Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), who used his post on the House Appropriations Committee to push for remediation of the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site, said Wednesday he will not stand for re-election.
Newhouse, who also holds the unofficial status as perhaps one of President Donald Trump’s least favorite House members, made the announcement on his website.
“I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives,” Newhouse said. “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. “
Newhouse is one of a handful of Republican House members who voted to impeach President Trump after a mob of Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Axios reported Newhouse is one of only two such GOP members that remain in the House. Newhouse won his past two re-election campaigns despite overcoming a primary challenger, Jerrod Sessler, backed by Trump.
“After over 25 years of public service, including more than a decade in the House, I am grateful to the Washingtonians who put their faith in me, as well as the colleagues I have served with on both sides of the aisle,” Newhouse said in the release.
Newhouse said he would depart Congress “with confidence that there are now qualified and serious people expressing interest in this office. Central Washington will have a strong, capable leader to whom I can pass the torch.”
Prior to Congress, Newhouse served in the Washington state House of Representatives from 2003 through 2009. From 2009 to 2013, Newhouse was the director of Washington state’s Department of Agriculture, according to his online bio.
The Tri-City Herald newspaper reported Thursday that Washington state Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, is among those seriously considering a run for the Newhouse seat.
As for Newhouse, he continues to be active in Congress, having recently proposed legislation to expand nuclear power tax incentives.