PRESS RELEASE
Former Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler and Veteran Communications Strategist Lee Keller Join Effort to Repeal State Income Tax
August, 20th, 2026
SEATTLE, WA – Vote Yes Repeal the Income Tax announced today that former U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler and veteran public affairs strategist Lee Keller have joined the campaign as Spokespeople, respectively, to support the Initiative 645 campaign to repeal Washington’s income tax.
Jaime Herrera Beutler is a former Member of Congress and Washington state legislator with 15 years of experience building bipartisan coalitions that delivered legislative victories for maternal healthcare, environmental protection, energy, timber, and small businesses. From 2011 to 2023, she represented Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, serving nine years on the House Appropriations Committee and as a member of the Joint Economic Committee. In 2023 Jaime served as a fellow-in-residence at Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. Known for crafting bipartisan solutions, Jaime was ranked Washington state’s most effective federal legislator and named to Time Magazine’s “40 Under 40.” A sought-after thought leader, she has been featured by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, and other national outlets, and has received numerous awards for bipartisanship and public service.
Founder and CEO of The Keller Group, Lee Keller has more than 30 years of communications, political, and public affairs experience across government, the private sector, and the nonprofit world. She began her career as a radio reporter in Seattle before serving as press secretary to U.S. Senator Daniel J. Evans and directing communications for the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, D.C. Lee later led communications and public affairs at Weyerhaeuser and then served as director of external affairs for Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc., where she guided strategy and outreach for major projects including CenturyLink Field and South Lake Union’s development. She went on to serve as managing director of APCO Worldwide’s Seattle office before launching her own firm. Lee lives in Seattle and has also been active on the boards of several Puget Sound-area philanthropic organizations.
“Washington is at a tipping point. We must repeal the income tax before it’s too late because otherwise, when Olympia blows through this money, they will come for the rest of us,” said Jaime Herrera Beutler. “Our state should be supporting working families and small business job creators, not driving them to escape this tax.”
“Washingtonians deserve straight answers about this income tax,” said Lee Keller. “Olympia already voted to ensure they can expand the income tax to everyone, and once it’s in place, they will. I’m proud to help make sure that does not happen and make sure voters know the truth about how this tax will impact them.”
Herrera Beutler and Keller will support the campaign’s public outreach efforts, including coalition-building, media engagement, and public education about the initiative.
Media Inquiries:
For media inquiries, please contact Lee Keller at media@voteyes645.com.