Gov. Jay Inslee, who’s led Washington state for the past dozen years, delivered his final State of the State address Tuesday morning. Its theme? Progress.

In his final State of the State address to a joint session of the Washington Legislature, Governor Jay Inslee made a passionate plea to safeguard the state’s progressive achievements and protect vulnerable communities from the brunt of looming budget challenges.

Washington’s outgoing Democratic governor on Tuesday afternoon revealed the painting by Seattle artist Grace Athena Flott. Inslee viewed the portrait for the first time during a ceremony in the State Reception Room, shortly after delivering his final State of the State address.

Throughout his first term, Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to withhold federal disaster aid from Democrat-led states and cities. In some cases - like in response to Washington’s devastating wildfires in 2020 - Trump actually did deny aid,

In his final State of the State address to the Legislature, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee touted the enormous increase in state spending on various programs and services since he took office, while imploring lawmakers not to reduce spending as they write the upcoming biennial budget.

Jay Inslee hit the high points and left out the low in his last speech as governor. But he also seemed to rebuke his successor — and leave a warning.

Also touching on the incoming Trump Administration, Inslee said, "We will not bend the knee to a would-be authoritarian's worst impulses."

A University of Washington alum, Flott is a Spokane native who now lives in Seattle . In an interview with The Spokesman-Review, Flott said she was “incredibly honored” to be selected to paint Inslee’s portrait.

Inslee defended his recent decision on the Horse Heaven Hills Wind farm over objections from Tri-Cities residents, tribes and ecologists.

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee looks on during a news conference unveiling the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 brand and logo on the Observation Deck at The Space Needle on May 18, 2023, in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images/TNS) OLYMPIA — On a recent ...

The outgoing governor looked back on his 12 years in office and offered advice to lawmakers as they face a budget shortfall and new leadership in Washington, D.C.

Nine days into the 2025 session, majority Democrats in the Washington State Legislature have yet to tip their hand on several rumored tax increase proposals floated as part of a plan to fill a projected operating budget deficit of $12 billion to $16 billion over the next four years.