Focus on the BIG picture.
Thursday, Dec 18, 2025
Outside the box.
Washington Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse Announces He Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026
The seasoned lawmaker says he is stepping down on his own terms after a decade in Congress, creating an open race in Washington’s 4th District
Washington Representative Dan Newhouse, a Republican veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives, has announced he will not seek reelection in the 2026 midterm elections, ending a congressional tenure that began in two thousand fifteen and marked significant service on behalf of Central Washington.
The decision was disclosed in a statement in which Newhouse said the choice comes “with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude,” expressing appreciation for the opportunity to represent his home state and its citizens over multiple terms.
Newhouse’s retirement opens a competitive race in Washington’s Fourth Congressional District, a reliably Republican seat that he has held since his initial election in twenty fourteen.
At seventy years old, Newhouse departs amid a wave of retirements in the House ahead of the two thousand twenty-six elections, with several lawmakers from both parties opting not to run again.
During his tenure, Newhouse became one of the most notable Republicans to vote to impeach former President Donald Trump after the January six, two thousand twenty-one, Capitol attack, a decision that carried political consequences and attracted national attention.
He was one of only two of the original ten House Republicans who supported impeachment still in office before his announcement.
In the recent two thousand twenty-four election cycle, Newhouse secured reelection against a Trump-endorsed challenger, demonstrating his appeal to a broad cross-section of voters in his district despite intraparty tensions.
His departure sets the stage for a potentially crowded primary and general election as both Republican and Democratic contenders prepare to vie for the seat.
As the campaign season unfolds, candidates from multiple parties are expected to raise their profiles and articulate visions for the district’s future, with Local Republican figures and Democrats alike positioning themselves for what could be a high-stakes contest in Central Washington’s political landscape.
The decision was disclosed in a statement in which Newhouse said the choice comes “with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude,” expressing appreciation for the opportunity to represent his home state and its citizens over multiple terms.
Newhouse’s retirement opens a competitive race in Washington’s Fourth Congressional District, a reliably Republican seat that he has held since his initial election in twenty fourteen.
At seventy years old, Newhouse departs amid a wave of retirements in the House ahead of the two thousand twenty-six elections, with several lawmakers from both parties opting not to run again.
During his tenure, Newhouse became one of the most notable Republicans to vote to impeach former President Donald Trump after the January six, two thousand twenty-one, Capitol attack, a decision that carried political consequences and attracted national attention.
He was one of only two of the original ten House Republicans who supported impeachment still in office before his announcement.
In the recent two thousand twenty-four election cycle, Newhouse secured reelection against a Trump-endorsed challenger, demonstrating his appeal to a broad cross-section of voters in his district despite intraparty tensions.
His departure sets the stage for a potentially crowded primary and general election as both Republican and Democratic contenders prepare to vie for the seat.
As the campaign season unfolds, candidates from multiple parties are expected to raise their profiles and articulate visions for the district’s future, with Local Republican figures and Democrats alike positioning themselves for what could be a high-stakes contest in Central Washington’s political landscape.
