WA Gov. Jay Inslee will not seek a fourth term in 2024. But who will run?

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday he will not seek a fourth term.

“Serving the people as governor of Washington state has been my greatest honor,” Inslee said in a press statement. “During a decade of dynamic change, we’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation. I’m ready to pass the torch.”

The governor was first elected to the position in 2012 and took office in 2013. He was last elected to the office in 2020.

“Now is the time to intensely focus on all we can accomplish in the next year and a half, and I intend to do just that,” Inslee said. “I look forward to continued partnership with legislators and community leaders to address Washington’s homelessness crisis, speed our efforts to expand behavioral health services, continue our fight against climate change, and continue making Washington a beacon of progress for all.”

Although it is unclear who will be running yet for the position, rumors have swirled for years in Washington about the possibility of Attorney General Bob Ferguson running for the office.

In March, a hypothetical poll was conducted by the Northwest Progressive Institute to gauge voter’s interests in Ferguson as well as other candidates such as Republican Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and King County Executive Dow Constantine.

In that poll, 35% of voters who were polled said they would vote for Dammeier while 21% said they would vote for Ferguson. Franz and Constantine each received 7% of the total, and 30% were undecided at the time.

None of those officials have officially announced a run for the office and Dammeier and Constantine both said in March they would not be running.

While not included in that polling, a controversial school board member from the Tri Cities named Misipati “Semi” Bird announced in November that he would be running for governor as a Republican. Bird previously came under fire for defying statewide mask mandates by moving to make masks optional in Richland schools. The district was forced to cancel some classes following the decision as it tried to figure out a way to accommodate the move.

In a tweet Monday shortly after Inslee’s announcement, Ferguson thanked Inslee and his wife Trudi for their “long and distinguished service.”

“I am grateful for our partnership on many issues that impact the people of Washington,” Ferguson said. “It has been a privilege to work with you to stand up to the Trump Administration, protect women’s reproductive freedom, defend immigrants, get assault weapons off our streets, protect our air and water, eliminate the death penalty, and advocate for our veterans. I look forward to continuing that partnership taking on the toughest fights on behalf of every Washingtonian for the next 18 months!”

In a press statement released Monday by the Democratic Governor’s Association, Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper said that Inslee has been an “outstanding leader” over his last three terms.

“The DGA is extremely grateful for Gov. Inslee’s strong leadership and public service, and we look forward to continuing to work with him as he finishes out his term,” Meehan-Draper said. “The DGA also remains ready to ensure that a Democratic successor is elected in Washington in 2024.”

This story will be developing. Check back for additional information.