The 2024 election cycle is heating up, and former President Donald Trump is once again making his presence felt in a tight House race. This time, he’s taking aim at Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), one of only two House Republicans left in Congress who defied their party and voted to impeach him in 2021.
Trump, who is still a powerful force within the Republican Party, is making it clear that he hasn’t forgotten the vote that led to his second impeachment. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, “Newhouse has to go! He wished he didn’t do what he did, but it’s too late.”
The former president has thrown his support behind Newhouse’s challenger, Jerrod Sessler, a Navy veteran and a candidate backed by the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus. “Jerrod Sessler is a fantastic Candidate and will be a GREAT Congressman for Washington State’s 4th Congressional District.” Trump wrote on his platform, emphasizing his strong support for Sessler. “He is running against a Weak and Pathetic RINO named Newhouse, who voted to, for no reason, Impeach me.”
Newhouse is seeking his sixth term representing Washington’s 4th Congressional District, a traditionally Republican-leaning area. However, the vote to impeach Trump has become a significant issue in the race, with many voters siding with the former president. He narrowly lost to Sessler in the state’s primary elections earlier this year, highlighting the challenges he faces in this election cycle.
Newhouse, despite the impeachment vote, remains confident in his ability to work with Trump if he wins the presidency again. “I worked very closely and successfully with President Trump and his first administration and I feel very confident that I can do that again.” he said to the Yakima Herald-Republic.
The race in Washington’s 4th Congressional District is a microcosm of the broader political landscape in the country. It’s a battle between loyalty to Trump and traditional Republican values, with the former president’s influence still a potent force in the party. The outcome of this race will be closely watched as a measure of Trump’s sway over the GOP and his ability to punish those who cross him.
