus, spending restraint, and ed transparency

Results from the first Washington Poll show voters prioritizing the economy, spending restraint, and school transparency, with broad support for education reforms and concern over housing affordability. — The Washington State Legislative Building is seen in Olympia. Photo courtesy Brett Davis/The Center Square

This statewide survey of 800 registered Washington voters was conducted online January 2–9, 2026 by RMG Research, Inc.

Chris Cargill
Mountain States Policy Center

Mountain States Policy Center on Jan. 13 released results from the first annual Washington Poll, a new statewide research effort designed to help lawmakers, community leaders, and citizens better understand what Washingtonians believe the state should prioritize—and how the state should move forward.

The inaugural poll, conducted January 2–9, 2026 among 800 registered voters in Washington, shows voters focused on kitchen-table issues—particularly the economy, taxes, and state spending—while also expressing strong interest in education reforms and greater transparency in public schools.

Washington may be a state full of opportunity, but leaders can’t solve problems if they aren’t aligned with the priorities of the people they serve. The Washington Poll is meant to provide a clear, reliable picture of what voters are thinking—and to help guide serious policy conversations toward solutions that reflect what Washingtonians want.

When asked what the top priority should be for the next legislative session, voters most often chose:

Improving the state’s economy (32%)
Lowering taxes (31%)
Balancing the state budget (16%)

Voters are also concerned about state finances. With Washington facing a $2 billion budget shortfall, nearly two-thirds say lawmakers should focus on cutting spending rather than increasing taxes:

62% cutting spending
5% increasing taxes
25% both

And when asked broadly about state spending levels, 67% say Washington state government spends too much, compared with just 12% who say it spends too little.

More Washingtonians say the state is headed in the wrong direction (52%) than the right direction (37%).

The poll also indicates a growing concern that Washington may be falling behind neighboring states on the cost of doing business. Many voters believe Idaho (47%) and Montana (45%) have better business and tax policies than Washington.

In addition, 43% of respondents say decisions by the governor or legislature have caused them to consider moving out of Washington.

Voters rate Washington public school performance as excellent or good (41%) versus fair or poor (55%).

At the same time, voters show broad openness to reforms:

69% favor expanding education choice options
84% support the Public School Transparency Act, which would require school districts to clearly present spending and outcomes information in an accessible format

Affordable housing is widely viewed as a serious challenge, with 95% describing the problem as very or somewhat serious.

Asked what would best address housing affordability, voters are split between two broad strategies:

40% increase rent controls and build more public housing
39% reduce regulations to make it easier for private builders to build more homes

Mountain States Policy Center launched the Washington Poll to provide a consistent, annual benchmark that tracks public opinion over time—giving policymakers and the public the data needed to engage in more informed debate and better decisions.

The goal of the Washington Poll is straightforward. Washingtonians deserve to know where the public stands on the issues shaping our future—so we can focus on the policies that will make this state more affordable, more competitive, and more hopeful.

This statewide survey of 800 registered Washington voters was conducted online January 2–9, 2026 by RMG Research, Inc. The sample was weighted to reflect the state’s registered voter population. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is ±3.5 percentage points.

Full results of the Washington Poll and the crosstabs are available here.

Chris Cargill is the president of Mountain States Policy Center, an independent free market think tank based in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Eastern Washington. Online at mountainstatespolicy.org.

This statewide survey of 800 registered Washington voters was conducted online January 2–9, 2026 by RMG Research, Inc.

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