Didier seeks rematch against Newhouse for U.S. House seat

Clint Didier is looking for a rematch against Rep. Dan Newhouse.

Didier, 57, an Eltopia farmer and two-time Super Bowl champion, is the latest candidate to file for election in Washington during filing week, which concludes May 20.

Didier filed Thursday to run against Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, to represent Washington’s 4th Congressional District. There were no Democratic candidates as of Thursday afternoon.

Didier said he was not available to discuss his campaign Thursday. Born in Pasco, he attended Connell High School, Portland State University and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1981.

Newhouse was traveling to Pasco to attend this week’s Washington Republican Convention and was not available to comment on Didier’s candidacy.

Didier and Newhouse were among 12 candidates for the seat in 2014, when Rep. Doc Hastings retired from office. Didier was the top finisher in the primary and Newhouse was second.

Newhouse won the general election with 51 percent of the 153,079 ballots cast on the strength of urban support and Hastings’ endorsement. It was by far the narrowest victory of any of the 10 House seats in Washington that year.

The contentious campaign included numerous attacks on Newhouse’s conservative credentials and even a lawsuit against a Newhouse volunteer Didier accused of using public resources to support the Newhouse campaign.

The case was dropped a day before Didier was to be deposed.

Didier has a reputation as an outsider candidate. After his 2014 loss, his Washington Patriots PAC distributed online and radio ads attacking Newhouse’s record on conservative issues.

In January 2015, Didier got 30-minute weekly radio show on the American Christian Network , which has six affiliates in Eastern Washington and parts of Oregon and Idaho.

He briefly stepped into local politics in February when he said the Franklin County Commission it should not participate in Washington’s Voluntary Stewardship Program, an alternative approach to managing agriculture. Didier questioned the intent of the stewardship program, asserting it is a move to take control of water.

The commission disagreed and accepted $150,000 to move ahead with a management plan, a move supported by the Franklin County Farm Bureau.

In other filing week news, Hailey Roemer, a Pullman Republican, joined the race for Pos. 1 representing the 9th Legislative District in the state house. Roemer joins incumbent Mary Dye, a Pomeroy Republican, and Jennifer Goulet, a Pasco Democrat.

Winners of the Aug. 2 Washington primary will advance to the Nov. 8 election.

For a complete list of candidate filings, visit the Benton County Elections site at bit.ly/BentonCandidates or the Franklin County Elections site at bit.ly/FranklinCandidates.

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Didier seeks rematch against Newhouse for U.S. House seat."