by Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard
August 15, 2024
It’s been clear for several days that MAGA Republican Jerrod Sessler and Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse would face each other in November after they secured the top spots in the Aug. 6 primary.
What’s been unknown is what the other Republican in the primary with former President Donald Trump’s endorsement would do after finishing third in the contest for the 4th Congressional District seat in central Washington.
On Wednesday, in her first public statement since ballot counting began, Tiffany Smiley thanked supporters but made no mention of Sessler who garnered 33% of the vote, Newhouse is second with 23.5% followed by Smiley with 19%. GOP candidate Tiffany Smiley finished third in the Aug. 6 primary in the 4th Congressional District.
“I will never stop fighting for those who recognize the need to promote and support conservative values,” she said. “We will never stop fighting for you, our state and our country.”
Those familiar with the congressional contest said the two Republicans haven’t spoken and she’s not endorsed him.
Smiley’s entry into the race in May reportedly didn’t sit well with Sessler.
Until then, he had campaigned for months as the only Republican challenger to Newhouse. Plus he had the endorsements of the state Republican Party and former President Donald Trump. Smiley, who lost her bid for U.S. Senate in 2022, altered the race dynamics and, in the final days of the primary, snagged Trump’s endorsement too.
Sessler initially issued a statement Wednesday implying Smiley was on board with his campaign.
“I am very thankful for the support and encouragement from Tiffany Smiley,” he said.
He struck a different tone in an updated version put out hours later.
“I have a great deal of respect for Tiffany Smiley. She fought a hard race and was a strong competitor,” he said. “Tiffany and I are both fighting for the same reasons, so as I move on to the general, I am confident that I have her support against Dan Newhouse.”
“I look forward to her input as we move forward to ensure that Washington’s 4th district is represented by the only Trump-endorsed America First candidate in the race,” Sessler wrote.
Newhouse is trying to keep the House seat he’s held since 2015.
He’s one of 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 and one of only two still serving in the chamber. That made him a target for the former president.
Sessler is a Navy veteran and businessman. He ran for the seat two years ago but did not advance out of the primary.
The 4th district covers much of central Washington, from the Canadian border to Oregon, including the Yakima Valley, the Yakama Indian Reservation, the Tri-Cities, Moses Lake and parts of the North Cascades and the Colville Reservation.
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