4th Congressional District candidates discuss healthcare, cost of living

MOSES LAKE — Eleven candidates are seeking to represent Washington's 4th Congressional District and were invited to answer a series of questions on issues affecting residents across Central Washington. 

Candidates were asked the following question: 

"Residents face rising healthcare and living costs. What federal actions would you prioritize to make healthcare more accessible and reduce financial pressure on families in the 4th District?"

Candidates who submitted responses were Jacek "Jack" Kobiesa, No Party Preference; Favian Valencia, Independent; Jerrod Sessler, Republican; Devin Poore, Cascade Party; Matt Boehnke, Republican; and John Duresky, Democrat. Duresky's responses were initially overlooked after being routed to a spam folder but have been included in this publication. 

Candidates Amanda McKinney, Republican; John C. Hughs, Republican; Ken Vaz, Republican; Zac Rossi, No Party Preference; and Elpidia Saavedra, Republican did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

County elections officials will begin mailing ballots for the Aug. 4 primary election on July 17. Voters can register to vote or verify their registration status at VoteWA.gov. 

Boehnke: Biden‑Harris inflation, Democrat climate taxes, and federal overreach are crushing family budgets in the 4th District. In Olympia, I’ve opposed cap‑and‑trade, higher gas prices, and mandates that hit working families and farmers the hardest. In Congress, I’ll vote to unleash American energy to lower fuel and power costs, stop new carbon schemes, and rein in reckless spending that devalues your paycheck and retirement. On healthcare, I oppose a government‑run takeover; I support more price transparency, competition across state lines, and expanded Health Savings Accounts so families — not bureaucrats — are in charge. I’ll fight to keep rural hospitals open and grow our own nurses, doctors, and mental health professionals through targeted workforce partnerships with our community colleges and universities. 

Valencia: Start by reversing the Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1. Medicaid covers about one in four adults in rural America and keeps our hospitals and clinics open — when that funding disappears, emergency rooms get farther away and families lose care. I'd protect rural hospital funding, expand Medicare's power to negotiate lower drug prices, and cap the out-of-pocket costs that bankrupt working families. On cost of living, my bill eliminating federal income taxes for people making under $60,000 puts real money back into household budgets — rent, groceries, gas. You don't balance the federal books on the backs of the families and hospitals of the 4th District. Washington, D.C. has plenty of places to find savings; our kids' doctors and our parents' pharmacies aren't among them. 

Poore: The cuts to Medicaid from last year's reconciliation bill need to be revisited. CD4 has the heaviest reliance on the program of any district in the state. Many of those cuts, like the new work requirements, don't take effect until January 2027, so the impact hasn't been felt yet, but across the region, anxiety over healthcare access has been a persistent theme on the campaign trail. Costs have already increased substantially for anyone buying coverage on the ACA marketplace, now that Congress let the enhanced premium tax credits expire. The reality is that we have a patchwork, inefficient healthcare system, and I support moving toward a universal one, which is the most cost-effective way to guarantee healthcare access here and nationwide. 

Sessler: Rising costs crush families. I’ll prioritize repealing Obamacare mandates, expanding Health Savings Accounts, and increasing price transparency so competition drives down costs. Protect Medicare and Social Security for seniors while blocking Medicaid expansion that burdens taxpayers. On living costs, cut federal spending and inflation caused by reckless printing and regulations. As a stage IV cancer survivor who beat the odds without relying on the system, I support health freedom and prevention through better lifestyle choices which we need to teach and make available to every American. Think MAHA lifestyle. I've learned that single-ingredient foods (produce, protein, etc.) should be the staples of our diet if we want to be in full health. Let’s get government out of the way so families in WA-04 can afford to live, work, and thrive. 

Kobiesa: Families in the 4th District face rising healthcare and living costs. I will prioritize practical federal actions that address root causes — inflation, lack of transparency, over-regulation, and distorted markets — rather than expansive new programs. Healthcare: Mandate full price transparency for hospitals, clinics, and procedures to empower patients and spur competition. Reduce excessive insurance administrative costs and prior authorization abuse. Support malpractice reform and cross-state licensing to expand supply and lower premiums. Cost of Living: Pursue responsible fiscal and monetary policies to fight inflation. Promote all-of-the-above energy production — including domestic drilling, refining, nuclear, and hydro — to cut gas, heating, and electricity costs. Roll back burdensome federal regulations on agriculture that drive up food prices, while maintaining science-based environmental protections. By focusing on transparency, targeted deregulation, abundant energy, and economic growth, we can meaningfully reduce financial pressure, increase choice, and deliver real relief to working families in Central Washington. 

Duresky: As I’ve traveled around the district, the constant issue that comes up is affordability. Tariffs and the effects of the war in Iran have wreaked havoc on all of those who were already doing their best to get by. The changes brought about to Medicaid and Medicare are only adding to these struggles. I believe that it’s past time for the US to have Universal Healthcare. The burdens placed on small businesses and working families right now because of our current healthcare system need to be lifted. We need adults in the room making the tough decisions and that’s what I intend to do.