Jay Inslee’s security detail expands budget to $4 million during campaign

Running for president is no cheap task, especially since it involves jetting around the country with a large security detail standing around you.

According to the Seattle Times, Washington State Patrol is planning to double that detail at a cost of $4 million over two years, assigning six additional troopers, a sergeant, and a lieutenant. This comes in addition to the eight troopers and one sergeant already assigned.

Inslee has been a busy candidate for president of late, appearing seemingly everywhere, including The Daily Show, The View, and MSNBC. The security being added is part of the Executive Protection Unit (EPU), which functions like a state version of the Secret Service, with troopers in plainclothes.

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With the additions, the EPU’s $2.6 million would expand approximately $1.5 million through June, and then another $2.7 million in 2020.

Recently, state Senator Phil Fortunato issued a letter asking the governor to use his campaign funds to reimburse Washington State Patrol.

“The Washington State Patrol security detail that protects you and your many out-of-state trips has been a severe drain on their budget,” the letter reads.

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In 2018, Inslee’s security detail was budgeted at $2.6 million. But he also traveled out of state 49 days as the head of the Democratic Governors Association, and that traveling security ran $409,000 over-budget in taxpayer dollars.

Still, the new cost estimates for Inslee’s security detail are based on the assumption that he will still be a candidate far into next year. It may be a bit of a shaky assumption, considering he’s often at the bottom of the pack in numerous Democratic contender polls.

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