OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday that he will not be seeking a fourth term.
Inslee was most recently re-elected in 2020. He is only the second Washington state governor to serve three consecutive terms.
“Serving the people as governor of Washington state has been my greatest honor. During a decade of dynamic change, we’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation. I’m ready to pass the torch,” he said in a news release.
“Our last decade of Washington’s storied history is one of growth and innovation. I am proud to have played a role in our state’s leadership on so many fronts. We’ve passed the nation’s best climate policies, the most successful family leave benefits, the best college scholarship programs, a more fair legal justice system, and the most protective actions against gun violence. We’ve shown that diversity is a strength worth fighting for. This has been ten years of dynamic success,” Inslee said.
Inslee highlighted some of his achievements since 2013 which included, in part:
- Passing climate policies to drive down emissions, such as the state’s Clean Energy Fund and the Clean Energy Transformation Act to achieve 100% clean power by 2045.
- Improving equity across Washington’s legal justice system with more diverse judicial appointments, placing a moratorium on Washington’s death penalty – which was recently affirmed by the State Supreme Court.
- Fully funding the state’s K-12 education system for the first time in a decade.
- Strengthening legal protections for abortion providers and patients and expanding access.
Read Inslee’s full statement at this link.