The changing face of Washington: A 12-year review from Inslee to Ferguson

Twelve years after Jay Inslee took office in 2013, his successor Bob Ferguson was sworn in as the 24th governor of Washington state. Although the faces and political dynamics have shifted, many of the state’s challenges remain unchanged.

Timeline:

In 2012, the Great Wheel began to turn on Seattle’s waterfront. Nearby in South Lake Union, Amazon was cementing itself. North in Everett, the Federal Aviation Administration approved commercial flights in and out of Paine Field. The Washington of then was beginning to look far more like the Evergreen State we know today.

That same year, lawmakers in Olympia passed a bill allowing same-sex couples to tie the knot. Voters green-lit the sale and use of recreational marijuana.

It was into this landscape that Jay Inslee swore his oath of office in early 2013, inheriting a state grappling with a budget deficit and looming education challenges.

What's next:

On Wednesday in his inaugural address, Ferguson acknowledged the looming budget shortfall. When Inslee entered office the state was $99 million in the hole. Whereas, the fiscal gap Ferguson will have to fight through is an intimidating $12 billion.

Related

WA leaders talk budget deficit, other priorities ahead of legislative session

Facing a projected budget deficit of over $12 billion over the next four years, majority Democrats say new taxes may be needed. Though incoming governor Bob Ferguson said he is looking to make $4 billion in cuts to close the gap.

"We cannot simply assume that government’s role is to do everything it has always done, while continuing to add new programs and responsibilities every year. That’s not smart. And that’s not sustainable," Ferguson warned.

Washington’s schools also remain a point of contention. In 2013, Inslee inherited a system grappling with funding challenges in the wake of the McCleary decision, which mandated the state to fully fund education. Today, districts from Marysville to Mercer Island are struggling with potential closures and tough financial choices.

What’s different now in 2025 is the political landscape. Ferguson, a Democrat, takes office with a Statehouse dominated by his own party. In fact, Democrats nearly secured a supermajority. Inslee, in contrast, had more allies in Washington D.C.

"We will work with President Trump where we can," Ferguson said. "But we will stand up to him when we must. That most certainly includes protecting Washingtonians’ reproductive freedom."

Ferguson’s willingness to work across the aisle, including pledges to reduce bureaucracy, earned him applause from both sides of the aisle. These bipartisan nods were met with standing ovations and cheers, a sign of potential cooperation in the face of immense state challenges.

The Source: Information in this story is from the Washington Governor's Office.

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