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In trying to understand why Democrats fared better in Washington state than elsewhere in the country — and why three of four conservative-backed state initiatives were rejected, even with appeals regarding inflation and taxes — Troy Abel, a professor of environmental policy at Western Washington University, went to the source: the voters; at least those in his classes.

“I started talking to my students about this, and I think they had some pretty good insight,” said Abel, who has taught at Western since 2006.