The 2020 presidential race just got its first governor as a candidate, with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's Friday announcement that he would seek the Democratic nomination. It's not the only first tied to Inslee, who entered the race by saying he wants to be the "first climate president," as Rolling Stone puts it. In a video from his campaign, Inslee says "the most urgent challenge of our time .... isn't just a chart or graph anymore. ... We have an opportunity to transform our economy, run on 100% clean energy that will bring millions of good paying jobs to every community across America, and create a more just future for everyone." How the 13th Democrat to announce his candidacy is being discussed:
- NBC News reports Inslee has racked up wins and losses on the climate front as governor. He succeeded in getting the biggest green transportation infrastructure package in the state's history passed, but his bid to enact a statewide climate tax failed last year.
- The Pacific Northwest Inlander is less glowing. In a January piece outlining 7 things standing in Inslee's way of securing the Democratic nomination, it writes, "Inslee's asking you to believe that he'll be able to sell climate change legislation to America, when he can't even do so in liberal, forest-fire-choked Washington." It cites a failed cap-and-trade bill and unsuccessful executive order mandating carbon cuts. "Washington voters have crushed carbon tax initiative proposals not once, but twice."