Jay Inslee

**Jay Robert Inslee**  (born February 9, 1951) is an American politician. In 2013, he became the 23rd Governor of the US state of Washington. Before becoming the governor, he was a United States Congressman in the House of Representatives for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Inslee is known for climate change policies and for his education reforms in Washington state. He was Chair of the Democratic Governors Association from 2018 to 2019.

On March 1, 2019, Inslee announced his campaign for President of the United States. He ended his campaign on August 21, 2019.

## Early life

Inslee was born in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington and Willamette University College of Law. A politically active student, he became a criminal prosecutor after graduation.

## Early political career

He was in the Washington House of Representatives from 1989 to 1993. In 1992, Inslee was elected to represent  in the United States House of Representatives. He was defeated for reelection in 1994. Inslee briefly returned to private legal practice. He made his first run for Governor of Washington in 1996, but lost.

He was regional director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton.

## Congress

Inslee returned to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999, this time for . He was reelected six times before announcing that he would make another run for governor in the 2012 election. He resigned from Congress to focus on his campaign.

## Governor of Washington

He defeated Republican Rob McKenna, the Attorney General of Washington. Inslee was reelected to a second term in 2016, defeating Republican Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant, 54% to 46%.

He became known nationwide for his climate change reforms and for his criticisms of President Donald Trump. Inslee, State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and State Solicitor General Noah Purcell sued the Trump Administration over Executive Order 13769. The case led to the order being blocked by the courts and it was later superseded by other executive orders.

He left office on January 15, 2025.

## 2020 presidential run

In December 2018, Inslee created a PAC to raise money for a possible presidential bid in the 2020 election. On January 2, 2019, it was reported that Inslee was beginning to form an exploratory committee, the first step in a campaign.

On February 27, 2019, it was reported that Inslee would soon launch a campaign. He formally did so on March 1, 2019 in Seattle. He ended his campaign on August 21, 2019 citing low polling numbers.

## Personal life

Inslee lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington. He and his wife Trudi have 3 children. He married Trudi in 1972.

He follows the Protestantism religion.

## Other websites

- Governor Jay Inslee official government site
- Profile at the _Biographical Directory of the United States Congress_

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Jay Inslee
- **image**: Jay Inslee (48609757392) (cropped).jpg
- **order**: 23rd Governor of Washington
- **lieutenant**: Brad Owen
Cyrus Habib
Denny Heck
- **term start**: January 16, 2013
- **term end**: January 15, 2025
- **predecessor**: Christine Gregoire
- **successor**: Bob Ferguson (politician), Bob Ferguson
- **state1**: Washington
- **term start1**: January 3, 1999
- **term end1**: March 20, 2012
- **predecessor1**: Rick White (politician), Rick White
- **successor1**: Suzan DelBene
- **state2**: Washington
- **term start2**: January 3, 1993
- **term end2**: January 3, 1995
- **predecessor2**: Sid Morrison
- **successor2**: Doc Hastings
- **state house3**: Washington
- **district3**: 14th
- **term start3**: January 3, 1989
- **term end3**: January 3, 1993
- **predecessor3**: Jim Lewis
- **successor3**: Dave Lemmon
- **birth name**: Jay Robert Inslee
- **birth place**: Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, United States, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party
- **alma mater**: University of Washington, University of Washington, Seattle
Willamette University College of Law, Willamette University