Dan Newhouse

Daniel Milton Newhouse (born July 10, 1955) is an American politician and agricultural scientist from Washington, currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 4th congressional district. Prior to his election to Congress, Newhouse served as director of the Washington Department of Agriculture and as a member of the Washington House of Representatives. He is a Republican.

Early life and career

Newhouse was raised on a farm in Sunnyside, east of Yakima, by his parents, Ruth and Irv Newhouse, with four sisters and a brother. Both of his parents and all of his siblings graduated from Washington State University. Newhouse's father served in the Washington State House and Senate for a total of 34 years, retiring in 1998.

Newhouse graduated from Washington State with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics in 1977. In college, Dan was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He also is a graduate of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program.

He served four terms in the Washington House of Representatives from 2003 through 2009, representing the 15th Legislative District. In 2009, Christine Gregoire, the then-Democratic Governor of Washington, appointed the Republican Newhouse to head the state's agriculture department. Newly elected governor Jay Inslee decided against re-appointing Newhouse as agriculture director in 2013.

U.S. House of Representatives

In February 2014, Newhouse entered the Republican primary for Washington's 4th congressional district. The incumbent, fellow 10-term Republican Doc Hastings, did not run in the 2014 elections. He and fellow Republican Clint Didier advanced to the November election after finishing in the top two in the August primary election, marking the first time that two Republican candidates would square off in a general election since the state adopted the "top two" primary system. The race on November 4 was very close, and was seen as a battle between the factions of the GOP; Newhouse is considered a mainstream Republican, while Didier openly identified with the Tea Party movement. On November 4, 2014, Newhouse defeated Didier, by a margin of 51%-49%.

Newhouse faced Didier in a rematch in 2016, placing first in the blanket primary with 44,720 votes (45.77%) to Didier's 26,892 (27.53%). In the general election, Newhouse decisively defeated Didier, by 132,517 votes (57.64%) to 97,402 (42.36%).

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Western Caucus
• Republican Main Street Partnership
• Republican Study Committee
• U.S.-Japan Caucus

Personal life

Newhouse owns a 600-acre (240 ha) farm in Sunnyside that produces hops, tree fruit, grapes, and alfalfa. His first wife, Carol, died of cancer in 2017. They have two adult children.

In 2018, Newhouse married his second wife, Joan Galvin, in a small ceremony which took place at the Congressional Prayer Room in the United States Capitol building.

Electoral History

2014

2016

2018