Franz Okanogan1

Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz visiting Okanogan County during a Wildfire Ready presentation in April 2021.

 By Jefferson Robbins

OLYMPIA — Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announced she is running for governor today.

Franz was elected to her position in 2016 and is the second woman to serve in the role. On her campaign website, she cited issues like the impacts of climate change, the housing crisis and income inequality as challenges she’d like to take on if elected to office.

Franz posted her announcement to Twitter with a video and a statement that read: "My office has been on the front lines of our changing world. I know what it means to take bold risks to make big progress because there isn’t time to wait. We're facing many challenges, but we can tackle them, together." 

Franz joins Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who announced his exploratory campaign last Tuesday.

Gov. Jay Inslee, who was first elected Governor in 2012 and has served three consecutive terms, will not seek a fourth term.