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The result is a landmark win for local climate advocates, most notably outgoing Governor Jay Inslee, who helped establish the climate program in the first place and has been among those leading the campaign to keep it.

“Washingtonians said loud and clear that they value clean air and clean water — and they don’t want to go backwards,” Inslee said in a press release reacting to the election results. “We also send a message around the country about what is possible for smart climate action that invests in communities.” Along with environmental groups, many big businesses in the state, including oil major BP Plc, Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp., pushed to defeat the measure.