Harger: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson called for a Starbucks boycott. Starbucks called Nashville
Apr 28, 2026, 6:06 AM | Updated: 3:15 pm
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s first move after winning the election was calling for a Starbucks boycott. Starbucks’ first move after the income tax passed was calling Nashville. Boeing left years ago. Amazon split. And the billionaire who spent millions building the progressive tax agenda that helped get us here says virtually every wealthy friend he has is already gone or planning to leave.
His name is Nick Hanauer. And he’s worth listening to.
He didn’t just get rich and stay quiet. He helped build the progressive tax framework Olympia runs on today. He spent millions pushing Seattle’s $15 minimum wage. He bankrolled the campaign to pass Washington’s capital gains tax. He wrote a famous essay warning his fellow billionaires that inequality would lead to pitchforks if they didn’t start paying more. He coined the term “middle-out economics” and appeared in Robert Reich’s documentary, arguing that prosperity requires massive investment in the middle class.
His whole brand, for years, was: I’m rich, and I’m telling you the rich need to pay more.
He was the billionaire giving cover to the progressive agenda. The architect.
And this is what he told GeekWire about Washington’s new income tax: “Virtually every wealthy friend I have has either left or is planning to. It’s a catastrophe.”
The man who spent years telling the wealthy they needed to pay more is now watching them leave instead.
When Nick Hanauer calls it a catastrophe, pay attention.
Starbucks expanding in Nashville after WA income tax passed, employees expect it to function as second headquarters
His wealthy friends moving is one thing. But now one of our most prominent employers has reached a similar conclusion.
Starbucks. Born here. Grew up here. Became a global brand with a Seattle address.
Last November, the day after she was declared the winner in a tight race for mayor, Katie Wilson publicly called for a boycott of Starbucks. That was her first move after declaring victory. Not a policy announcement. Not a vision for the city. A boycott call against a fast food joint that offers health care, paid vacation, and free college tuition for employees and their family members.
After that, The Seattle Times reported, Starbucks started looking around. They briefly explored a 21-story tower in Bellevue. That would have kept them in the region. Then the legislature passed the income tax. Starbucks kept driving. Past Bellevue. Past the state line. All the way to Nashville. A state with no income tax and aggressive employer incentives.
The company calls it a new office. Employees, according to The Seattle Times, expect it to function as a second headquarters. Starbucks isn’t saying that out loud. The people who work there don’t seem to need it spelled out.
The same city Amazon already chose for half its second headquarters.
Boeing left years ago. Amazon split. Now Starbucks. These weren’t surprises. They were warning shots.
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The spending commitments are still there. The programs are still growing. And nobody should be surprised when the next session opens with an emergency and another tax proposal. Because that’s how this works now.
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And then you can’t afford to run it.
Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here.
