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Newhouse says Leaving Congress Wasn't an Overnight Decision by Matthew Weaver Capital Press, December 18, 2025

Son Devon and daughter-in-law Halley now manage
day-to-day operations on the 850-acre family farm.

Rep. Dan Newhouse's choice not to run for re-election in 2026 has "not been an overnight decision."

"This is something I've been considering," Newhouse said as he spoke to media during a Dec. 17 press conference on Zoom.

A former state representative and Washington State Department of Agriculture director, Newhouse, R-Wash., was elected to Congress in 2015. He currently sits on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. He also spent four years as chairman of the Western Caucus, focusing on regulatory issues that challenge agriculture and other business interests.

Newhouse originally expected to spend about 10 years in Congress. By the end of his sixth term, it will have been 12 years.

"I'm just getting to that point in my life where it seemed like my time had come," he said. "I just made the decision that this is a good time for me to step aside."

But Newhouse emphasized that, "I'm not stopping. I've got a year to go on my term and I'm going to work very hard to fulfill my responsibilities and serve my constituents."

A third-generation Yakima Valley farmer, Newhouse raises hops, grapes, tree fruit, alfalfa and some corn in Sunnyside, Wash. Son Devon and daughter-in-law Halley now manage day-to-day operations on the 850-acre family farm.

When he left the farm to come to Congress, one struggle was the fact that his son had returned "and I would not be there to farm alongside him and work together, a father and son kind of relationship. I'm looking forward to spending more time on the farm, absolutely. It's something I truly enjoy. It's tough in agriculture right now. If I can be of any help at all, I want to be able to contribute."

Newhouse hasn't ruled out anything for his future plans. He'll look for ways to continue to serve, he said.

"I'll continue to stay engaged and contribute as much as I possibly can, I just can't tell you what that looks like today," he said. "Certainly, spending time on the farm is part of my plan."

Top priority

Over the next year, Newhouse intends to continue his focus on agricultural issues.

"That's the bread and butter of Central Washington, the people that put me in office," he said. "Being a farmer myself, that's a high priority of mine . . . True to my history and my upbringing, agriculture's got to be at the top of my list."

Newhouse will continue to raise the profile of the urgency surrounding agricultural labor issues.

"We have a lot of people that now are engaged with that issue, which was not the case when I first ran," he said. Newhouse also cited the importance of international trade.

"We'll continue to focus in this administration, with the folks in charge at the Trade Office, as well as the president himself, on making sure that our growers have access to those foreign markets," he said.

'Loud and clear and constant'

Out of Congress' 535 members, less than two dozen members are farmers and ranchers.

"Our numbers are small, so our voices have to be loud and clear and constant," he said.

Anyone that succeeds him should know that their constituency largely depends on the natural resources industry, and continue to advocate as a "strong voice" for producers, he said.

"It's a necessity, because if you look around, no one else is going to do it if you don't," he said.

'Large field of candidates'

Newhouse anticipates a "large field of candidates". There were 13 in the race when he first ran, he said.

"I haven't made any decisions about who I may or may not be supporting in the race," he said. "Let's see who expresses interest, who gets in the race and we'll just play it from there. I'm focused on finishing my term strong." Whoever is elected, "I will be their constituent, so obviously I have a strong interest in making sure we have a very qualified individual," he said. "But I've made no decisions, I don't even know who's running at this point. I'm just focused on making sure I get my job completed."

Congress reflects country's division

Newhouse was asked about changes in behavior in Congress, politics in general and the Republican Party over the last 12 years.

"A lot of people are thinking Congress is dysfunctional, we can't get anything done, it's very divided and partisan," he said. "I try to remind people that even before me coming, it has always been very difficult to get anything done in Washington D.C. That was the way our forefathers set up the system we have: It's difficult to make laws, as it should be. It should be very hard."

But Newhouse agreed that things have changed.

"I think Congress reflects our country, and our country shows some true division, and Congress accurately reflects that division that we see," he said. "That has added some new dynamics into accomplishing things. We have a very small majority in the House, which complicates moving forward. It's hard to get 100% agreement on anything in any situation.

"But beyond that, though, we have accomplished a lot of good and important things in the 119th Congress," he continued. "In some ways, it's different, but in many ways it's the same. It's a very challenging environment to accomplish things. It just takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. The old adage that, 'You can get a lot done if you don't care who gets the credit' still holds very true. I've seen that play out time and time again. If you work together with people, and I mean people on both sides of the aisle, you can get a lot accomplished. It's been a tremendous honor to be a part of this."

Common ground

Newhouse was asked about his 2021 vote to impeach President Donald Trump. Since then, he's been "under fire" from Trump and Republicans. Does his approach to politics just not work any more? Did he retire because he can't get the things he wants done accomplished?

"Absolutely not," he said. "A lot of people may disagree with some of the positions, some of the votes I've taken, but most people respect others who stand for something and vote their conscience and can justify the positions they take."

Newhouse noted that there are many members of Congress with whom he disagrees, "and probably disagree a lot with," he said. "But I still count them as friends. If there are issues we can find common ground on, absolutely we'll work together.

"It's quite the opposite," he said. "I think I've found other people respecting my position and appreciate someone who stands up for what they believe. It has not been a detriment or a negative thing. I work very well with other people, it just depends on what issues we're talking about and where is that common ground we can find to be able to move forward?"

Legacy

Newhouse was asked what his legacy will be.

"I hope to be remembered as somebody who was engaged with their constituents, listened to people so I could fully understand the challenges they face and do as much as I can to make a difference in their lives, and others who face similar circumstances," he said. Central Washington reflects a diverse set of interests, including natural resources and energy industries.

"If I can modestly say, I think I've represented all of those interests to the best of my ability and done well," he said. "I expect that anybody that follows in my footsteps would see all of those things as priorities and do the same."