Jay Inslee 2020 presidential campaign

Jay Inslee for President
Campaign	2020 United States presidential election (Democratic Party primaries)
Candidate	Jay Inslee Governor of Washington (2013–present) U.S. Representative from Washington (1993–1995, 1999–2012) Washington State Representative (1989–1993)
Affiliation	Democratic Party
Announced	March 1, 2019
Suspended	August 21, 2019
Headquarters	Seattle, Washington
Key people	Aisling Kerins (campaign manager)[1]
Receipts	US$6,922,717.11[2] (September 2019)
Slogan	Our Moment
Website
jayinslee.com

The 2020 presidential campaign of Jay Inslee began on March 1, 2019, when Inslee – the incumbent Governor of Washington – announced that he would be running for the Democratic nomination. He had been chair of the Democratic Governors Association for the 2018 election cycle and served as a co-chair of the United States Climate Alliance.^[3] He was the first governor to enter the 2020 race.^[4]

Inslee centered his campaign around climate change and other environmental issues.^[5] His policy positions included transitioning the United States completely to zero-emission renewable energy by 2035, and investing in the creation of a clean energy economy and additional jobs. Inslee's campaign was officially suspended on August 21, 2019, when he announced his withdrawal from the race on The Rachel Maddow Show.^[6]

Background

Throughout 2018, speculation rose that Inslee was considering a run for President of the United States in the 2020 election.^[7] He garnered national attention due to Washington v. Trump, a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's order to ban entry from seven Muslim-majority countries.^[8] While serving as chair of the Democratic Governors Association during the 2018 gubernatorial elections, Inslee oversaw Democrats gaining seven net governorships nationwide, further propelling him into the national spotlight and fueling speculation that he would run.^[9] Inslee cited climate change as his primary motivation for running, strongly criticizing the Trump Administration's policies.^[10]

On January 2, 2019, it was reported that Inslee was beginning to form an exploratory committee, the first step in a campaign.^[9][11] Inslee has pointed to former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, saying that they were once "pretty much unknown governors of small states" and adding, "this is a wide-open field. No one has a lock on this. No one has a total crystal ball as to what the nation wants."^[10] On February 28, 2019, it was reported that Inslee had hired former advisors of Tom Steyer.^[12]

Campaign

Announcement

Inslee announcing his candidacy

On March 1, 2019, Inslee announced his presidential campaign bid at a solar panel provider's warehouse on Mount Baker in Seattle.^[13]

Events

On March 11, 2019, Inslee toured homes destroyed by the November 2018 Woolsey Fire, mocking President Donald Trump for suggesting that California could prevent wildfires by raking its forests.^[14]

Fundraising

On December 6, 2018, Inslee's Vision PAC reported $112,500 in donations from about two dozen contributors.^[10] On February 1, 2019, Vision PAC reported $243,000 in donations from about thirty contributors.^[15] A super-PAC called Act Now on Climate was launched on February 21, 2019, in anticipation of Inslee's presidential campaign.^[12]

According to Inslee's website, "Jay Inslee will not knowingly accept any contributions from the PACs, executives, or front groups of fossil fuel companies."^[16]

At the end of the second quarter, his campaign announced he had raised a total of $5.3 million since the campaign's launch on March 1, with an average donation of just below $32. He had also attracted 85,000 individual donors, as of the end of June.^[17]

Democratic presidential debates

Inslee speaking to the California Democratic Party State Convention in June 2019

As of May 24, 2019, Inslee secured a place in the Democratic Presidential Debates by reaching the threshold of financial contributions from 65,000 individual donors and 1% support in DNC-approved polls needed for inclusion. He was the thirteenth candidate to "double qualify".^[18] Inslee subsequently requested that one such debate focus on climate change. In addition to rejecting the proposal, the Democratic National Committee reminded him that attempts to organize a debate privately would violate the exclusivity contract for candidates. This move was protested by Inslee and 53 members of the DNC.^[19][20]

Suspension

On August 21, 2019, during an interview on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, Inslee announced that he would drop out of the race.^[21] The next day he announced he would be seeking reelection for a third term as Governor of Washington in the 2020 gubernatorial election.^[22]

Political positions

Climate change

Inslee made climate change the primary issue of his campaign, saying that it poses a "clear and present danger" to the country and comparing it to a terrorist threat.^[23] He strongly desired to transfer the United States away from the use of fossil fuels and towards the use of renewable energy.^[24]

On May 3, 2019, Inslee unveiled his "100% Clean Energy for America Plan", proposing zero-emission, renewable, and 100% clean energy nationwide by 2035.^[25] This plan was later adopted by Elizabeth Warren.^[26]

Economy

On May 16, 2019, Inslee unveiled his "An Evergreen Economy for America plan", with proposals involving investing roughly $9 trillion into jobs, clean energy, and modern infrastructure, in order to create 8 million jobs over the next ten years in the context of a clean energy economy.^[27] This plan included raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour by 2024, pegged to median hourly wage thereafter, as well as introducing national paid sick leave.^[28]

Education

Inslee's education plan involved climate change, using the Department of Education to make new investments in STEM to help address the nation's technology concerns. Inslee also called for the retrofitting and upgrade of every U.S. school building within ten years, both to improve overall education infrastructure, and to prepare for the effects of climate change. He also pushed for large investments in mental health programs, universal preschool through age four, and free or reduced college tuition, reflecting the principles of the College Grant Program he implemented in Washington state. He also pushed for more equal access to education for disadvantaged populations, such as undocumented immigrants, DREAMers, and incarcerated persons.^[29]

Endorsements

Main article: Endorsements in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries § Jay Inslee

References

1. Seitz-Wald, Alex (March 1, 2019). "Jay Inslee selects Aisling Kerins to run his 2020 campaign". Archived from the original on March 11, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
2. Form 3P for Inslee for America
3. Barrow, Bill; La Corte, Rachel (March 1, 2019). "Washington Gov. Inslee focuses on climate change in 2020 bid". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
4. Taylor, Jessica (March 1, 2019). "Promising To Tackle Climate Change, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Joins 2020 Race". NPR. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
5. Halper, Evan (March 1, 2019). "Jay Inslee, governor of Washington, launches a climate-first presidential campaign". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
6. Gregorian, Dareh (August 21, 2019). "Jay Inslee drops out of the 2020 presidential race". NBC News. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
7. Brunner, Jim (February 21, 2017). "Jay Inslee for president? Governor's profile is on the rise". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
8. Wang, Amy B. (February 5, 2017). "How Washington state became the epicenter of resistance to Trump's agenda". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
9. Dovere, Edward-Isaac (January 2, 2019). "Jay Inslee Is Betting He Can Win the Presidency on Climate Change". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
10. Brunner, Jim (December 6, 2018). "Gov. Jay Inslee's new PAC raises $112,000 as he 'actively' considers presidential run". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
11. Kroll, Andy (January 2, 2019). "Jay Inslee, the 'Climate Candidate,' Joins the 2020 Race". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
12. Arke, Raymond (March 1, 2019). "Washington Governor Jay Inslee joins the 2020 field as the climate change candidate". opensecrets.org. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
13. Land, Ted (March 1, 2019). "Seattle solar company that hosted Inslee explains industry challenges". KING 5 News. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
14. Mason, Melanie (March 11, 2019). "Woolsey fire devastation gives 2020 contender Jay Inslee a climate-centered backdrop". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
15. Brunner, Jim (February 1, 2019). "Jay Inslee's federal PAC reports $243,000 in donations as he nears decision on presidential run". seattletimes.com. The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
16. "Fossil Fuel Pledge". jayinslee.com. Inslee for America. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
17. "Inslee raises $3 million for presidential campaign in second quarter". The Seattle Times. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
18. Strauss, Daniel (May 24, 2019). "Jay Inslee hits 65,000-donor threshold to make the Democratic debates". Politico. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
19. Sullivan, Kate (June 5, 2019). "Inslee: DNC rejecting climate change debate is "extremely disappointing"". CNN.
20. Rummier, Orion (June 8, 2019). "53 DNC members protest rejection of Jay Inslee's climate change debate". Axios. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
21. La Corte, Rachel (August 21, 2019). "Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he's ending presidential bid". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
22. La Corte, Rachel (August 22, 2019). "Jay Inslee launches bid for 3rd term as Washington governor". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
23. Gutman, David (March 6, 2019). "Inslee calls climate change 'clear and present danger', likening the effects to a terrorist threat". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
24. Ta, Linh (March 5, 2019). "Jay Inslee brings climate change-focused campaign for first Iowa caucus stop". Des Moines Registers. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
25. Pezenik, Sasha; Verhovek, John (May 3, 2019). "Gov. Jay Inslee unveils sweeping initiative to combat climate change". abcnews.go.com. ABC News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
26. Gregory Krieg; MJ Lee (September 3, 2019). "Elizabeth Warren embraces Jay Inslee's climate change platform". CNN. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
27. Dzikiy, Phil (May 16, 2019). "Jay Inslee's 'Evergreen Economy Plan' covers clean energy, jobs". Electrek. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
28. "An Evergreen Economy for America". Inslee for America. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
29. "Ready for the Future: Governor Inslee's Plan for 21st-Century Education in America". Inslee for America. Retrieved July 20, 2019.