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Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney, who is running for Dan Newhouse’s congressional seat, is facing scrutiny following a remark on a panel at AmericaFest last month that she had a plan to “retire” the representative following his vote for Donald Trump’s impeachment in 2021.
AmericaFest is an annual conference held by the conservative organization Turning Point USA, founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
The comment is raising eyebrows because McKinney endorsed Newhouse in 2022 and 2024, saying in a TV ad, “Dan Newhouse delivers… I trust Dan.”
McKinney was also Newhouse’s guest in Congress during Trump’s address to the Joint Session last March.
The about-face has led to a meme online.
McKinney announced her candidacy two days after Newhouse’s announcement that he would not seek a seventh term. She identified herself as a MAGA Republican.
As recently as five months ago, McKinney said she had no plans to run for higher office.
Douglas County GOP Chairman Dan Wheat wrote in a blog post that “McKinney has access to the money and network that supported Newhouse and belongs to a politically-influential Yakima rotary club.”
By state law, a candidate cannot appear twice on a ballot, so McKinney will not be running for re-election as Yakima Commissioner.
On Tuesday, both President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson endorsed McKinney to succeed Newhouse.
“Amanda McKinney has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Washington’s 4th Congressional District- SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! [sic],” Trump said on his media platform, Truth Social.
“Amanda McKinney is a patriot who will help us continue to deliver safe streets, secure borders, lower costs, a strong economy, and peace through strength,” Johnson said in an announcement on X.
In the last election, Trump endorsed Jerrod Sessler, who lost to Newhouse by six percentage points in 2024.
On Friday, Sessler, who is making his third bid to win the House seat, maintained Trump’s endorsement on his web page.
During his visit to Methow Valley last spring, Sessler bemoaned that Washington’s most conservative congressional district lacked a strong conservative. He attacked Newhouse for voting to impeach Trump in 2021, a resolution that passed the House but failed to reach two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Washington’s Fourth Congressional District runs down the middle of the state from Canada to Oregon. It encompasses Okanogan, Douglas, Grant, Yakima, Benton and Klickitat counties, plus parts of Adams and Franklin counties.
Amanda McKinney’s platform can be found at https://www.mckinneyforwashington.com
