McKinney Leads Duresky in WA-04 Race as Democrats Hold Other Seats Republican Amanda McKinney holds a lead over Democrat John Duresky in Washington's 4th Congressional District. Democrats retain leads in other key races including the 3rd and 9th districts. Republican Amanda McKinney currently leads Democrat John Duresky in the initial vote counts for Washington's 4th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. This contest in the state's most conservative district has drawn significant attention following the retirement of long-serving incumbent Congressman Dan Newhouse. The district has historically leaned heavily Republican, with the last Democrat to win a U.S. House seat there being former Governor Jay Inslee in 1992. Mckinney Builds Lead Over DureskyIn the August primary election, Republican Amanda McKinney secured the top spot by earning 25,633 votes, which accounted for 34.9 percent of the total. Her closest competitor, Democrat John Duresky, received 22,657 votes, representing 30.8 percent of the vote share. McKinney's primary victory was bolstered by high-profile endorsements from President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. She has built a political resume as a Yakima County commissioner, focusing heavily on water resource management and the protection of fish and wildlife.Duresky Emphasizes Military And HealthcareDemocrat John Duresky brings a distinct background to the campaign, having served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force and achieved the rank of major. Following his military service, he spent an additional 13 years in federal civilian roles. Most recently, he worked as a project control officer at the Hanford Field Office within the U.S. Department of Energy. During his campaign, Duresky focused on job growth, affordability, agriculture, and healthcare access, stating that universal health care is necessary. He received endorsements from the Washington State Labor Council and the Washington Education Association.End Of Newhouse Era And District HistoryThe vacancy in the 4th District resulted from the decision of Washington Congressman Dan Newhouse to not seek reelection in 2026. Newhouse represented the district for more than a decade, concluding a career that spanned over 25 years in public service. He was noted as one of the few House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The district was previously held by Republican Doc Hastings, who served from 1995 until his retirement in 2015 after defeating Jay Inslee.Democrats Retain Other Key Washington SeatsBeyond the competitive 4th District, Democratic incumbents are maintaining strong leads in other Washington congressional races. Democratic incumbent Kim Schrier is ahead of Republican Spencer Meline in initial results for Washington's 8th Congressional District seat. Similarly, Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez holds a lead over Republican challenger John Braun in Washington's 3rd Congressional District.Smith Leads In 9th District Amid Ballot MeasuresDemocratic incumbent Adam Smith holds a commanding lead over Republican challenger Doug Basler in initial results for Washington's 9th Congressional District. On the state ballot, Seattle's transit measure renewal is holding a strong position with more than 72 percent of votes counted in its favor. Meanwhile, Initiative 001 is narrowly trailing, with 52.77 percent of votes opposed and 47.23 percent in favor. The initiative aims to restore the original 2024 parents' bill of rights by reversing changes made by the Washington Legislature the previous year.