We often hear that an upcoming election is the most important one in years, maybe even decades — possibly ever. It’s easy to dismiss this as election hype, but there are good reasons why voters, and employers in particular, should pay close attention to this November’s election.

Setting aside national politics, this is the first time in 12 years that Washington’s governor’s office has been an open seat. After three terms in office, Gov. Jay Inslee is not running for re-election, meaning voters will choose between Attorney General Bob Ferguson and former Congressman and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert.

The Association of Washington Business is pleased to provide a forum to learn more about the candidates by hosting a series of debates, including a gubernatorial debate, later this month, with our partner Greater Spokane Inc. The debate, which continues AWB’s 30-plus year tradition, will air live at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, on television, radio and online throughout the state.

In addition to choosing the next governor, voters will cast ballots for all eight of the other statewide offices, as well as all 98 seats in the House of Representatives, roughly half of the state Senate and four initiative petitions. Simply put, there’s a lot at stake.

Voters understand this. According to a recent Cascade PBS/Elway Poll, 35% of respondents said this election is the most important election in their lifetime, and nearly half said the election is more important than usual.

The national political landscape is likely driving much of this sentiment, but the truth is that what happens at the state level is critically important for the health of Washington’s employers, our communities and our economy.

To help identify where the candidates stand on issues that matter most to employers, AWB staff spent part of the summer coordinating and hosting candidate interviews for dozens of state legislative races. This interview process led AWB’s board to approve an initial round of endorsements for 51 candidates for the Legislature, with more endorsements coming soon.

The board also has taken positions supporting three of the initiatives on the ballot this year: Initiative 2109, repealing the capital gains tax; Initiative 2124, giving Washingtonians the ability to opt out of the state’s long-term care insurance program; and Initiative 2066, protecting access to natural gas.

The common element for the initiatives is competitiveness. When lawmakers implemented a capital gains tax, we lost one of our key advantages and moved a step closer to an income tax. We hope voters will approve I-2109 and show their support for tax policy that makes it easier, not harder to grow a business in Washington state.

Likewise, we’re concerned that changes adopted by the State Building Code Council regarding natural gas will take away a reliable energy option, put jobs at risk and increase housing costs. We hope voters will approve I-2066, protecting access to natural gas, which is critical to manufacturers and the overall economy. Demand for energy is only going to grow in the coming years and we’re going to need every kilowatt we can get — from every kind of source — to keep pace.

Whether or not you think this is the most important election of your lifetime, it’s important for everyone — including employers — to take time to understand the issues. That includes state and local elections, not just the headline-grabbing national races.

We need to elect lawmakers who understand the challenges facing employers, and who value the important role that employers play in a healthy society. We need to elect champions for the economy.

For more information on AWB’s election resources, go to: bit.ly/AWB2024election.

Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.