Former Republican Washington U.S. Representative Dave Reichert says he’s not running for governor.
His announcement Tuesday comes just days after state party officials said he was considering a 2020 run against Democratic incumbent Governor Jay Inslee. Inslee recently dropped his presidential bid and announced he was running for a third term.
In a written statement, Reichert said that while he was honored to have been asked to consider a run, after discussion with family and friends, he decided against it. He says he will continue working at Tacoma-based Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs.
A few Republicans have already announced plans to run for governor, including state Senator Phil Fortunato, Anton Sakharov, and Loren Culp, the police chief of Republic.
A Republican has not occupied the governor’s office in more than three decades. (AP)
