Threats target ‘Let’s Go WA’ signature gatherers, leading to multiple arrests

Signature gatherers for two new Washington state initiatives have faced harassment and threats in recent days, a prominent conservative political group reports — culminating in multiple arrests.

Let’s Go Washington (LGW) is collecting signatures for a pair of initiatives to the Legislature: one focusing on parental rights in education and another barring transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports.

Although LGW contends that the initiatives are non-controversial, progressives and LGBTQ+ advocates have blasted them as jeopardizing the safety and dignity of Washington students.

Let’s Go Washington was also behind four initiatives on last November’s ballot. Yet founder Brian Heywood said that this time around, there have been far more concerning incidents related to signature gathering, with about 25 cases over the past week.

Signature gatherers have been yelled at and threatened, he said. Some suspects have torn up or stolen signature sheets.

Verbal engagement is one thing, Heywood said in a Monday call.

“But as they’ve sort of escalated the violence, the stolen sheets turned into something I think is quite scary,” he added, citing a recent hit-and-run and theft incident that prompted a response from Tacoma police.

This comes as partisan tension in the U.S. is reaching record heights, including a marked spike in political violence.

Here in Washington, the targeting of LGW signature-gathering efforts has conservatives on edge. And bipartisan calls to protect the democratic process are beginning to amplify.

Heywood said his group plans to have security at some events now, calling it a “sad commentary.”

“Why would you need security at an event where you’re trying to get a law passed?” he said. “It just sort of blows my mind.”

Signature gatherers targeted in WA

In one Sept. 25 case outside a Fred Meyer in Tacoma, a young woman snatched signature sheets from the hands of a gatherer, LGW said in a news release. She stole petitions and then “proceeded to hit an innocent bystander with her car as she fled the scene.”

The suspect hit a vehicle in the parking lot while fleeing, and there weren’t any injuries, said Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Shelbie Boyd. An officer, while taking those reports, then witnessed someone else damaging documents that belonged to a signature gatherer.

That person was arrested and booked into Pierce County Jail for third-degree malicious mischief, though King 5 reports that the 42-year-old woman was later charged with property destruction.

Let’s Go Washington also posted a photo to X showing a different arrest: that of a 25-year-old man who allegedly stole a stack of petitions in Covington.

Covington Police Chief Adam Easterbrook said via email that police responded to a 911 call reporting the suspect had stolen and ripped up a gatherer’s petition materials. Police found him near a Walmart and made the arrest, but he was released. Easterbrook said the person wasn’t booked into jail at the time “due to call volume.”

While the Covington Police Department has recommended third-degree theft and malicious mischief charges, Easterbrook said the prosecutor will make a final decision about what gets charged.

Law enforcement has also entered the picture in other Washington cities.

The Snohomish Police Department wrote in a Sunday post on Facebook that it was aware of signature gatherers outside a store, but that the department “has no legal authority to remove them at this time.” It added that calls to 911 aren’t necessary.

LGW slams WA Democrats

Let’s Go Washington has criticized Democratic officials, arguing that the majority party has “no interest in protecting the lives of people who disagree with their politics.” The group called on Gov. Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown and Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to stop the harassment and to punish lawbreakers.

Brown said in a statement to McClatchy that people have “the right to advocate for their beliefs without fear of violence.”

“What happened in Tacoma is unacceptable, and we will do everything we can to assist local authorities in enforcing any violations of the law,” Brown continued. “We must do everything we can to protect the democratic process.”

Ferguson’s office said via email that anyone who experiences violence or harassment should report it to law enforcement.

“There is no place for political violence in our democracy,” Ferguson said.

Hobbs’ office did not reply to a request for comment.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a prominent national free-speech organization, decried defacing or stealing petitions as “shameful and illiberal behavior” in an email.

“It’s not free speech — it’s an effort to silence others,” continued Aaron Terr, FIRE’s director of public advocacy. “Anyone who opposes a petition is free to criticize it or start their own. But they don’t get to trample on others’ rights to speak to their fellow citizens and push for change.”

WA lawmakers react to signature-gathering incidents

The string of incidents has spurred condemnations from state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

State Rep. Mari Leavitt, a University Place Democrat, described voter activities and free speech as part of democracy in a Sunday post on X. She urged those who are angered or upset by signature-gathering pushes to simply walk away and decline to sign.

Republican state Rep. Travis Couture of Allyn called for prosecutions in cases of intimidation and threats against signature gatherers, writing on X: “Enough is enough.”

Heywood said “we’re lucky to live in this republic” with laws that protect freedom of speech.

“One of the ways that we avoid political violence is by engaging in discussion and debate, and you have every right to try to convince people that we’re wrong,” he said. “That’s how we should be handling it.”

This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Simone Carter

The Olympian

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