Democrats nationally are reeling over the 2024 election that will return Donald Trump to the White House with a Republican majority Senate and House.

Trump's sweep of all the swing states and growing support among some traditionally Democratic-leaning constituencies has led some prominent Democrats to warn the party needs a serious shake-up.

That includes U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, who has been on a tear since the election, calling the Democratic brand "broken" and viewed as extreme or elitist in much of the country.

But Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he doesn't believe his party's situation is quite so dire and that Democrats' fortunes can improve quickly.

"Look, my take on this is that this was a one-off election," Inslee said Thursday, arguing Democrats were caught in multiple "tsunamis," including anger over inflation that has spread globally, as well as immigration and the abrupt swap-out of their presidential candidate after President Joe Biden stepped aside for Vice President Kamala Harris.

"I view this as mostly one-off conditions that will not, hopefully not, be re-created in the future. And I think the Democratic Party is inherently sound, because we represent the things that ultimately are going to help people economically: paid family leave, child care, certainly a woman's right of choice, building clean energy jobs," he said. "So I feel confident going forward."

Inslee's comments came in a wide-ranging interview with reporters Thursday in his office at the state Capitol, where he's been packing up in preparation for his departure next month after three terms.

The outgoing governor has been taking a postelection victory lap of sorts. He pointed on Thursday to a string of Democratic victories here that stand in some contrast to the national picture.

Washington voters last month rejected three measures aimed at rolling back signature policies of the Inslee era, including the state's landmark cap-and-trade climate law, a capital gains tax on the wealthy and a payroll tax paying for a new long-term care benefit.

Democrats also won every statewide elected office and expanded their majorities in the Legislature. Inslee himself was reelected by wider margins in each of his three victories.

"We've run the table," Inslee said, suggesting national Democrats should "follow what we do in the state of Washington."

He boasted that the initiative aiming to repeal the Climate Commitment Act was even defeated in several conservative counties in Eastern and Central Washington.

"Go look at those maps. They're amazing. They'll blow you away," Inslee said, suggesting he was more "in tune" with people in Yakima County than the county commissioners there, who have imposed a moratorium on large solar energy projects.

"I'll just describe it as the 'Inslee effect,' because I am so humble about these victories," Inslee said.

Buoyed by the election here, Inslee doubled down on a progressive tax agenda in his final budget plan this week, proposing an annual 1% "wealth tax" on Washington residents with assets of more than $100 million.

As for his own future after he leaves office Jan. 15, Inslee, 73, said he doesn't have any specific plans, but said he isn't running for president again, or retiring.

"I intend to keep working, and I will be trying to ask where can I be most effective in fighting climate change and building clean energy, the clean energy economy that I've had a vision for a long time," he said.

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