Of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in 2021, two are still standing: U.S. Reps.
David Valadao of California’s 22nd District and Dan Newhouse, who represents Central Washington. Some of the challengers vying for Newhouse’s seat this year cite the impeachment vote as a motivating factor to run against him. In 2022, six Republicans opposed Newhouse, splitting the conservative vote.
This time two Republicans, Jerrod Sessler and Tiffany Smiley, are pursuing his seat. Three Democrats – Mary Baechler, “Birdie” Jane Muchlinski and Barry Knowles – want to turn the 4th District blue. Independent Benny “BG3” Garcia and so-called MAGA Democrat John Malan, both pro-Trump, are running outside the two-party system.
The Yakima County Republicans endorsed Sessler in the primary. Matt Brown, chairman of the Yakima County Republicans, said Newhouse’s impeachment vote inspired the endorsement in May. Trump endorsed Sessler on April 12.
This, too, influenced the Yakima County Republicans’ choice. “Our local party is a Trump group and they were like this is a no-brainer for us. We need to support the guy that our president supports,” Brown said.
Smiley didn’t receive Trump or the Yakima County Republicans endorsements on May 14, in part, because she filed right before the deadline in May. “It was kind of sad that she jumped in so late,” said Brown, wishing she filed earlier to be considered in the endorsement process. Smiley ran against longtime Washington Sen.
Patty Murray in 2022 and spent $20 million in the race. Democrat Doug White of Yakima, who made it through the 2022 District 4 primary, losing to Newhouse in the general election, also faced Sessler in the primary that year. He considers Sessler a “loose cannon” who is too far right.
Sessler has had some controversy such as accusations of sexism as he hired campaign staff in 2021. White said the local GOP endorsement for Sessler shows how embedded far-right and MAGA philosophies are in Yakima political structures. As of June 30, Newhouse had raised $1,535,634.
Smiley reported $577,578 and Sessler’s total fundraising is at $401,070. Muchlinski raised $3,476 and none of the other candidates have reporting funding, according to the Federal Election Commission. White sees this race “as one that's going to put Central Washington on the map.
” He pointed to Smiley’s capacity for fundraising in 2022 and noted that Newhouse spent more money campaigning against White than he ever had before. A recent Newhouse campaign ad attacks Smiley over her conservative PAC and efforts to pay off her Senate campaign debt. Smiley’s ads critique Newhouse for his impeachment vote and Sessler for being vegan.
While fewer Republicans are running this year, former Republican state Sen. Jim Honeyford thinks Sessler and Smiley could still split the conservative vote, moving Newhouse into the general election. “I would think (Newhouse’s) chances are fairly good of being reelected,” Honeyford said.
The impeachment vote served as a response to Trump’s role on Jan. 6. Federal prosecutors have begun dropping charges for some Jan.
6 rioters following a recent Supreme Court ruling. Simultaneously, Republicans are pursuing lawsuits to preemptively contest the results of the upcoming November election. Though some conservatives continue to question the 2020 presidential results, evidence shows there was no interference in the election.
Ballots were mailed to voters last week. They can be dropped in the mail or in ballot boxes until 8 p.m.
Aug. 6. Voters can track their ballots online at votewa.
gov and learn about all candidates running for office through the voter guide . The Herald-Republic asked candidates if they will certify the presidential election results and in what ways they are aligned with Trump and Biden. Below you can find each candidates’ perspective, in reverse alphabetical order by first name.
The candidates were interviewed in June, before the Biden announced he was withdrawing from the race. Republican, Pasco In a 2022 debate against Patty Murray for Senate, Smiley referred to the Jan. 6 insurrection saying, “Those who broke the law should be held to the full extent of our judicial system and our law.
” Most recently she said to the Herald-Republic that she comes across many people with questions about the election system. In response to those questions, she said, “we need to make sure that it is easy to vote and hard to cheat, that it's transparent. And we need to make sure people are voting.
” She could not find any similarity between her views and those of Biden other than their mutual love of mint ice cream. But she aligns herself wholeheartedly with Trump’s policies concerning immigration and the economy. Democrat, Yakima Baechler said she will vote to certify the election no matter who wins in November.
“I am really grateful to our auditors and the election workers, they do a tremendous job,” said Baechler. She disagrees with Trump’s portrayal of the Jan. 6 rioters as peaceful protesters.
“The Capitol was under attack,” she said, adding, “even when President Trump heard that, he did not reach out to his followers to say, ‘Stop it this second.’” Baechler supports Biden’s economic policies, but wishes he would call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, noting the U.S.
has approved legislation providing at least $12.5 billion in military aid to Israel since Oct 7. MAGA Democrat, Grant County Malan said he would certify the election “as long as it's not stolen, as long as there's no shenanigans with drop-offs and stuff like that.
” The Associated Press reported that fraud related to mail-in voting is exceptionally rare . Malan saw nothing wrong with what happened Jan. 6.
He believes that the 2020 election was stolen “without a doubt” and that the pandemic allowed for “rampant ballot harvesting,” making it an unfair election. Republican, Prosser Likewise, Sessler thinks Joe Biden is an illegitimate president, saying, “2020 was a bogus election.” When asked whether he would certify the election if Biden won this fall, Sessler said “The question sort of reeks of bias” and that if the election is “legitimate” then he will accept the result.
Sessler attended the Jan. 6 rally but did not enter the Capitol building. He called the incident “the absolute most beautiful heist in world history” in a 2021 campaign video.
Sessler said he shares nothing in common with Biden and is aligned with Trump in all ways. He finds that people treat Trump unfairly and is frustrated with a general lack of patriotism in America. Democrat, Richland Muchlinski said she would certify the presidential election results because, “That's how our American process works.
” She agrees with Trump in the sense that politicians need to help Americans. But she argues his interests lie with the wealthy rather than those in need. With Biden, on the other hand, Muchlinski appreciates his moderate political approach and his ability to work with people of opposing parties.
Republican, Sunnyside Newhouse defends his impeachment position while also reaffirming his support of Trump. “I take those words very seriously, to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and I think I did that in that vote by voting yes on impeachment,” Newhouse said. He said he worked effectively in Trump’s administration before and will be able to do so again in the future.
Newhouse voted in line with Trump 90% of the time when he was in office. Whereas, he voted in line with Biden’s positions 29% of the time, according to political site FiveThirtyEight. Independent, Grandview “What I will say is trust but verify,” said Garcia in response to certifying the 2024 election results.
He wants more verification methods such as requiring voters to show proof of ID. The current procedure for mail-in ballots involves signature verification. Garcia said he is no way aligned with Biden’s policies.
He identifies as a Trump supporter but disagrees with the former president’s choice of rhetoric. “His rhetoric at times makes it hard to listen to and brings a lot of controversy,” said Garcia, referring to Trump’s descriptions of immigrants and women. Democrat, Covington and Yakima Knowles said he would certify the November election if the electronic system seems secure.
“Anything you have electronic has the ability to be cheated, period. And so as long as I see evidence that that hasn't taken place, then I'm happy to buy whatever it says,” he said. A 2018 Election Law Journal study found ballot scanners were more accurate than hand counts.
With Biden, Knowles supports his agenda to help the working class but feels as though little has been done to forward that mission. As for Trump, Knowles supports his tariff policies but thinks he’s an abrasive person that has contributed significantly to American polarization. Knowles is undecided over who he will vote for in the presidential election.
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