Who's running in Washington's 4th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Water rights and agriculture, central to the Yakima Valley economy.
Opposition to public health mandates, the issue that built her county profile.
Border security and immigration enforcement.
Lower taxes and reduced federal regulation.
Support for President Trump's agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Yakima County commissioner since 2020.
Led the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 34.8% in an eleven-candidate field.
Endorsed by President Trump.
Her campaign raised close to $1 million during the primary; outside groups funded largely by cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence interests spent about $2.2 million more supporting her.
Has not held federal office.
Arguments in favor
President Trump endorsed her in a district he carried comfortably, and she led an eleven-candidate primary outright — the seat is rated safe Republican by every forecaster.
— Donald Trump endorsement; August 2026 primary results; Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ ratings
Three of her defeated Republican rivals backed her after the primary — Matt Boehnke saying "now is a time to come together," Elpidia Saavedra praising her alignment with "values that are most important to Americans," and Jerrod Sessler saying he would vote for her.
— Post-primary statements by Matt Boehnke, Elpidia Saavedra and Jerrod Sessler, reported by The Spokesman-Review
Arguments against
Jerrod Sessler, who finished third in the primary, said she "advanced in the primary largely through a high-profile endorsement that she paid for and heavy special-interest funding," and conditioned his continued support on her proving her commitment to conservative priorities. Super PACs backed by cryptocurrency and AI interests spent about $2.2 million on her behalf.
— Jerrod Sessler, August 2026, reported by The Spokesman-Review
The retiring Republican whose seat she is seeking will not endorse her: Dan Newhouse said "I have not been asked for an endorsement and have no plans to do so," declining to back either candidate in a district his party has held for more than a decade.
— Dan Newhouse, August 2026, reported by the Washington State Standard and The Spokesman-Review
What we couldn’t verify
MyNorthwest reported that in a private email Newhouse called McKinney "the absolute worst" of the eleven candidates and said she had "sold her soul for money." That comes from a private message rather than a public statement and is recorded here rather than presented as an argument; his public position is the non-endorsement above.
McKinney did not publicly respond to either the spending criticism or the non-endorsement in the coverage found.
A letter to the Yakima Herald asked what her financial supporters expect in return. Reader letters are not treated as published criticism here.
Congressional ethics — term limits, a lobbying moratorium, a stock trading ban and Supreme Court ethics enforcement, under the Take BAC Congress pledge.
Protecting rural hospitals and restoring Medicaid access.
Raising the federal minimum wage and strengthening unions.
Relief for local farmers from tariffs.
Legal pathways for long-settled undocumented residents alongside border security and asylum reform.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Retired United States Air Force major and combat veteran; thirty-seven years of government service.
Worked as a project control officer at the Hanford site; took early retirement on a federal buyout offer in 2025 and entered the race.
Took 29.9% in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary, second in an eleven-candidate field.
Endorsed by the Benton, Grant, Klickitat and Yakima county Democratic parties.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He consolidated the district's Democrats early — the Benton, Grant, Klickitat and Yakima county parties all endorsed him — and took 29.9% in an eleven-way primary, second overall in a district rated safe Republican.
— County Democratic party endorsements; August 2026 primary results
He has signed the Take BAC Congress pledge on term limits, lobbying, congressional stock trading and Supreme Court ethics, arguing from thirty-seven years under federal ethics rules: "I lived under these ethical guidelines my 37 years, and the fact that Congress… do not feel that they have to live under those same ethical guidelines is a problem."
— John Duresky, quoted by the Yakima Herald-Republic; Take BAC Congress pledge
Arguments against
Every forecaster rates the district safe or solid Republican, and he advanced only because eleven candidates split the field: Republicans took roughly 62% of the primary vote in total against his 29.9%.
— Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ ratings; August 2026 primary results
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Duresky by name could be found — not from Amanda McKinney or her campaign, not from the National Republican Congressional Committee, and not in Yakima, Tri-Cities or Wenatchee news coverage. Searches covered NRCC materials, his name against criticism and opponent terms, and the Yakima Herald-Republic, the Tri-City Herald, Apple Valley News Now and the Washington State Standard.
No fundraising figures for his campaign were found. McKinney's campaign and allied super PACs together spent about $3.2 million during the primary.
He entered the race immediately after taking a federal buyout; no opponent has made an argument from that, so it is recorded rather than presented as one.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
This is an open seat: Republican Dan Newhouse, who has held it since 2015, is retiring. Washington uses a top-two primary, and eleven candidates ran on August 4, 2026. Republican Amanda McKinney took 34.8% and Democrat John Duresky 29.9%; the rest of the Republican vote split among Jerrod Sessler (14.6%), Matt Boehnke (10.5%) and others, so a Democrat advanced in a district every forecaster rates safe Republican. McKinney and Duresky appear on the November ballot. The district covers much of central Washington, including Yakima, Moses Lake and the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Washington ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Washington Secretary of State.