Dan Newhouse Bio
Daniel Milton Newhouse (born July 10, 1955) is an American politician and farmer serving as the U.S. representative for Washington’s 4th congressional district. The district covers much of central Washington, including the cities of Yakima and the Tri-Cities. A member of the Republican Party, he first entered Congress in 2015 and currently chairs the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
Before his election to the U.S. House, Newhouse served four terms in the Washington State House of Representatives and led the Washington State Department of Agriculture under two governors. He is a third-generation farmer from Sunnyside who graduated from Washington State University. He is widely known for being one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump during the second impeachment in January 2021.
Early Life and Background
Dan Newhouse was born on July 10, 1955, in Sunnyside, Washington, a farming community east of Yakima. His father’s family was of Dutch descent, and his family has farmed in the Yakima Valley for three generations. The Newhouse name has long been associated with central Washington agriculture.
His parents and all of his siblings attended Washington State University, the family’s college of choice. His father, Irv Newhouse, served in the Washington State House of Representatives and the Washington State Senate for 34 years before retiring in 1998. Growing up around public service and farm work, Dan Newhouse developed an early interest in both politics and agriculture.
Newhouse graduated from Washington State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics. While in college, he joined the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He later completed the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program, a leadership course for adults working in farming, ranching, and forestry.
Path to US Politics
Newhouse began his public career as a farmer, managing a 600-acre family operation near Sunnyside that grows hops, tree fruit, grapes, and alfalfa. His first elected role came in 2002, when he won a seat in the Washington State House of Representatives representing the 15th district, which covered eastern Yakima County and was the same district his father once held.
He served four terms in the state House, from 2003 to 2009, working on agricultural and water issues that mattered to his central Washington constituents. In 2009, Governor Christine Gregoire appointed him as director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. He led the department until 2013, when newly elected Governor Jay Inslee chose not to reappoint him.
After leaving state government, Newhouse returned to farming. In February 2014, he entered the Republican primary for Washington’s 4th congressional district after the incumbent, Doc Hastings, announced he would not seek re-election. He went on to win the crowded primary and a close general election, launching his career in federal politics.
Dan Newhouse Career
Early Career (2003–2013)
Dan Newhouse’s early political career took place in the Washington State House of Representatives, where he represented the 15th district from 2003 to 2009. As a state lawmaker, he focused on agricultural policy, water rights, and rural economic development, issues that shaped his later work in Congress.
His next major role came in 2009, when Governor Christine Gregoire appointed him to lead the Washington State Department of Agriculture. As director, he oversaw programs that supported the state’s farmers and ranchers, including pest control, food safety, and market development. He held the post until 2013, when he returned to private life and full-time farming.
Breakthrough (2014–2016)
Newhouse entered the 2014 race for Washington’s 4th congressional district after incumbent Doc Hastings retired. The 4th district is the most conservative in Washington, and the August blanket primary produced an all-Republican general election, with Newhouse and fellow Republican Clint Didier advancing. It was the first general election between two Republicans in the state since Washington adopted the top-two primary system.
Newhouse was seen as a mainstream Republican, while Didier aligned with the Tea Party movement. In a close race, Newhouse defeated Didier by a margin of 51% to 49%, winning his first term in Congress. He proved his staying power in 2016, when he faced Didier again. He led the August blanket primary with about 45.77% of the vote and won the general election with 57.64%, a much more comfortable margin.
Republican Era (2017–Present)
Over the following years, Newhouse built a reputation as a reliable conservative voice on agricultural and rural issues. He won re-election in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, often facing primary challengers because of his willingness to work across the aisle. In 2017, he became one of the founders of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
His career reached a defining moment in January 2021, when he was one of ten House Republicans to vote to impeach President Donald Trump following the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Although he had voted against the first impeachment, he announced support for the second, citing the President’s failure to act during the attack. He has since defended his vote, even as primary challengers have targeted him over it.
In May 2021, he was one of 35 Republicans who voted with Democrats to create a January 6 commission to investigate the Capitol attack. In 2022, he was one of only two House Republicans who voted for impeachment and then won re-election, alongside California Representative David Valadao. He has continued to serve central Washington and currently chairs the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
Notable Events and Milestones
The most notable event of Dan Newhouse’s career came on January 13, 2021, when he voted to impeach President Donald Trump for the second time, making him one of only ten House Republicans to do so. In his floor speech, he acknowledged that the article of impeachment was imperfect but said there was no excuse for the President’s inaction during the Capitol attack. He later voted to establish a January 6 commission and has remained a strong voice for bipartisan governance in a divided House.
Dan Newhouse Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Dan Newhouse comes from a multi-generational farming family in the Yakima Valley. His father, Irv Newhouse, served in the Washington State Legislature for 34 years, including time in both the state House and Senate, before retiring in 1998. The Newhouse family’s roots in both farming and public service have shaped Dan’s political outlook and his focus on rural and agricultural issues.
Personal Life
Newhouse lives in Sunnyside, Washington, where he continues to manage a 600-acre farm that produces hops, tree fruit, grapes, and alfalfa. He was first married to Carol Hammond in 1982, and the couple had two adult children. Carol passed away from cancer in 2017. In 2018, Newhouse married Joan Galvin in a small ceremony held at the Congressional Prayer Room in the United States Capitol building. He is a practicing Presbyterian.
Dan Newhouse Upcoming Projects (2025)
In 2025, Dan Newhouse continued his work on the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and on agricultural policy in central Washington. His Washington office reported a sharp rise in constituent calls related to federal funding changes, and he hosted staff office hours in towns such as Twisp, where more than 200 residents attended. He has also joined bipartisan letters, including a 2024 letter led by Newhouse calling on U.S. intelligence officials to study Chinese biotechnology development. On December 17, 2025, Newhouse announced that he will not seek a seventh term in the 2026 elections.