Inslee then served as regional director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton.

[5] Inslee's interest in environmental issues originated at an early age, with his parents leading groups of high school students on trips cleaning Mount Rainier.

His campaign attempted to rectify this by emphasizing his rural upbringing and legal experience supporting local average people, farms and businesses.

"[14] Inslee also focused on preventing steroid usage among high school athletes and pushed for a bill requiring all drivers to carry auto insurance.

[18] Despite initially declining to run, Inslee launched a campaign for the open Congressional seat, based in the central-eastern part of the state.

[25] After his failed gubernatorial bid, Inslee was appointed regional director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services by then-President Bill Clinton.

His campaign attracted national attention when he became the first Democratic candidate to air television ads attacking his opponent and the Republican congressional leadership for the Lewinsky scandal.

[31][32] In July 2003, after Gary Locke announced he would not seek a third term as Washington's governor, Inslee briefly flirted with a gubernatorial bid before deciding to remain in Congress.

[40] Inslee co-authored Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy, in which he argues that through improved federal policies the United States can wean itself off foreign oil and fossil fuel, create millions of green-collar jobs, and stop global warming.

On July 31, 2007, he introduced legislation calling for an inquiry to determine whether then United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should be impeached.

[46] In 2011, Inslee voted in favor of authorizing the use of U.S. armed forces in the 2011 Libyan civil war and against limiting the use of funds to support NATO's 2011 military intervention in Libya.

[52] Though trailing in early polls, he won election with 51% of the vote, a three-point margin over his Republican opponent, state attorney general Rob McKenna.

[53][54] In December 2015, Inslee announced on Washington's public affairs TV channel TVW that he would run for a second term as governor.

He emphasized increased spending on transportation and education as his primary first-term accomplishment, though he had struggled to work with the Republican-controlled Majority Coalition Caucus in the State Senate.

Several potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates, including state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, and King County Executive Dow Constantine, were all waiting to announce campaigns until Inslee made his decision.

[59] As Inslee's presidential campaign failed to gain traction during the summer of 2019, he was pressured to drop out and make his gubernatorial plans clear to the other potential candidates.

[61][62][63] Inslee's major opponents in the election were State Senator Phil Fortunato, Republic, Washington police chief Loren Culp, Yakima physician Raul Garcia, activist Tim Eyman and former Bothell mayor Joshua Freed.

[76][77] On February 11, 2014, Inslee announced a moratorium on executions in Washington: There have been too many doubts raised about capital punishment, there are too many flaws in this system today.

There is too much at stake to accept an imperfect system.Inslee cited the high cost of pursuing the death penalty, the randomness with which it is sought, and the lack of evidence that it is a deterrent.

[78][79] Inslee began his second term on January 11, 2017, proposing full funding of state education (in compliance with the McCleary decision) and addressing mental health needs while also raising worker pay.

The civil action, Washington v. Trump, was filed on January 30 and on February 3 successfully earned a temporary restraining order to forbid federal enforcement of some of the ban's provisions.

Inslee and Ferguson declared victory over Trump on February 16, after his administration announced it would revise the travel ban to comply with the court decisions.

[95] In January 2019, Inslee said he would provide an expedited process for approximately 3,500 people convicted of small-time cannabis possession to apply for and receive pardons.

On April 8, 2021, Inslee signed a bill restoring voting rights to convicted felons after they finish serving their sentences.

[109] In March 2023, the Washington Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit and upheld the new capital gains tax, which took effect in April 2023.

[110] In August 2021, Inslee mandated vaccinations for state and health care workers by October 18 without a weekly testing alternative.

[114] Following the resignation of Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, to take a job in the Biden administration, Inslee was tasked with appointing her replacement.

The appointment led to the Washington State Democratic Party holding all nine statewide executive offices for the first time since the Great Depression.

[94] Inslee cited climate change as his primary motivation for running, strongly criticizing the Trump Administration's policies.

But he pointed to former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, calling them "pretty much unknown governors of small states" and adding, "this is a wide-open field.