Lackluster support for Initiative 594 may have hurt Democrats

Democrats are trying to sort out what went wrong in the election and why the presence of Initiative 594 on the ballot didn’t motivate more of their voters to turn out.

Party leaders all along thought the popular measure requiring background checks for buyers of guns online and through private sales would spur some of those prone to skipping midterm elections to participate.

They believed a small boost of pro-Democrat voters in just the right places could swing a close race and maybe upend a targeted Republican.

It didn’t play out that way. Democrats lost seats in both chambers — sometimes in communities where the measure is passing handily.

Republicans picked up one seat in the Senate in south King County and four in the House, deposing three Democrats in the process. Those seats are in districts covering swaths of Pierce, Thurston, Clark, Mason and Kitsap counties.

Initiative 594 is passing in all those counties, except Mason, according to data assembled thus far by initiative supporters. Precinct-by-precinct details won’t be available until next month when election results are certified.

“I don’t think it hurt us but I don’t think it helped us to the degree that we thought it would,” admitted Adam Bartz, executive director of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.

One explanation is that in spite of polls detailing the measure’s popularity with voters, only a handful of Democrats associated themselves with the initiative. Only a few were like Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, who actively campaigned for it and went on to win with 54.5 percent.

Most Democratic candidates steered clear of the measure as best they could. They feared any overt demonstration of support would trigger a reaction from the NRA like in 1994 when the national gun rights group helped defeat Democrats who endorsed an assault weapons ban. The NRA flexed its muscle again three years later by helping upend a statewide gun control-related initiative.

Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, said he didn’t view I-594 as a “positive tool” and knew Democratic candidates avoided using it because of what the NRA did in 1994.

Yet Hunt didn’t think it would have made a difference had they embraced it more strongly.

“We didn’t energize our base enough and the other side did,” he said. “I just think we got caught in the wave.”

Backers of Initiative 594 wonder if Democrats may revise their analysis when the final numbers are known for the election.

While I-594 is losing in several counties, it is passing on the strength of votes from Democrats, Republicans and independents where many of this year’s most contested legislative battles took place.

“We demonstrated we can take on the gun lobby and win,” said Geoff Potter, spokesman for the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility that conducted the campaign.

“That’s a message candidates could hear and legislators should keep in mind going into the next session,” he said.

And one that Democrats may wish they had paid more attention to in the election.

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623;jcornfield@heraldnet.com and on Twitter at @dospueblos

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Joshua Kornfeld/Kitsap News Group
SNAP benefits are accepted at the Bainbridge Island Safeway.
WA sues contractor to prevent sharing of food stamp data with feds

States fear the Trump administration could use the information to target immigrants. The company said after the lawsuit was filed it had no plans to hand over the data.

Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Paving project will close I-5 lanes in Everett

Crews will close up to 4 lanes overnight for weeks to complete the $8.1 million repairs.

Top, from left: Bill Wheeler, Erica Weir and Mason Rutledge. Bottom, from left: Sam Hem, Steven Sullivan.
Candidates seek open District 1 seat in crowded race

Five people are aiming to take the open seat left after current council member Mary Fosse announced she would not run for reelection.

From left to right, Lynnwood City Council Position 3 candidates Josh Binda, Tyler Hall and Bryce Owings.
Position 3 candidates focus on affordability amid city’s growth

City Council Vice President Josh Binda is seeking a second term against challengers Tyler Hall and Bryce Owings.

South County Fire plans push-in ceremony for newest fire engine

Anybody who attends will have the opportunity to help push the engine into the station.

District 1 candidates talk financial priorities, student needs

Three newcomers — Carson Sanderson, Arun Sharma and Brian Travis — are eyeing the vacant seat on the district’s board of directors.

Tony Quincy, Marylin Quincy's son, holds up a portrait honoring her during a second line parade at the 33rd annual Nubian Jam on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Forest Park in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Locals honor Black leader at Everett’s Nubian Jam

The celebration honored the late Marylin Quincy, who founded the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee. She died in June at 81.

Downtown Edmonds is a dining destination, boasting fresh seafood, Caribbean-inspired sandwiches, artisan bread and more. (Taylor Goebel / The Herald)
Edmonds commission studying parking fees and business tax proposals

Both ideas are under consideration as possible revenue solutions to address a $13M budget shortfall.

Travis Bouwman with Snohomish County PUD trims branches away from power lines along Norman Road on Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County PUD activates fire safety protocols

As wildfire risks increase in Western Washington, the PUD continues to implement mitigation and preparation efforts.

Top, from left: Amber Cantu, Gary Kemp, Dan Perkins. Bottom, from left: R.J. Whitlow, David Garrett.
Crowded race to fill open Position 3 seat

After incumbent Tom King decided not to run for reelection, five people stepped up to run in the August primary.

File photo 
People wait in line to see a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter being exhibited in 2022 at Arlington SkyFest.
Arlington SkyFest rental waiver denied for the first time in 10 years

Arlington Airport Commission says the event is moving away from aviation.

Second fire vehicle stolen in a week — this time in Edmonds

Police searching for a suspect who stole and abandoned a South County Fire Ford F-150 on Friday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.