Key race in District 4 for U.S. house
Dan Newhouse, Republican incumbent candidate for District 4 U.S. house election 2024.
Jerrod Sessler, Republican challenger candidate for District 4 U.S. house election 2024.
Name: Dan Newhouse (Republican Party)
Age: 68 (born July 10, 1955)
Hometown: Sunnyside, Washington
Experience: Current U.S. Representative for Washington's 4th Congressional District (2015–present), was Washington State Director of Agriculture (2009–2013), being a member of the Washington House of Representatives, District 15 (2003–2009).
His professional experience is being a farmer, operating an 850-acre farm in Sunnyside, WA.
Dan Newhouse is a member of the U.S. House representing Washington's 4th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2015, and his current term will end on January 3, 2025. Newhouse is running for re-election in the general election on November 5, 2024, after advancing from the primary on August 6, 2024.
Newhouse previously served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009 and as Washington Director of Agriculture from 2009 to 2013. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Washington State University in 1977 and has a long-standing connection to farming, operating an 850-acre farm in Sunnyside, Washington.
Key Priorities and Legislation: Agriculture is one of Newhouse's top priorities, as it plays a crucial role in his district. He has been a strong advocate for border security, seeing it as directly tied to the agricultural workforce. He co-sponsored the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, aiming to ease pressure on the U.S.-Mexico border by improving immigration policies for farmworkers.
Newhouse is also focused on the opioid crisis, particularly fentanyl trafficking. He has worked on investigating China's role in producing raw materials for fentanyl and stressed the importance of stopping the flow of these drugs into the U.S. via Mexican cartels.
2024 Election Race: Newhouse is running against Jerrod Sessler in the 2024 election. Although both candidates are Republicans, the race is seen as a battleground due to Newhouse's vote to impeach former President Donald Trump in 2021, which has drawn significant attention. The National Republican Congressional Committee has maintained its policy of supporting incumbents, backing Newhouse.
Name: Jerrod Sessler (Republican Party)
Age: 54 (born February 26, 1970)
Hometown: Hathorn, California (resides in Prosser, Washington)
Experience: No relevant experience. Relevant professional experiences include being a U.S. Navy veteran (1987–1995, being a NASCAR driver (1999–2006) and being Founder of HomeTask, a home maintenance company as well as a businessman and author.
Jerrod Sessler is also running for election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 4th Congressional District. Sessler advanced from the top-two primary on August 6, 2024, finishing first ahead of incumbent Dan Newhouse. The general election will be held on November 5, 2024.
Sessler was born in Hathorn, California, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1987 to 1995. He later earned an associate degree from Highline College and a bachelor's degree in engineering from Kennedy Western University. Sessler's professional background includes being a NASCAR driver from 1999 to 2006, as well as founding a home maintenance company, HomeTask, in 2004. He now owns a ranch with his family.
Key Priorities and Platform: Sessler has positioned himself as a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. He has criticized Newhouse for his vote to impeach Trump, claiming it was a betrayal of Republican values. Sessler has focused his campaign on eliminating corruption, particularly within the government, and vows to protect key infrastructure through his proposed Critical Infrastructure Act, which would provide protection to essential sites like power-generating dams.
He is also a strong proponent of border security and supports stricter immigration policies, including mass deportations. Sessler emphasizes a "tough-on-border" stance, directly opposing the policies of the Biden administration, and advocates for prioritizing American sovereignty at the border.
2024 Election Race: Sessler gained momentum in 2024 with endorsements from high-profile figures and groups, including the Washington State Republican Party, the House Freedom Caucus, and Donald Trump. After falling short in the 2022 primary, he came back in 2024 with a stronger showing, finishing first in the primary. His campaign highlights a clear contrast with Newhouse, centering on a more conservative platform aligned with the MAGA movement.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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