Welcome to Permanent Defense, a project of the Northwest Progressive Institute founded in February of 2002 to protect the Evergreen State from bad ballot measures proposed by the militant right wing. Permanent Defense is a people-powered political action committee working to safeguard Washington’s common wealth, which funds our schools, mass transit, roads, parks, libraries, hospitals, police, fire, emergency response, and all of the essential public services that we as a people have created through the years through the wise investment of our tax dollars.

For decades, our common wealth and our pluralistic society have been threatened and attacked by a steady onslaught of right wing initiatives designed to paralyze our communities and wreck government by metaphorically drowning it in a bathtub. Permanent Defense was created to provide a year-round first response to these harmful ballot measures. 

We’re working to defeat three Brian Heywood backed measures in 2026

Visit our Wrong For Washington website to learn why Brian Heywood’s 645, 001, and 638 must be defeated this November. Be sure to mark the oval for “NO” on each measure by Tuesday, November 3rd. Vote early and return your ballot to a drop box!

Donate to help us oppose these destructive initiatives

With your support, we’ll protect Washington from both these schemes in 2026.