Rep. Dan Newhouse ( R-Wash.), one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, announced this week that he will not seek reelection in 2026.
Newhouse has represented Washington’s 4th Congressional District since 2015, covering much of central Washington, including Yakima and the Tri-Cities. In a statement, he said the decision follows more than 25 years in public service and is driven by a desire to pass the torch while continuing to serve through the end of his term.
“This decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” Newhouse said. He added that he plans to serve “energetically” until leaving office.
Newhouse is one of only two remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. That vote made him a frequent target of criticism from pro-Trump activists and online accounts. Following his retirement announcement, responses on X included accusations that he was a “RINO” and celebratory comments.
Despite those attacks, Newhouse won reelection last November in a district that has shown Democratic gains in recent cycles. His victories have been fueled in part by crossover support tied to his work on agriculture, water policy, and immigration, issues central to the district’s economy.
As NBC News reports:
Newhouse won re-election by 6 percentage points last year, beating Trump-backed Jerrod Sessler in the general election after Sessler beat him in the GOP primary. Washington uses a top-two primary system, meaning the top two vote-getters in a primary move onto the general election, regardless of party.
Sessler, a businessman and former NASCAR driver, is running in the district again in 2026, which will hold its primary in August.
Sessler, who is also a Navy veteran, has said that he was in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, and attended Trump’s speech. He said that he did not enter the Capitol that day.
Sessler has defended Jan. 6 rioters, including those who were prosecuted — and pardoned by the president earlier this year — for their actions at the Capitol that day. He’s called them “innocent Americans” and has spread debunked conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election.
With Trump maintaining a strong grip on the Republican base, the race to succeed Newhouse is expected to test how closely GOP contenders align themselves with him. Democrats, meanwhile, may see a narrow opening to compete for the seat in the general election.
For now, the political fallout is still unfolding.
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