Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), one of the few House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021 protests at the U.S. Capitol, announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026. His decision brings to a close a political career in Washington state and Congress that has spanned more than three decades.
In a written statement, Newhouse said serving Washington’s Fourth Congressional District has been the honor of his life. He expressed gratitude to his constituents and colleagues and said he looks forward to finding new ways to serve his community. Newhouse added that several qualified individuals have already shown interest in running for the seat and that he believes the district will continue to be represented by capable leadership. Newhouse, 69, has represented Washington’s Fourth Congressional District since 2015. The district covers much of central Washington, including Douglas, Okanogan, Grant, Yakima, Benton, and Klickitat counties, as well as parts of Adams and Franklin counties. Considered a reliably Republican district, it is rated R+10 by the Cook Partisan Voting Index. Before joining Congress, Newhouse served in the Washington State Legislature and later as director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. A farmer by background, he built a reputation in Congress as a pragmatic conservative who focused on issues important to rural communities, including agriculture, water policy, and economic development.
Newhouse also gained national attention when he joined nine other House Republicans in voting to impeach President Trump after the events of January 6. The vote made him one of a small group within his party to support the impeachment effort. In the years since, many of those Republicans either lost primary challenges or chose to retire. Despite facing strong primary challengers in 2022 and 2024, Newhouse won reelection both times. One of his previous opponents, former NASCAR driver Jerrod Sessler, has already announced plans to run for the seat again in the 2026 election.
