Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who has centered his 2020 campaign around climate change policy, was not one of the nine Democratic presidential candidates who qualified for an invite to CNN’s climate change town hall in September, Axios reports.
CNN said it would extend invitations to candidates who reach 2% in at least four DNC-approved polls conducted between June 28 and Aug. 21.
Sen. Kamala Harris was invited, but declined due to a scheduling conflict.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) “became the latest Democrat to launch a 2020 presidential bid, asserting in a video that he is the only candidate who will make combating climate change the nation’s top priority,” the Washington Post reports.
Said Inslee: “We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we’re the last who can do something about it. We went to the moon, and created technologies that have changed the world. Our country’s next mission must be to rise up to the most urgent challenge of our time — defeating climate change.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said that he is moving closer to a decision on a 2020 presidential run, CNN reports.
Said Inslee: “I’ve been pleased by what I’ve been hearing across the country. That people do want a president that will act on a real emergency, which is climate change.”
He added that his decision could come “as soon as” this week.
“When Washington Gov. Jay Inslee heads to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state of New Hampshire later this month to test the 2020 waters, he might want to consider adding an apology tour,” Politico reports.
“Inslee’s decision while he chaired the Democratic Governors Association not to invest in New Hampshire’s competitive governor’s race last year still burns some of the state’s leading Democrats. Ray Buckley, the New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, said the move was so surprising that state Democrats assumed Inslee had abandoned any 2020 aspirations.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) plans a political trip to Nevada on Saturday as he continues to explore a possible 2020 run for president, the Seattle Times reports.
“Nevada will play a significant role in winnowing the Democratic presidential-contender field; the state is set to hold its 2020 caucuses Feb. 22, a few weeks after the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.”
“Maybe my technique was poor.”
— Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), quoted by BuzzFeed, on why marijuana “didn’t have any particular effect” on him.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told The Atlantic that he will for president in 2020 and outlined his single-minded focus: pulling the country back from the climate-change brink.
Said Inslee: “When you’ve been working on something for over a decade, and now seeing people awakening to that, it’s just really gratifying and heartening.”
He added there now appears to be “an appetite for someone who has credibility and a long track record and, most importantly, a vision statement. It’s changed to show an opening in a Democratic primary, I believe.”
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee (D) told Politico said he’s headed to Iowa for the second time this year and is “not ruling out” a 2020 presidential run.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) confronted President Trump over his proposal to arm educators in order to prevent future school shootings, The Hill reports.
Inslee stood and objected when Trump raised the controversial idea: “We need a little less tweeting, a little more listening.”
Trump crossed his arms and changed the subject.
“I’ve never, ever within a factor of 10 received as much affirmative response from people in my 25 years in public life. I would have loved for them to have been more involved in my campaigns, frankly, but they’re on that boat now. Because something has sparked. There’s some fuse that’s been lit here, that’s connected to something that’s very explosive. I’ve seen it most profoundly around the travel ban, but the fuse is definitely lit. The TNT is there.”
— Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), quoted by the Washington Post, on efforts to fight President Trump’s travel ban.
“The turbulent early weeks of President Donald Trump’s White House have had an unexpected side effect: boosting Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s national profile,” the Seattle Times reports.
“Among Democrats searching for new leaders after taking their own thumping in November, Inslee’s loud pushback against Trump has resonated. And though it’s exhaustingly early — we apologize for even talking about this — to think about the 2020 presidential race, some already are suggesting Inslee could be in the mix.”
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
More about Taegan Goddard →