Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announces for president on climate-change platform

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday jumped into the crowded 2020 presidential race and pledged that if elected he will make fighting climate change the “No. 1 priority of the United States of America.”

“We are now involved in one of history’s greatest endeavors: save those who are living on this little blue planet from the dangers and massive threat of climate change. So early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and organize,” Inslee told about 200 longtime supporters, friends and family members at a Seattle-based firm that installs solar panels.

Inslee said his platform will be powering the economy with “100 percent clean, renewable and carbon-free energy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions,” while creating millions of jobs. That includes investing in clean energy such as building electric cars in Michigan, constructing and putting up wind turbines in Iowa and installing solar panels in Washington state.

The governor’s biggest challenge might be becoming better known around the country, which he could accomplish by focusing his campaign on one issue.

His decision to run poses both political opportunities and risks.

The Washington state Republican Party has begun a petition drive to urge Inslee to resign as governor because he’s running for president.

In asking people to sign the petition, the state GOP tweeted: “Do you stand with the 100 percent of Americans that don’t support (Inslee) for President?” a reference to a recent poll which found he had zero percent in the Democratic race and 1 percent backing in the early-voting primary and caucuses of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

“If he’s serious about running for president, the people of Washington state deserve a governor who wants to be here, and he should step down,” said Caleb Heimlich, the state GOP chairman.

Speaking to reporters after his announcement speech, Inslee said he can run for president and continue to serve as governor, citing the state Senate’s vote Friday to approve a bill he made a priority to require 100 percent renewable energy in the state’s electricity grid. He also listed his efforts this session to overhaul the mental health system and address an increase in homelessness.

In his speech, Inslee wove a fabric of social justice and economic opportunity through his climate change message. He said no group should suffer from the transition to a renewable energy economy and all should benefit from new jobs and investment.

“We know that climate change is as much a matter of equity as it is a matter of ecology. It is the communities of color that suffer from climate change first and worst. They live closer to pollution-spewing industrial plants. They suffer the lack of commitment to reimburse and rebuild after natural disasters that increase because of climate change, like Puerto Rico,” he said.

Inslee vowed to eliminate federal subsidies for the oil, coal and natural gas industries.

“Our economy’s reliance on fossil fuels is holding us back. I have a message for the oil, coal and natural gas interests. That gravy train is over,” he said.

Inslee said he is proud that as a U.S. House member, he voted against the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

“Wars for oil must be over,” he said.

Citing what he said are Republican efforts to suppress voting by Democrats and people of color, Inslee said the nation needs new federal protections to guarantee “every American has the right to vote.”

He also took a few swipes at President Donald Trump, citing his opposition to the president’s proposed travel ban in 2017 that critics said was aimed at Muslims.

“I know we all are angry and outraged by this president. I am too. Rather than let anger divide us, as the president is wont to do, let’s unite Americans in this moment by solving our most pressing, urgent and existential problem,” he said. “We are going to win this because I know something about the American people and their character. We are optimists. We are can-do people. We invent. We create. We build. Defeating climate change is just as much of a matter of character as it is in science.”

Although climate change dominated Inslee’s announcement, he also discussed what state government and Washington voters have accomplished while he’s been governor.

He cited adding billions of dollars to the K-12 system, which included pay raises for teachers, issuing a moratorium on the death penalty, adopting a family medical leave law, raising the minimum wage, investing in transportation infrastructure, challenging the National Rifle Association by banning bump stocks and legalizing marijuana.

“It’s time to do it nationwide,” he added, referring to marijuana legalization.

He also said Washington state’s economy is a model for the nation.

”So if America wants to see a Washington that actually works, look west,” he said.

The second-term governor will stump in Iowa on Tuesday and Las Vegas on March 9.

In Iowa, he will tour an electrical contracting company in Cedar Rapids, attend a clean energy round table at Iowa State University in Ames and meet with climate change activists in Des Moines.

The Iowa caucuses will be held on Feb. 3, 2020, with the Nevada caucuses 19 days later.

Voters’ first look at Inslee as a presidential candidate was from a video released at 4 a.m. Friday that stakes his claim as the only contender who can “defeat climate change.”

The 1 minute, 22-second campaign video opens with a young woman saying: “Hi, governor. What do you have to say about climate change?”

Inslee’s replies: “ A lot.”

The video then features a montage of footage and remarks from Inslee as a congressman and governor to emphasize his track record on the issue.

Inslee, answering questions from reporters after his announcement, said he has not ruled out a run for a third term as governor next year.

Heimlich, the state Republican Party chairman, said Inslee has no chance of winning the Democratic nomination for president and his campaign could damage his standing with Washington state voters if he runs for a third term.

“In no job in the world in the private sector could you tell your boss, `I’m going to spend the next six months traveling the country interviewing for other jobs’ and expect to continue to get paid and expect that boss to hold that job and give you four more years. It’s a disservice to the people of Washington state,” he said.

This story was originally published March 1, 2019 at 6:57 AM.