Welcome to the Thursday, July 31, Brew.
By: Briana Ryan
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Seattle voters to decide on renewing the property tax that funds the city’s Democracy Voucher program
- Two members of the U.S. House announce their campaigns for other offices
- President Donald Trump signs an executive order creating a new federal job classification
Seattle voters to decide on renewing the property tax that funds the city’s Democracy Voucher program
On Aug. 5, Seattle, Washington, voters will decide on Proposition 1, which would renew the property tax for 10 years that funds the city’s Democracy Voucher program.
On Nov. 3, 2015, voters approved Initiative 122 63% to 37%, which created the program that allows eligible residents to receive four $25 vouchers per election to contribute to qualified municipal candidates who agree to spending and contribution limits. The person receiving the vouchers can distribute them between candidates or give multiple vouchers to one candidate. The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission verifies vouchers before releasing funds and discloses the contributor’s name and chosen candidates in public files.
Initiative 122 authorized Seattle to levy a property tax to raise $3 million annually for up to 10 years to fund the program. Properties affected include commercial, businesses, and residential properties. That authority will expire unless voters approve Proposition 1.
Proposition 1 would replace the expiring levy with a new 10-year property tax starting in 2026. The new levy would add $1.50 per $100,000 of assessed value, increasing the maximum levy rate to $227 per $100,000. The 2026 amount would be utilized as the funding base through 2035. The city projects that Proposition 1 would raise approximately $45 million over the next 10 years.
Cascade PBS’s Josh Cohen wrote, “Proponents of the program argue it’s been successful in its stated goals of increasing small-donor participation in local politics and diversifying the range of donors.” Axios Seattle’s Melissa Santos wrote that “Some worry Seattle’s experiment with public campaign financing is being undercut by third-party PACs that can raise and spend unlimited amounts.”
According to a report by Stony Brook University’s Jennifer Heerwig and Georgetown University’s Brian McCabe, approximately 20,000 people gave vouchers in 2017. In 2019, approximately 38,000 people gave vouchers, approximately 48,000 people did so in 2021, and 30,649 did so in 2023.
To receive vouchers, candidates must first collect a specific number of signatures and contributions from Seattle residents. This year, candidates for Seattle mayor, city attorney, and three Council seats can receive democracy vouchers. You can read more about those elections here.
According to Heerwig, Seattle is the only municipality in the United States that has instituted a campaign financing system using vouchers. In 2022, Oakland, California voters approved Measure W 74% to 26%, which would institute a similar voucher program. The city has delayed the program due to a budget deficit.
Click here for more information on Proposition 1.
Two members of the U.S. House announce their campaigns for other offices
In the July 30 Daily Brew, we told you about former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) running for the U.S. Senate in 2026. Today, we’ll tell you about two of the 15 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who recently began their campaigns for other offices.
South Carolina gubernatorial election
On July 27, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) announced that he will run for governor of South Carolina in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House. Norman has represented South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District since 2017.
Incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster (R) is term-limited. As of July 29, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the seat Solid Republican. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Republican.
South Carolina is one of 36 states where voters will elect a governor in 2026. Eighteen of those states have Republican governors, and 18 have Democratic governors. Norman is one of seven members of the U.S. House—all Republicans—who have announced that they are running for governor in their respective states in 2026. In 2024, two members of the U.S. House ran for governor in their respective states, four did so in 2022, one did so in 2020, and eight did so in 2018.
Another member of the U.S. House could soon join Norman in the race. On July 27, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said she would decide “over the next couple of days” whether to run.
U.S. Senate election in Georgia
On July 28, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) announced that he will run for the U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House. Collins has represented Georgia’s 10th Congressional District since 2023.
As of July 29, The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections have rated the general election for the seat Toss-up. According to The Hill’s Jared Gans, since President Donald Trump (R) won the state in 2024, incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) “will be a top target for the GOP in next year’s midterms.”
Collins is one of eight representatives—five Democrats and three Republicans—who have announced that they are running for the U.S. Senate in their respective states in 2026. In 2024, 12 members of the U.S. House ran for the U.S. Senate in their respective states, nine did so in 2022, five did so in 2020, and 10 did so in 2018.
In addition to Collins, Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-Ga.) has also announced that he is running for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.
Click here to read more about the members of the U.S. Congress who are seeking other offices in 2026.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order creating a new federal job classification
On July 17, President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order creating a new job classification for federal workers, called Schedule G.
Schedule G employees are considered political appointees, serving without the legal job protections of career federal employees. They can also be terminated at will, and are expected to serve terms ending with the presidential administration that appointed them.
According to the White House, “President Trump believes creating non-career Schedule G positions will enhance government efficiency and accountability and improve services provided to taxpayers by increasing the horsepower for agency implementation of Administration policy.”
Political appointees may be hired under the existing Schedule C job classification, which is used to fill non-career confidential or policy-determining roles. According to the White House, Schedule G would complement this classification, providing for “non-career appointments to policy-making or policy-advocating roles.”
American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley said, “We are still carefully analyzing this new order, but we remain deeply concerned about executive actions that expand the number of positions throughout the federal government that can be hired and fired based on political loyalty instead of competence and merit.”
This executive order is the second one Trump issued in his second term creating a new federal job classification. On Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order creating the Schedule Policy/Career classification. Under a proposed Office of Personnel Management rule, career employees working in policy-influencing positions may be reclassified as Schedule Policy/Career. These employees can be terminated more easily than career government employees.
Schedule Policy/Career is similar to the Schedule F job classification that Trump created in his first term via executive order on Oct. 21, 2020. Joe Biden (D) revoked that executive order on Jan. 22, 2021.
Click here to read more about this executive order. You can also click here to read about Trump’s 175 other executive orders during his second term.