Amanda
McKinney
Republican Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney is the GOP nominee for Washington's open 4th Congressional District seat in 2026.
- sources
- 16
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 17
Background
Amanda McKinney is a Republican candidate in the November 3, 2026, general election for Washington's 4th Congressional District, running for an open seat after Rep. Dan Newhouse announced his retirement. She and Democrat John Duresky advanced from an 11-candidate primary, as reported by the Spokesman-Review in October 2026. 9
McKinney currently serves as Yakima County commissioner for District 1, a position she has held after being elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022. Before entering elected office, she spent more than 20 years working in mortgage banking. [12, 13, 23]
She earned degrees with emphases in criminal justice, political science, and constitutional law, according to her Yakima County profile, which does not name the institution; a separate local candidate profile identifies Central Washington University. [1, 23] She has lived in Yakima for nearly 20 years and says she was raised along the Columbia River. 23
McKinney received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump during her congressional campaign and has been a vocal opponent of COVID-era closures and vaccine mandates. [12, 15, 17]
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 4, Washington
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Yakima County Commissioner, District 1
- Website
- mckinneyforwashington.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 8debateNWPB/PBS published recording of September 30 McKinney-Duresky forum
Northwest Public Broadcasting and PBS published the video recording of the September 30 candidate forum at WSU Tri-Cities, making it publicly available for voters ahead of the November 3 election.
NWPB Vote | NWPB and LWV Presents: Vote Congressional District 4 | Season 2026 · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7newsMcKinney outlined education and water infrastructure positions in candidate Q&A
In a Q&A published October 7, McKinney said she would reduce federal administrative spending at the Department of Education while protecting disability assistance and giving states and parents more authority. On water, she called for more investment in storage, conservation and irrigation infrastructure, including the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program.
4th District Q&A · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7newsSpokesman-Review published overview of McKinney vs. Duresky general-election matchup
The Spokesman-Review published a detailed profile of the race between Republican Amanda McKinney and Democrat John Duresky for the open 4th Congressional District seat, covering their backgrounds, endorsements, outside spending, and the endorsement-payment controversy alleged by former rival Jerrod Sessler.
Republican Amanda McKinney, Democrat John Duresky face off in race to represent central WA in Congress · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsLetter in Yakima Herald urged voters to back someone with integrity, invoking McKinney's race
A letter to the editor in the Yakima Herald encouraged voters to forget partisanship and vote for a candidate with integrity, referencing the McKinney-Duresky race.
Letter: Forget partisanship — vote for someone with integrity · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30debateMcKinney debated Duresky at WSU Tri-Cities forum hosted by AARP, NWPB, and League of Women Voters
McKinney and Duresky appeared at a candidate forum at Washington State University Tri-Cities. Topics included affordability, health care, Social Security, immigration, election security, tariffs, and federal authority. McKinney supported continued immigration enforcement, stronger election safeguards including proof of citizenship, and called tariffs a negotiating tool: 'There are many examples of presidents using tariffs as a way to bargain and as a tool to get fair trade agreements.' She also said she would seek a place on the House Appropriations Committee.
NWPB Vote | NWPB and LWV Presents: Vote Congressional District 4 | Season 2026 · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsOutside groups spent over $2 million on advertising benefiting McKinney during the primary
The Spokesman-Review, citing FEC filings, reported that outside groups spent more than $2 million on advertising benefiting McKinney during the primary, including nearly $780,000 from American Mission, nearly $507,000 from Defend American Jobs, and more than $700,000 from Washington Rising.
A.I. Groups Are Spending Millions to Influence the Midterms · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 17newsMcKinney told KUOW that farm labor should remain temporary and not a pathway to citizenship
In a KUOW interview, McKinney said farm labor should remain temporary rather than lead to citizenship: 'It is temporary work. It is not a pathway to citizenship.' She also said local communities should decide whether data centers meet local rules, and blamed Washington's high costs on state Democratic policies including the Climate Commitment Act.
Where candidates in WA’s 4th District stand on immigration, trade, and data centers · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 21newsWashington state certified the August 4 primary results
Washington State Nurses Association reported that primary results were certified on August 21, 2026, confirming McKinney and Duresky as the November 3 general election candidates.
Primary election outcomes and shaping the future of policy ... · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 4newsMcKinney leads 11-candidate primary with 34.80%; Duresky finishes second at 29.92%
In Washington's top-two primary, McKinney received 49,652 votes (34.80%) and Duresky received 42,681 (29.92%), advancing both to the November 3 general election. The primary results were later certified on August 21 according to the Washington State Nurses Association.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Nov. 3 ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jan 1endorsementPresident Trump endorsed Amanda McKinney; Turning Point Action followed days later
President Donald Trump endorsed McKinney in January 2026. Turning Point Action followed with its own endorsement days later. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders also endorsed her, according to the Spokesman-Review.
Republican Amanda McKinney, Democrat John Duresky face off in race to represent central WA in Congress · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Dec 19, 2025filingAmanda McKinney announced her candidacy for Washington's 4th Congressional District
McKinney announced her candidacy for the seat being vacated by Rep. Dan Newhouse the day after Washington Rising's payment to Turning Point USA's PAC.
Republican Amanda McKinney, Democrat John Duresky face off in race to represent central WA in Congress · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Yakima County Commissioner Kyle Curtis officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page among numerous county and local officials. mckinneyforwashington.com
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- Washington state official Curtis King officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- Washington state official Bryan Sandlin (retired) officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- Lincoln County Commissioner Rob Coffman officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page among numerous county and local officials. mckinneyforwashington.com
- Turning Point Action organizationEndorsed McKinney 'days' after Trump's January 2026 endorsement, per the Spokesman-Review. Exact date not provided. spokesman.com
- Kennewick Mayor Jason McShane officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page among numerous county and local officials. mckinneyforwashington.com
- House Speaker Mike Johnson officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- House Majority Whip Tom Emmer officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner (Washington) officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- Washington state official Mary Dye officialListed on McKinney's campaign endorsements page. mckinneyforwashington.com
- National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) FedPAC organizationEndorsed McKinney on September 18, 2026, per NFIB's announcement regarding pro-small business candidates for the U.S. House. nfib.com · Sep 18, 2026
- Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP) organizationEndorsed McKinney as part of a slate of ten congressional candidates in a release dated September 4, 2026. wagop.org · Sep 4, 2026
- President Donald Trump officialTrump posted his 'complete and total endorsement' of McKinney on Truth Social on January 6, 2026. The White House confirmed the endorsement; rival Jerrod Sessler disputed that he was not also endorsed. thenewstribune.com · Jan 6, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $982K
- Spent
- $766K
- Cash on hand
- $215K
As of Jul 15, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6WA04216(opens in a new tab)
Sources 16
- [1] Amanda McKinney(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] NWPB Vote | NWPB and LWV Presents: Vote Congressional District 4 | Season 2026(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [3] Republican Amanda McKinney, Democrat John Duresky face off in race to represent central WA in Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] Team 1 — McKinney for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [5] 4th District Q&A(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [6] Republican Amanda McKinney, Democrat John Duresky face off in race to represent central WA in Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [7] 4th District Q&A | Columbia Basin Herald(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [8] Primary election outcomes and shaping the future of policy ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [9] Amanda McKinney — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [10] Letter: Forget partisanship — vote for someone with integrity(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [11] Here's everything you need to know ahead of Nov. 3 ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [12] A.I. Groups Are Spending Millions to Influence the Midterms(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [13] Washington Small Businesses Endorse Pro-Small Business Candidates for Election to the U.S. House of Representatives(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
- [14] Where candidates in WA’s 4th District stand on immigration, trade, and data centers(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [15] WAGOP Endorses a Slate of Ten Congressional Candidates as Election Day Nears - Washington State Republican Party(opens in a new tab) Sep 4, 2026
- [16] White House weighs in on which Central WA candidate Trump really endorsed(opens in a new tab) Jul 14, 2026