Newhouse to retire from Congress

WASHINGTON D.C. — Fourth District Rep. Dan Newhouse has announced he will not seek reelection to the U.S. Congress in 2026. The announcement was made Wednesday.  

“This decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” the statement said. 

Newhouse has been the Fourth District representative since 2014, defeating a large field that entered the race after the retirement of previous Fourth District Representative Doc Hastings. He defeated Jerrod Sessler in 2024, getting 153,477 votes to 136,175 for Sessler. 

Newhouse was a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009, and Judy Warnick, now state senator from the 13th District, was one of his colleagues. Among other things, they were both members of the House Agriculture Committee.  

“I actually worked with him my entire career in the Legislature,” Warnick said. “I learned a lot from him. He’s been kind of a mentor to me.” 

Newhouse left the Washington Legislature in 2009 for the director’s job at the Washington Department of Agriculture, which he held until 2013. Newhouse and his family have an orchard, as well as a hops and grapes operation near Sunnyside, and Warnick said Newhouse has always supported agriculture, both in Olympia and Washington DC. 

“He never let anybody forget that the main industry in the district is agriculture,” Warnick said. “He’s done a lot to bring agriculture to the forefront.” 

State Representative Tom Dent is a rancher and was an aerial applicator, and said Newhouse understands both aviation and agriculture. Newhouse has been supportive of local aviators and airports when it comes to dealing with the Federal Aviation Administration, he said.  

“He was always very gracious about working with me, because he knew I understood aviation,” Dent said. 

Newhouse is always responsive, he said.  

“He was always willing to help. I couldn’t have asked for more,” Dent said.  

Jim Walsh, chair of the Washington Republican Party, said in a statement released on social media that he, too, appreciated Newhouse’s support for agriculture.  

“His focus in the 'other Washington' has always been on supporting this Washington's farmers, ranchers, and agricultural communities. In turn, those communities have always respected and supported him,” Walsh said.  

Newhouse also opposed breaching four dams along the lower Snake River, and Warnick said she appreciated his work on that issue too, since the dams are important to the district and all of the Pacific Northwest. 

Newhouse also has supported efforts to combat fentanyl, including forming a task force to investigate the issue in the Fourth District.  

“I really enjoyed working with him,” Warnick said.  

Newhouse has received a variety of criticisms from his party and the public in recent years after voting to impeach President Donald Trump in association with the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the nation’s capital. Additional critiques have included failure to hold town halls since the beginning of his current term in January.  

With Newhouse’s retirement, the Fourth District position will be open in a district that has traditionally voted Republican over the last few decades.  

"Looking forward, I would expect an energetic and energizing process by which the people of Washington's Fourth Congressional District will select a new congressional representative next year. Some good candidates have already announced their candidacies. Others are preparing to announce. By early in the New Year, we should have a clearer idea of who's running,” Walsh said.  

Washington has an open primary, which means candidates from all parties compete against each other. The primary is Aug. 4. 

"The (Washington Republican party) has long-established rules for endorsing candidates for public office. While the party has traditionally not endorsed candidates before the August state primary, in recent years, it has made some early endorsements. The (Republican) State Committee will decide, as a body, whether or when to make any endorsements in the Fourth Congressional District,” Walsh said. “For now, everyone who cares about strong representation in Central Washington is watching, listening and gathering information. As they should be.” 

Warnick said Newhouse will be missed.  

“I’m sorry to see him go – very sorry to see him go,” she said. “I consider him a true statesman.” 

    Washington State Senator Judy Warnick, left, with Congressman Dan Newhouse in 2023. Warnick said she first met Newhouse when both were serving in the Washington House of Representatives, and she’s going to miss him when he leaves Congress next year.
  

    Congressman Dan Newhouse, center, with members of the Othello FFA chapter in 2019. Newhouse announced Wednesday that he’s not running for reelection in 2026.