Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse won't seek re-election in 2026

by · UPI

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election next year.

Newhouse, who has been in office since 2015, was one of only 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

"I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives," Newhouse wrote in a statement on X.

"Serving the Fourth District of Washington has been the honor of my life, and this decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress," he said.

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He beat out primary challengers backed by Trump in 2022 and 2024 and is one of only two Republicans who voted to impeach Trump still in the House. The other is Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif. Only three Senators who voted for impeachment remain -- Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

Newhouse said he voted for impeachment because "This violent mob, intent on disturbing the constitutional duties of Congress, resulted in the tragic loss of American lives, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer. 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 said in a statement.

Newhouse's seat, in central Washington, is likely to remain in Republican hands. It voted for Trump by 21 points.

He won re-election last year by 6 points against Trump-backed Jerrod Sessler, a former NASCAR driver and business owner. Sessler beat Newhouse in the primary. Washington's primaries advance the top two vote-getters to the general election regardless of party.

Sessler is running in 2026. He has defended the Capitol rioters, calling them "innocent Americans." He has also spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election that have been proven untrue.

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President Donald Trump participates in a Hanukkah reception in the East Room at the White House on Tuesday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo