Jay Inslee will return to Congress with his party holding power, prerogative.

Jay Inslee has spent four terms in Congress chewing at the bit.

Now, as his fellow Democrats grab the reigns of both the House and Senate, Inslee is ready to race.

“I feel like a horse coming out of the gate at the Kentucky Derby,” the Bainbridge resident said Wednesday, expressing excitement after easy re-election to a recast Congress that more closely mirrors his own political priorities.

Inslee, 55, said he’ll have a better chance of pushing forward with his wide-ranging Apollo energy project, which would support clean energy industries. The project has sat in legislative limbo for years, with the Republican-controlled Congress denying the measure so much as a debate.

“We’ve lived under a cloud of fear that has been used to great affect,” he said. “Now it’s time to live our hopes and dreams.”

Inslee pledged to work with other Democrats on a list of party-backed initiatives, including a minimum-wage boost, lower health care costs, a halt to deficit spending and restored support for student grants and loans.

Locally, Inslee promised strong backing for the island’s Japanese-American internment memorial and improving the environmental health of Hood Canal.

He will also help steer a new course in Iraq.

“We need to insist that Iraq take control of its own destiny,” Inslee said. “They need to reach a political settlement because our troops aren’t going to be there forever. That will be their incentive to reach a settlement.”

Inslee’s fifth two-year term representing the state’s 1st Congressional District was the former lawyer’s easiest win yet. He garnered nearly 70 percent of the vote, trouncing Republican challenger Larry Ishmael of Redmond.

“That’s the biggest number next to my name by a long stretch,” Inslee said. “It’s an honor and a privilege.”

Ishmael said his loss was no surprise.

“I hoped to win this time, but did not expect to win,” said Ishmael, who achieved his prime campaign objective of greater my name recognition for a possible run in 2008.

Inslee barely campaigned over the last year, instead focusing on helping Democrat Darcy Burner in her bid to unseat Rep. Dave Reichert in the 8th district. That race was still too close to call on Friday, and may see a recount.

With almost $800,000 in campaign funds raised, Inslee spent thousands to support other candidates, including Bainbridge Democrat Christine Rolfes, who toppled GOP incumbent Beverly Woods for a state House seat.

Inslee also spent much of the campaign season stumping for state ballot Initiative 937. Following the same lines as his Apollo project, I-937 directs large utilities to use more alternative sources of power. The initiative passed, drawing about 52 percent of the vote.