News

Watkins Withdraws From 1st CD, Endorses Koster, Will Serve as Koster King County Chairman
January 27, 2011
It's time to put our Country first, and personal ambitions second.  If we're going to restore a good, effective government, we've got to work together.

The Kitsap Sun Endorses Watkins

October 23, 2010
In the 1st District congressional race, the Kitsap Sun supports Republican challenger James Watkins over incumbent Rep. Jay Inslee. 

Jay Inslee caught in a cover-up during debate with Watkins
October 21, 2010
LYNNWOOD—Jay Inslee, 14-year Congressman and potential candidate for governor in 2012, was exposed as a liar in his debate Monday with challenger James Watkins.

Debate between Watkins and Inslee turns confrontational
Inslee ducks the governor question for two minutes
October 19, 2010
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND—The American Legion Hall on Bainbridge Island was packed with supporters of James Watkins and Jay Inslee Monday night in their only scheduled debate. There was standing room only for the raucous crowd which in turns jeered or clapped for their preferred candidate. 

*****MEDIA ALERT*****
Jay Inslee finally agrees to debate James Watkins, WA-01
After persistent stalling, Inslee agrees to a date after voting has begun, on a day the press will be focused on President Clinton’s visit

Watkins releases TV ad
Good government leaves no room for partisanship and deficit spending
October 8, 2010
LYNNWOOD—James Watkins, candidate for Washington’s 1st congressional district, has released a TV ad highlighting Jay Inslee’s partisanship, his record-setting deficit spending, and his career as a politician.

1st District Candidate Watkins Calls It “Insurgent Campaigning”
Campaign distributes issues-based signage, “2010 Issues Guide” Pub
October 4, 2010
LYNNWOOD WA--How does an insurgent campaign deal with an entrenched incumbent that refuses to discuss the issues?  Focus on the facts and take it to the street with volunteers.... 

Inslee Hides Behind Candidate Forums
September 22, 2010
LYNNWOOD WA—Jay Inslee has continued to refuse to debate his opponent James Watkins. Pressured by the media last week, Inslee made a vague commitment to attend candidate forums which limit the engagement between candidates. Inslee has not committed to a single real debate with Watkins.

September 20, 2o10
LYNNWOOD WA--Challenger James Watkins is eager to debate Jay Inslee, 1st District representative, since ballots will be mailed to voters in only three and a half weeks. However, despite numerous contacts with the Inslee office, the Watkins campaign has been unable to get Inslee to commit to even one debate....

Inslee Uses Our Tax Money to Fund Overseas Jobs
September 16, 2o10
LYNNWOOD WA--Jay Inslee says his number one priority is creating American jobs and growing our economy. Yet his pet industry to fund with taxpayer money—“green energy,” which received 11% of the stimulus bill—just created thousands of jobs overseas....

Watkins to face Inslee in November election
August 18, 2010
LYNNWOOD WA—James Watkins, who has galvanized grassroots energy around the district, will face incumbent Jay Inslee in November. Inslee, who won nearly 70% of the vote in ’08, was held to 56% Tuesday....

James Watkins releases first TV ad, lays out Inslee’s party-line loyalty
August 10, 2010
LYNNWOOD WA  - James Watkins, candidate for Congress in Washington’s 1st District, has released his first TV spot. The ad highlights the record-breaking spending and party-line voting of 12-year incumbent Jay Inslee....

Watkins calls Inslee out on party-line voting and deficit spending in Edmonds candidate forum
August 6, 2010
EDMONDS WA—In an annual candidates’ forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County, more than 30 candidates, including those running for U.S. Representative in the 1st District, came to share their positions with voters....

Palousitics: James Watkins Deserves Watching State-wide
July 28, 2010
If you are concerned about how dense metro voting blocks influence life in your more rural backyard, then you and your representatives should not only be watching the James Watkins for Congress campaign but emulating it. You may even want to invest in it.

RedCounty.com: Watkins--Strong on the Issues and a Serious Challenger to Inslee
July 27, 2010
...James Watkins...is just the type of leader the voters of the 1st CD need. Strong on the issues, energetic as a campaigner, and passionate about the Constitution, he'll be a great citizen legislator in the House of Representatives. 

NEWS RELEASE: Watkins to Inslee: Make up your mind
July 27, 2010
LYNNWOOD, WA - The word is that Jay Inslee, who is campaigning to retain his Congressional seat in the 1st District, plans to run for governor, and James Watkins wants him to make up his mind.

LYNNWOOD, WA - James Watkins Signs the Contract From America
July 21, 2010
James Watkins, candidate running against Jay Inslee in the 1st Congressional District, has signed the Contract From America.... 

NEWS RELEASE: Watkins Hits Inslee Hard in First Radio Ad
July 13, 2010
LYNNWOOD, WA - James Watkins, who is challenging incumbent Jay Inslee, will be running radio ads this week focused on Inslee’s voting record and spending habits....

Watkins Wins 4th Straw Poll at Edmonds Candidate Forum
Jul 12, 2010
EDMONDS, WA—Challengers to Jay Inslee in the 1st Congressional District race met Monday night in a candidate forum moderated by We Surround Puget Sound, a local group affiliated with the national Tea Party movement.

NEWS RELEASE: Inslee: What's to Hide?
July 8, 2010
Lynnwood, WA - This election year, Jay Inslee ran from his voting record by not providing answers to a voters questionnaire from the King County Democratic Party. What’s to hide? Consider his amendment to the House’s Affordable Health Care for America Act....

NEWS RELEASE: Jay Inslee Votes Against Accountability Legislation He Co-Sponsored
July 7, 2010
Lynnwood, WA - Jay Inslee co-sponsored HR 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, legislation that was bi-partisan and focused. But he abandoned the very bill he co-sponsored last week, even though he touted it at town hall meetings in his district.

Redstate.com: Jay Inslee Hypocritical on Nuclear Power
July 6, 2010
Jay Inslee has had a fine line to walk on nuclear power. His big (only?) issue is clean energy, and nuclear energy is the cleanest large-scale energy source in the world. Yet Inslee just can’t put the science ahead of his ideology.

NEWS RELEASE:  Inslee Avoids His Past, Refuses to Fill out Voter Questionnaire
June 23, 2010
Lynnwood, WA - Every election year, the King County Democratic Party issues a questionnaire to inform voters where a candidate stands on issues. Jay Inslee, however, chose not to respond this year, leaving his positions deliberately nebulous.

NEWS RELEASE: Citizens Against Government Waste Applaud Candidate James Watkins, Denounce Jay Inslee
June 21, 2010
Lynnwood, WA – Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) applauded James Watkins, Republican candidate for Washington’s 1st Congressional district, for signing the group’s “No Pork Pledge.” In signing the pledge, Mr. Watkins agreed that, should he be elected, he will not request pork-barrel earmarks.

NEWS RELEASE: James Watkins files for U.S. Congress against incumbent Jay Inslee
June 10, 2010
Lynnwood, WA – James Watkins, candidate for U.S. Congress in the 1st District, filed his candidacy with Washington’s Secretary of State on Thursday night.  Mr. Watkins chose to take advantage of the ability to file online with a campaign office packed with supporters.

NEWS RELEASE: Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate James Watkins
June 4, 2010
Duvall, WA — The Washington chapter of the free market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-WA) today applauded U.S. House candidate James Watkins (1st District) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.”  

Dan Michael, Organizer of the Puget Sound Conservative Underground, Endorses Watkins
May 11, 2010
Citizens for Watkins announces today the endorsement of Dan Michael, Organizer of the Puget Sound Conservative Underground.  Dan's endorsement letter follows...

Kitsap Sun: Rep. Inslee's Town Hall a Civil Mixed Bag
May 10, 2010

NEWS RELEASE: McKenna Endorses James Watkins in 1st CD
April 1, 2010
Redmond, WA – Attorney General Rob McKenna has endorsed James Watkins in Watkins’ bid to unseat 1st District Congressman Jay Inslee.

New poll shows Inslee vulnerable to Watkins
March 25, 2010
The James Watkins for Congress campaign has just commissioned a 1st Congressional District poll from Moore Information.  Jay Inslee should be worried, because the poll shows he is vulnerable…extremely vulnerable. 

NEWS RELEASE: Inslee's phony health care rhetoric won't fly
March 25, 2010
Redmond, WA - It's hard to tell which office Jay Inslee is running for these days, but it's easy to see which special interest group he's in the tank for ....

Paul Elvig named as Snohomish County Chair for Watkins Campaign
March 15, 2010
Citizens for Watkins announced today that veteran activist Paul Elvig has agreed to serve as Snohomish County Chair for the congressional campaign to unseat Jay Inslee ....

Councilmember Kathy Lambert named King County Campaign Chair
March 9, 2010
King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert was named the King County Chair for the James Watkins for Congress campaign today.  Lambert said, “James has the business experience to help get our country moving economically again and the ability to work with people to find solutions to problems" ....

James Watkins to run for Congress in 1st District
December 9, 2009
Says career politicians have failed; True change can only come from outside the ruling political class.  Redmond, WA – James Watkins, a Redmond entrepreneur and small business expert who says the government’s top priority must be job growth and economic recovery, today announced his candidacy for the 1st Congressional District seat ....