A Comprehensive Look into the Life and Career of Jay Inslee, Washington’s Governor and Former Presidential Candidate

Jay Robert Inslee, born on February 9, 1951, in Seattle, Washington, is a renowned political figure who has dedicated his career to public service, particularly in the areas of climate change and environmental issues. Inslee’s life story is a testament to his unwavering commitment to making a difference, from his days as a star athlete in high school to his tenure as the governor of Washington and his unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2020.

Inslee’s father, Frank Inslee, was a biology teacher, coach, and athletic director. His mother, Adele (Brown) Inslee, was a store clerk. Inslee grew up in Seattle and attended Ingraham High School, where he was a standout athlete, excelling in both football and basketball. The basketball team won the state title in his senior year.

After high school, Inslee attended Stanford University for a year before transferring to the University of Washington, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in economics. He then went on to attend Willamette University College of Law, graduating magna cum laude in 1976.

Inslee’s political career began in earnest in 1988 when he won an open seat in the Washington House of Representatives for the 14th District against Lynn Carmichael (R) with 51.64% of the votes. He was reelected in 1990 with 61.82% of the votes. From 1989 to 1993, Inslee served in the Washington House of Representatives.

In 1992, Inslee was elected to the US House of Representatives for Washington’s 4th District, defeating Richard “Doc” Hastings (R) with 50.84% of the votes. He served in the House from 1993 to 1995 and from 1999 to 2012. During his time in the House, he served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and on the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

Inslee’s focus on climate change and environmental issues dates back to his time in the House. He was the first governor to enter the 2020 presidential race, and his campaign centered on these issues. Inslee’s dedication to addressing climate change and other environmental issues is evident in his legislative record and his actions as governor.

Inslee’s political career took a turn in 1995 when he unsuccessfully ran for governor, coming in third with 10% of the votes in the primary. He then served as the Region 10 Director for the US Department of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 1998.

In 1998, Inslee won the US House of Representatives seat for Washington’s 1st District, after four years out of office, against incumbent Rick White (R) with 49.77% of the votes. He was reelected six times. In 2007, Inslee and Bracken Hendricks published their book, “Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean Energy Economy.”

In March 2012, Inslee announced that he would resign from the US House of Representatives in order to focus on his run for governor of the state. He won the election for governor of Washington, defeating Rob McKenna (R) with 51.54% of the votes. He was reelected in 2016 with 54.39% of the votes.

As governor, Inslee has taken several notable actions, including suspending executions while he is in office, meaning he will issue reprieves when any capital cases come to his desk for action. He has also been the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association and the Co-chair of the US Climate Alliance, a group he co-founded with California Governor Jerry Brown and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Alliance pledges to uphold the Paris Climate Accord following the United States’ withdrawal from the agreement.

Inslee’s tenure as governor has not been without challenges. In 2017, he lost a bid to enact a statewide carbon emissions tax, for the second time in two years. However, he has continued to push for climate action and has signed several significant pieces of legislation, including Washington’s paid family and medical leave act into law, which is considered one of the most generous such laws in the nation.

In March 2019, Inslee announced his presidential candidacy, and in July 2019, he participated in the CNN Democratic debates, where he famously said, “The time is up. We can’t wait any longer. We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and the last generation to be able to do something about it.” Inslee suspended his presidential campaign in August 2019 and announced that he would be running for a third term as governor.

Inslee won reelection to a third term as governor in November 2020. In June 2022, he issued a directive that bars state police from cooperating with out-of-state investigatory requests related to abortion in his efforts to make the state a “sanctuary” for those seeking abortion services. The decision comes after the US Supreme Court ruled to strike down Roe v Wade, the 1973 legal precedent which guaranteed people’s federal constitutional right to abortion. The historic ruling essentially leaves abortion laws in states’ hands.

Inslee has also endorsed State Attorney General Bob Ferguson for the 2024 Washington gubernatorial election race.

In conclusion, Jay Inslee’s life and career are a testament to his unwavering commitment to public service and making a difference, particularly in the areas of climate change and environmental issues. From his days as a star athlete in high school to his tenure as the governor of Washington and his unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2020, Inslee’s story is one of dedication, perseverance, and a deep-rooted belief in the power of government to effect positive change.