USA (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Rep. Dan Newhouse, one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump, announced he will not seek re-election next year.
Newhouse announced his retirement from Congress “with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress” in a message uploaded to his X account.
He praised his family” for their loyal love and support” and stated that he’s” looking forward to this new chapter and the way I can continue to serve my community and this great nation.”
David Valadao of California and Newhouse, who was tagged in 2014, are the two remaining Republicans in the House out of ten who suggested impeaching Trump in 2021 due to his involvement in the attack on the Capitol on January 6.
Newhouse declared at the time that he was voting to remove Trump from office because “the mob was inflamed by the language and misinformation of the President of the United States.”
“He did not strongly condemn the attack nor did he call in reinforcements when our officers were overwhelmed. Our country needed a leader, and President Trump failed to fulfill his oath of office,”
Newhouse added.
“I will vote yes on the articles of impeachment.”
Republicans will probably have no trouble holding Newhouse’s seat. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report assesses the 2024 election as “Solid Republican,” with Trump winning the district by a margin of 21 percentage points.
Last year, Newhouse defeated Trump-backed Jerrod Sessler in the general election after Sessler defeated him in the GOP primary, winning reelection by a margin of six percentage points. The top two candidates in a primary, regardless of party, advance to the general election under Washington’s top-two primary system.
In 2026, Sessler, a businessman and former NASCAR racer, will run in the district once more. The district’s primary is scheduled for August.
Sessler, a veteran of the Navy as well, claims that on January 6, 2021, he was in Washington and saw Trump’s address. He claimed not to have visited the Capitol that day.
Sessler has defended rioters on January 6, including those who were convicted for their behavior in the Capitol that day and then pardoned by the president earlier this year. He has referred to them as “innocent Americans” and disseminated refuted conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 presidential election.
How a Democratic win in Newhouse district would shift House count by party?
A Popular palm in Rep. Dan Newhouse’s safe Republican WA- 04 quarter during the 2026 special election would flip the seat, shifting the House from a slim GOP maturity (presently 20- 215) to a tie or Popular control, depending on vacuities.
Republicans hold a narrow edgepost-2024; Newhouse’s withdrawal creates one open safe- R seat. GOP palm maintains status quo; Popular worries erodes it to 219- 216 or tighter with other specials, forcing Speaker Johnson to calculate on perfect concinnity or Popular votes.
WA- 04( Trump 22 in 2024) is a low- flip threat, but researchers frequently discipline incumbents. Combined with 44 retreats( 24R), it amplifies Popular paths in toss- ups, potentially yielding control if 3- 5 net earnings do amid Trump counterreaction. Specials antecede full cycle.