Viewpoints
Opinion

Washington’s Business Exodus

High taxes and regulations are driving companies away from the Evergreen State, and the rate is accelerating.
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Washington’s Business Exodus
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Mark Harmsworth
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Commentary
Washington state’s business climate continues to deteriorate under the weight of record tax increases and burdensome regulations. A spring 2026 survey by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) reveals alarming trends, nearly 1 in 4 employers (24 percent) are now actively considering relocating their businesses out of state, up sharply from 17 percent in the previous quarter and nearly triple the level from winter 2025.
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Mark Harmsworth
Mark Harmsworth
Author
Mark Harmsworth is director of the Small Business Center at the Washington Policy Center. He was elected in 2014 to the Washington State House of Representatives where he served two terms. His focus was on transportation and technology, including serving as the ranking member on the House Transportation Committee. Prior to the legislature, Mark served two terms on the Mill Creek City Council and was elected Mayor Pro-Tem in his last year. Mark works in the technology industry and is an owner of a small business after completing a long career at Microsoft and Amazon. Mark and his family live in Mill Creek, Washington.