Climate Change Champion Inslee Drops Out Of 2020 Race

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - JUNE 09: Democratic presidential candidate and Washington governor Jay Inslee speaks at the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame Dinner on June 9, 2019 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Nearly all of the 23... CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - JUNE 09: Democratic presidential candidate and Washington governor Jay Inslee speaks at the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame Dinner on June 9, 2019 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Nearly all of the 23 Democratic candidates running for president were campaigning in Iowa this weekend. President Donald Trump has two events scheduled in the state on Tuesday. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is giving up on his 2020 presidential ambitions and will seek a third term as governor instead.

During an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Wednesday evening, Inslee said it’s “clear” he’s “not going to be president” and announced his decision to withdraw. Inslee’s entire platform was centered on combatting climate change and he released a series of policies that linked the issue to things like foreign policy and labor laws. He had just released a plan that focused heavily on regulating the agricultural industry on Wednesday before dropping out.

“It’s become clear I’m not going to be carrying the ball — I’m not going to be president, so I’m withdrawing tonight from the race,” Inslee told Maddow Wednesday. “But I have to tell you, look, I’ve been fighting climate change for 25 years, and I’ve never been so confident of the ability of America now to reach critical mass to move the ball.”

According to CNN, Inslee intends to run for a third term as governor of Washington and is set to announce his reelection campaign on Thursday.

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Notable Replies

  1. Ugh. He had no chance, but I wanted him to be in debates pounding the climate crisis.

  2. A voice of reason and not an egomaniac to hang in there no matter what. I’m sad but not surprised.
    Climate change seems to be an after thought to the rest of the candidates. Keep going the way we are and soon we won’t need elections because we won’t be able to live here.

  3. He should be a serious contender for VP.

  4. Unfortunately, climate change has to take a back seat to getting Trump out of the White House and the Republican majority out of the Senate. Until then, there’s not a whole lot that can be done about climate change on a national level.

  5. I hear you and do realize that getting rid of the racist in chief trumps climate change. Here’s hoping we take back the Senate too and then can go full speed on this issue that we cannot vote out of office.

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