1 candidate raised 84% of all donations so far in Eastern WA congressional race
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- Candidates raised nearly $625,000 between January and the end of March.
- Amanda McKinney led fundraising with about $524,000 in Q1 totals.
- Boehnke raised about $58,000, Duresky reported more than $50,000 (campaign says $63,700).
The race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse is heating up as candidates raised nearly $625,000 between January and the end of March.
The first-quarter filings are an early glimpse into the race’s standing as candidates begin their primary stumps and ready paperwork to formally register to run on May 4 during filing week.
The field is not set yet as last-minute candidates have just a couple more weeks to decide if they want to compete to represent Central Washington in Congress.
But there is a clear financial frontrunner in the race so far. Fueled by endorsements from President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, Amanda McKinney raised nearly $470,000, according to reports filed so far with the Federal Election Commission.
Add to that committee transfers and a $50,000 personal loan to her own campaign, the Yakima Republican closed out the first quarter hauling in a strong $524,000.
McKinney — the second-term Yakima County commissioner — told the Tri-City Herald that it’s a state record for the most raised by a first-time congressional candidate in their first quarter.
She enters the second quarter with more than $450,000 cash on hand, nearly $121,000 in debt to consultants, and with the endorsements of dozens of local elected officials across Central Washington.
“While others are still trying to figure out their campaigns, we are building a movement,” she said in a statement. “The people of Central Washington are stepping up because they know I will fight for them, defend our agricultural economy and stand firm on America First principles.”
Kennewick Republican Matt Boehnke finished the quarter with the second most in fundraising, about $58,000.
His campaign could not be reached for a comment on their fundraising efforts. The state senator entered this month with about $40,400 cash on hand, and no listed debt or loans.
West Richland Democrat John Duresky reported more than $50,000 raised, though a campaign spokesperson said they actually took in $63,700 from 559 donors.
Duresky most recently reported about $42,000 cash on hand, and no listed debt or loans. He is the only Democrat to annonce plans to seek Newhouse’s seat.
“We’ve earned endorsements from Democratic Party organizations across CD-04, signed the Take-BAC-Congress and Track AIPAC pledges, and built a dedicated volunteer operation that gives us real reach across the district,” Duresky’s campaign staff said in a statement. “We’re well positioned for the fight ahead.”
Prosser Republican Jerrod Sessler raised nearly $46,000 in the first quarter, but has a sizable $126,000 cash on hand due to some of the $200,000 he’s loaded his own campaign so far during this cycle
This is Sessler’s third campaign run for Congress. Since 2021, he’s loaned his election committee some $358,000. Together with other personal obligations, his campaign has taken on more than $480,000 in debt.
In a statement, the businessman, who’s received Trump’s endorsement in the past but lost to Newhouse, said he was “thankful to be leading the polls by double digits” and that he was “in a good financial position to win the election.”
That’s according to internal polling, Sessler says. There’s been no public polling conducted in the deep-red district so far.
One confidential survey of 400 likely voters by Fabrizio, Lee and Associates shows Duresky and McKinney advancing to the general election in a hypothetical primary, respectively earning 25% and 20% support. Sessler comes in a close third with 14%.
“... I will protect your wallets while delivering more investments back to Central Washington than all previous congressman combined,” he said.
Republican John C. Hughes raised just $1,305 and spent $1,205 this past quarter, leaving him with just $100 cash on hand. East Wenatchee independent Devin Poore reported that he has not raised or spent more than $5,000.
Jacek Kobiesa, another announced candidate, is running as an Independent. No campaign finance reports were available for Kobiesa this election cycle.
Washington’s 4th Congressional District stretches from the U.S.-Canada border down to Oregon. It encompasses the Tri-Cities, Yakima, the Yakama Indian Reservation, Moses Lake, East Wenatchee, Omak and Goldendale.
It’s also the state’s most conservative-leaning district. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump won the district over former Vice President Kamala Harris by nearly 21 percentage points.
The 2026 midterm election cycle includes the Aug. 4 top-two primary and Nov. 3 general election.
This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 12:35 PM with the headline "1 candidate raised 84% of all donations so far in Eastern WA congressional race."
