SEATTLE — Moments after Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the election to President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee gave a speech urging residents of the Evergreen State to stay hopeful in regards to the future.
Inslee wore a inexperienced tie and blue swimsuit as he spoke from a convention room in a high-rise U.S. Division of Commerce constructing. Down under on the road, individuals handed by on the sidewalks of Seattle’s Sixth Avenue, many with grim expressions on their faces.
In his speech, Inslee celebrated Washington voters and their decisions to uphold the governor’s landmark Local weather Dedication Act by rejecting a poll initiative that will have repealed it.
“This win is doubly important,” Inslee mentioned in reference to voters’ rejection of Initiative 2117, “now that the White House is in control of a person who denies the existence of climate change, calls it a hoax and says that wind turbines cause cancer.”
The governor went on to have a good time Washington voters’ number of Bob Ferguson as their subsequent governor, together with selecting Democratic candidates to supervise the entire state’s eight different govt workplaces, together with lawyer common and superintendent of public instruction.
Since 2012, Ferguson has served because the state’s lawyer common. He ran his marketing campaign for governor centered round upholding entry to abortion rights in Washington. Former U.S. Legal professional Nick Brown, a Democrat, will take over the position of state lawyer common, overseeing an workplace of greater than 800 public legal professionals. On Wednesday, Inslee referred to as Ferguson and Brown “the best duo” potential to defend Washington.
“Bob Ferguson sued Donald Trump something like 95 times and won 92 times,” Inslee mentioned. “… I know that there a lot of people who are worried about their personal futures and their families’ futures in light of some of the notorious statements by Donald Trump.”
Inslee mentioned he was glad that Washington already has some protecting measures in place, pointing to the truth that abortion entry is at present enshrined in Washington state regulation and saying the state authorities has stockpiled mifepristone, an abortion treatment.
When requested by a reporter if Democrats are “out of touch” with United States residents, Inslee mentioned no.
“I’m not going to pretend to do an analysis after 18 hours of this race,” the governor mentioned. “But look: things change. I’ve been around long enough to know that the tide goes in, the tide goes out. That happens sometimes, and I would not reach any conclusions to the contrary at the moment.”
Inslee himself misplaced a seat in Congress after one time period within the Republican landslide of 1994.
One other reporter requested Inslee what Democrats ought to be taught from the nationwide voter tendencies within the 2024 elections. Inslee responded by inviting individuals to maneuver to Washington.
“I would say what I’ve learned is people should come live in Washington state, because it’s a paradise of values,” Inslee mentioned. “It values clean air, clean water. Values people who might have need. Values the public education of our kids.”
Towards the top of his remarks to the press, Inslee answered a query about his future skilled plans by saying he intends to be “very, very active” engaged on efforts to fight local weather change.
After the soon-to-be former governor thanked the press and left the room Wednesday, his smile disappeared as a weary look of concern took its place.
“Our state and others formed enduring alliances for progress during Trump’s first term in office, and we will continue to push the needle of progress for a more perfect union,” Inslee wrote in a press release launched later that afternoon.