Washington State’s Favorite Son: Polling Shows Governor Inslee Home State Pull in 2020 Democrat Sweepstakes

While it remains unclear whether Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will run for president in 2020, a Crosscut/Elway Poll released Thursday revealed more than 35 percent of those from Washington would support his bid as the Democratic presidential nominee.

According to the poll of 502 registered voters in Washington, 37 percent said they would support Inslee if he were the Democratic presidential nominee. Thirty-five percent even stated they believe Inslee would make a “good” or “excellent” president.

Support for Inslee, who has served as the governor of Washington since 2013, is witnessing great support from the residents of the state. On his performance, 76 percent of Democrats approve, while 79 percent of Republicans disapprove.  A little more than 60 percent of Democrats stated they would vote for Inslee, should he run for president.

The strong support from his home state would prove to be a solid base of support for the governor should he decide to run for the White House, but it’s unclear if Washington’s favorite son would be able to expand that support nationally with such a crowded field of other high-profile Democrats mulling bids themselves. With senators like Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and other rising Democrat stars like former Obama administration official Julian Castro and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke as well as mainstays like former Vice President Joe Biden–among many others–considering runs, Inslee would need to move fast to build more of a national profile

Washington state’s geographic location could also prove to be an advantage, given its proximity to California–which will vote earlier in the primary process in 2020–and the strength of the West Coast for Democrats. If Inslee does get in the race, and succeeds in building his name identification and support nationally, with the home base of Washington state, he could be a formidable candidate and cut into support that other Democrat stars have been amassing for some time, running a dark horse campaign for the Oval Office.

Washington voters were also asked about their opinions on taxes during the survey.

The majority of those surveyed opposed a nine percent capital gains tax that was proposed by Inslee. Fifty-three percent opposed the move, while 44 percent supported it. Inslee also proposed an increase in business-and-occupation tax on service businesses, which was only supported by 37 percent and opposed by 59 percent.

The Crosscut/Elway Poll of 502 registered Washington voters was conducted via telephone with live interviewers from December 27-30, 2018. The margin of error is ±4.5% at a 95% level of confidence.