Trump says Washington GOP Rep. Newhouse, who voted to impeach him, ‘has to go’

Former President Donald Trump is urging voters in Washington’s 4th Congressional District to oust incumbent Rep. Dan Newhouse, one of the last two House Republicans who voted to impeach him for inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

Mr. Newhouse is running against a fellow Republican in the general election because of Washington’s nonpartisan primary process in which the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance.

Mr. Trump first endorsed Republican Jerrod Sessler in April, months before the August primary. The former president’s support helped Mr. Sessler, a Navy veteran and former NASCAR driver, advance as the top vote-getter with 33% support among eight candidates. Mr. Newhouse advanced in the second slot with 23%.

During a June visit to Capitol Hill, Mr. Trump commented to House Republicans that most of their 10 colleagues who voted to impeach him three years ago were no longer serving — some defeated in 2022 by GOP primary opponents he backed — but signaled he’d make nice with the final two, Mr. Newhouse and Rep. David Valadao of California.

Now, a week before the general election, Mr. Trump is reiterating his endorsement of Mr. Sessler and his desire to oust Mr. Newhouse.

“JERROD SESSLER WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social, saying the candidate “will fight hard every day” to secure the border, strengthen the military, take care of veterans and protect the Second Amendment and rule of law.

“He is running against a Weak and Pathetic RINO named Newhouse, who voted to, for no reason, Impeach me. Newhouse has to go!” Mr. Trump said. “He wished he didn’t do what he did, but it’s too late, and besides that, he didn’t represent the people nearly as well as Jerrod will.”

The Washington Times reached out to Mr. Newhouse’s campaign for comment.

Mr. Trump can afford to stand against Mr. Newhouse because regardless of which way the race falls, the seat will remain in GOP control.

But he hasn’t gotten involved in Mr. Valadao’s race against Democrat and former California state Rep. Rudy Salas as it’s a battleground contest for control of the House. Mr. Trump also stayed out of Mr. Valadao’s Republican primary this year.

Mr. Valadao declined to endorse Mr. Trump in the presidential race during a debate this month and said he would let his 2021 impeachment vote “speak for itself.”

Mr. Newhouse said in a 2021 statement explaining his vote for the article of impeachment charging Mr. Trump with incitement of insurrection that the former president’s language and misinformation inflamed the people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“Turning a blind eye to this brutal assault on our Republic is not an option,” he said.

Voting against impeachment would condone Mr. Trump’s inaction, Mr. Newhouse said.

“He did not strongly condemn the attack, nor did he call in reinforcements when our officers were overwhelmed,” the Washington Republican said. “Our country needed a leader, and President Trump failed to fulfill his oath of office.”

Mr. Sessler told The Seattle Times that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol “was a setup” by Democrats who “stole the 2020 election.”

“They wanted a reason to prevent President Trump from ever being able to run for office again,” he said. “Their backup plan was to basically say, look, he caused an insurrection.”