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WA 4th District Race is No Slam Dunk. Here's the Herald's Pick Between Rep. Newhouse and Doug White by Editorial Board Tri-City Herald, October 27, 2022

On protecting the Snake River dams, Newhouse is a fierce
proponent who believes dams and salmon can coexist.

The outcome of the 4th Congressional District race between Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse and Democrat Doug White is not a slam-dunk or easy prediction to make.

The massive Central Washington district, which runs from the Oregon border to Canada, is considered the state's deepest Red region. In normal years, that would mean Newhouse is a shoe-in for another term.

But this is not a normal year.

There are plenty of hard-core Republicans who can't forgive Newhouse for voting to impeach former President Donald Trump after the notorious Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the nation's capitol.

At the time, Newhouse said he was alarmed that Trump didn't try to stop the violence when it was clear security officers were overwhelmed.

During our candidate interview, Newhouse said he knew full well he was risking his political career, but he still stands by his decision.

"I think the Constitution, the future of our country, our form of government -- we have to put above partisan politics," he said.

We have praised Newhouse for his courage in breaking ranks and doing the right thing, and believe it showed an incredible amount of inner strength and integrity.

But it's clear he is vulnerable. We've heard some Republicans say they won't be voting for either candidate.

That means that White -- who doesn't mind being called a conservative Democrat -- has a better chance of unseating the longtime incumbent.

Like Newhouse, White comes from a long line of farmers. Born and raised in Yakima, his father also worked at Hanford as a pipefitter.

His background is in international business, and he's worked in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. He notes that he has experience managing a telecommunications project with 4,000 employees covering 51 different nationalities.

His clients have been global leaders in their industries, and White said it was his job to find common ground and bring projects together on time and under budget.

His knowledge of trade issues and U.S. global politics is impressive. On those topics, he comes across more like a seasoned incumbent instead of a challenger.

White said he decided to run for office because he "looked around and saw that we have the same problems today that my grandfather used to tell me about when I used to work with him in the orchards, and that's water, immigration, infrastructure and climate change and I cannot fathom why our politicians have not seen these as a priority."

Both Newhouse and White agree more local control is needed in planning where wind turbines and solar panels are placed in Eastern Washington.

But they are at odds on many other issues, and we recommend readers watch our video in order to get a thorough understanding of where each candidate stands on the economy, immigration reform and other topics.

As an example of their differences, Newhouse is proud of the work he's done on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would provide undocumented farm workers and their family members a path toward citizenship.

But White is highly critical of the legislation, saying it is the "most shameful thing this country could possibly do."

White said it requires people to come back year after year to do backbreaking work and if they do not come back, then the process is canceled. He called it "indentured servitude" because it takes 14 years before these workers would be considered for citizenship.

But Newhouse countered it has bipartisan support and it has backing from the ag industry and farm labor groups. He said the bill helps farmers avoid using illegal labor, and disagreed with White's phrasing.

Newhouse said the bill requires a commitment to work in agriculture in order to keep the visas, but said it doesn't control a person's whole life. As of this writing, the bill has made it through the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.

On inflation, Newhouse said it has gotten worse over the last two years and he believes that has to do with the Biden Administration. In addition, he didn't approve of the student loan forgiveness program because it shifts the burden to people who never took out loans, which he said isn't fair.

White said the student loan forgiveness program was handled poorly, and said it would have been better to forgive the interest rate instead of the equity, which would have had broader appeal.

On protecting the Snake River dams, Newhouse is a fierce proponent who believes dams and salmon can coexist.

White doesn't believe the dams will be breached during his lifetime, and would prefer preparing for the future. He told the editorial board that there should be a plan for providing clean energy to the region, building up infrastructure, looking at alternative ways to transport goods and continue to protect fish runs. That way, the economy is being built up instead of standing back and doing nothing, he said.

In the Voters' Pamphlet, White writes that "we have to stop the politics of division" and the goal of his campaign is to bring people together to get things done.

When it comes to bipartisanship, though, Newhouse is well known for being approachable and able to work across the aisle.

He also happens to be the chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, which is a group of over 70 members of Congress who focus on issues facing rural America, like water, agriculture, local control, private property rights and energy.

That Newhouse is head of this prestigious group says something about his leadership ability and the respect he has from his colleagues.

White is an amazing candidate who knows the issues and has good ideas and he speaks with confidence. He would make a great congressional leader.

But Newhouse has been a steady force, and his voice more closely represents the majority of his constituents.

Even if some members of the GOP are upset with him, Newhouse is still a good fit for Central Washington's congressional district.

And we don't think he should lose his seat for voting his conscience.

The Tri-City Herald recommends Republican Dan Newhouse for U.S. Congress, 4th District.

Behind Our Election Recommendations

Who decides the recommendations?
Members of The Tri-City Herald editorial board is comprised of experienced opinion journalists and community members, and is separate from The Herald's newsroom. Conversations are on the record.

What does the recommendation process entail?
Whenever possible, The Herald editorial board meets with opposing candidates at the same time. The questions are largely focused on a candidate's qualifications and goals. The editorial board then discusses the candidates in each race and decides who to recommend. Board members seek to reach a consensus on our recommendations, but not every decision is unanimous.

Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making recommendations, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well prepared to represent their constituents -- not whether they agree with us or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates' relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues, their understanding of public policy and their ability to work with the current board . We're seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats.

Why are the editorials unsigned?
Our election recommendations reflect the collective views of The Herald's editorial board -- not just the opinion of one writer. For the 2022 election, the board includes: Cecilia Rexus, Herald editorial writer; Laurie Williams, Herald executive editor; Jack Briggs, retired Herald publisher; Ken Robertson, retired Herald executive director; Matt Taylor, retired Herald editorial writer; Mike Paoli and Martin Valadez, community representatives.