Eleven candidates are running to represent Washington’s 4th Congressional District, a seat that includes Klickitat County and much of Central Washington, following the retirement of U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 4, with ballots due in drop boxes by 8 p.m.

Newhouse is retiring after 12 years in the U.S. House. His departure marks a significant shift for Klickitat County residents, who have been represented by only two Republicans over the last three decades. According to reporting by Northwest Public Broadcasting (NWPB), the district is currently rated as the most Republican in Washington by the Cook Partisan Voting Index.

The candidate pool includes six Republicans, one Democrat, one independent, one Cascade Party candidate, and two candidates with no party affiliation. Because Washington uses a top-two primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes on Aug. 4 will advance to the general election regardless of their party.

Todd Schaefer, chair of political science at Central Washington University, noted that the high number of Republican candidates could split the GOP vote. Schaefer told NWPB that while the area is heavily Republican, the split makes it highly likely a Democrat will advance to the general election alongside the top-performing Republican.

Newhouse was notable as one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021. Following his retirement, only two of those 10 members remain in Congress: Newhouse and Rep. David Valadao, who is running for reelection in California. The district was previously represented by Republican Doc Hastings from 1995 to 2015, and by Democrat Jay Inslee from 1993 to 1995.

In addition to Klickitat, the 4th District encompasses Douglas, Okanogan, Grant, Yakima, and Benton counties, along with portions of Adams and Franklin counties. The Secretary of State recommends that voters using the mail return their ballots at least one week before the Aug. 4 deadline to ensure they are postmarked in time.