Newhouse’s successor must put Central WA before partisan politics | Opinion

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse’s decision not to seek reelection in 2026 leaves the 4th Congressional District with an uncertain future.

Voters will have to decide whether they want another moderate bridge builder to represent them in Washington, D.C., or a partisan foot soldier who will follow orders from party leadership.

Newhouse has had a successful career in Washington politics that spans more than two decades. He served in the state House from 2003-09, as head of the state Department of Agriculture under a Democratic governor from 2009-13 and in Congress since 2015. The 4th District runs from the Oregon border to the Canadian border and includes the Tri-Cities.

Now 70 years old, no one should begrudge him retirement. He says he hopes to continue public service, but we hope he also finds more time to spend with family and friends. If only more politicians, including recent presidents, had the same grace and wisdom to recognize that it is time to step aside for the next generation of leaders.

A third-generation Yakima Valley farmer, Newhouse has deep roots in the region. He understood its rural character and championed issues critical to his constituents from the ongoing cleanup at the Hanford site to protection of Snake River dams.

He worked tirelessly to stabilize the labor market for agricultural producers. He partnered with California Democrat Zoe Lofgren on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to help farmers and provide a framework for migrant farmworkers to have legal status. Though it passed the House twice with broad bipartisan support, it stalled in the Senate after conservative opposition to its immigration provisions.

The defining moment of Newhouse’s career was his decision to vote to impeach Donald Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. He was one of only 10 House Republicans to do so. “The mob was inflamed by the language and misinformation of the president of the United States,” Newhouse said at the time. “Our country needed a leader, and President Trump failed to fulfill his oath of office.”

The decision to support impeachment put Newhouse at odds with his party’s leader and drew Trump-backed primary challenges. The voters of his district, however, appreciated his independence and willingness to prioritize constitutional order over partisan political loyalty. Today, he is one of only two Republicans left in Congress from the 10 who supported impeachment.

Yet, Newhouse has had missteps. He drew sharp criticism for supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other Republican measures that upended social safety nets on which many of his constituents rely. He defended capricious cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

For all the criticism, Newhouse struck a careful balance representing Central Washington. He rarely sought attention on social media and podcasts, instead choosing to do the hard work to represent his district’s needs. He chose the quiet, often thankless work of committee hearings and bipartisan compromise.

The 4th District is Washington’s most conservative, but in a year forecast to favor Democrats, an open seat becomes a partisan target.

As the 2026 race begins, voters should look for candidates who mirror Newhouse’s better instincts, who understand that “food security is national security” and that Central Washington’s concerns do not always align with a national party platform.

The people of Central Washington want results. They want water projects funded, farm labor secured and veterans’ services protected.

Leave the partisan sniping for someone else.

Three candidates had filed campaign paperwork to challenge Newhouse before his announcement. With the incumbent stepping aside, we hope that other candidates with integrity, experience and bipartisan aspirations will give the race another look. Voters in the 4th deserve nothing less.