Gov. Inslee on light rail for the opening of Capitol Hill Station in 2016
On Capitol Hill, we’ve seen a lot of the latest Democratic candidate to toss their hat into the ring for the 2020 presidential election. This time, we probably won’t find him canvassing for votes while talking about potatoes and jobs at the Capitol Hill Farmers Market. But we might see him hanging around E Madison’s Bullitt Center, the sun-powered, super green office building he helped cut the ribbon on when it debuted in 2013.
Washington Governor Jay InsleeĀ announced his bid for the presidency Friday in a Youtube video and a speech at South Seattle photovoltaic installation firm A&R Solar.Ā āIām running for president because I am the only candidate who will make defeating climate change our nationās number one priority,ā Inslee says in the video. While Inslee has poor name recognition beyond the Pacific Northwest, his climate change message has attracted powerful backers includingĀ billionaire investor and Democratic activist Tom Steyer who Friday called Inslee a “climate champion.”
Inslee isn’t the only prospective Washington State candidate. FormerĀ StarbucksĀ CEO and longtime Madison Park lakefront mansion residentĀ Howard SchultzĀ has been kicking the tires on in independent run for president. Would you consider voting for either of them? Let us know in our 2020 candidate ranking survey:
In a rally at Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park last month, Inslee used his time at the mic to attack Donald Trump. Inslee said there are real emergencies that the nation should be taking action on including gun violence, and climate change. āWe know we are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change. And we are the last generation that to do something about it,ā Inslee said. āThis nation needs a leader there can create a message of clean energy economic growth to defeat climate change. That is the emergency that we can respond to.ā
Inslee spent 15 years in Congress before his successful bid for governor in 2012. He easily won re-election in 2016. In 2018, Inslee’s push for a state carbon taxĀ was rejected by voters. Inslee now says that Washington’s investments to boost clean technology startups and new laws requiring reduced emissions will accomplish the same reduction goals as the carbon tax.
With a wide field of Democratic hopefuls, the jockeying has begun to be one of the 20 candidates to be invited to be part of the Democratic National Committee’sĀ primary debates starting in June. To qualify, candidates must rank in polling and take in donations from 65,000 donors in 20 or more states.
Washington, meanwhile, is again considering moving up its presidential primary to make the vote more relevant. More important for Inslee could be a decision expected this April asĀ Washington State Democratic Central Committee choosesĀ how the party will utilize the primary vote in 2020. In 2016 and past presidential elections, Democrats have caucused to dole out the stateās delegates. The last time around, there wereĀ incredibly long linesĀ ā andĀ a landslide victoryĀ forĀ Bernie SandersĀ ā on Capitol Hill.
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Would I vote for Jay Inslee? Letās look at the pluses and minuses.
Plus-He has political experience as governor and congress person. He is right about climate change.
Minus-He isnāt known outside of our State. He needs a lot more position statements. He doesnāt have it.
Whatās āitā? I donāt know. Thereās a rule of thumb for nominees. Republicans rally around issues. They may not believe them, but they espouse them and stick to them. Democrats, on the other hand, rally around personalities. Carter had āitā. Bill Clinton had āitā (Hillary didnāt ) Obama had āitā. Inslee doesnāt. He might end up as a VP or would almost certainly end up in the Presidents Cabinet. I believe one of these two jobs is what he is running for.
So no, I wonāt vote for him because I wonāt have the chance.
Would I vote for Inslee? It depends on which election we’re talking about.
In the general, against Trump (or Pence, if Trump has fled to Russia)? Of course I would.
In the Dem primary? No way. I’m not sure whom I support yet, but I’m only considering women. Forty-five male presidents in a row is far too many to think about adding one more, regardless of his merits. At least until the first female president is elected, Democrats should nominate women exclusively.
I would not vote for Inslee. He is a capable Governor and his position on climate change is admirable, but a one-issue candidate is not very appealing. And, he has zero charisma, which shouldn’t be that important, but in reality it is.
I will probably vote for Shultz in the primary if he is still in the race. He has the possibility of being Prez based on the ā12th Amendmentā scenario. And he has made my family a load of money š° (SBUX)!
Why did you not include Sherrod Brown on the list of possible candidates?
No.
Inslee is such a bore. I wonder why he thinks he has the potential for mass appeal? He’s not really even that popular in his own state.