Smiley responds after lackluster Central WA congressional primary. ‘Just the beginning’

Tiffany Smiley acknowledged her primary loss Wednesday in a statement to supporters, vowing to “never stop fighting” for conservatives and hinting that her short time in politics might not be over just yet.

“We will never stop fighting for you, our state and our country. This is just the beginning. God help us and God bless the United States of America,” she wrote.

Smiley spent 93 days campaigning in Washington’s Fourth Congressional District in an fast-and-furious attempt to oust U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse for his 2021 impeachment vote against former President Donald Trump.

It was a race that drew national attention, with many wondering if Newhouse — one of only two pro-impeachment Republicans left in the House — would survive a more concentrated effort by the MAGA wing of the party to oust him.

Newhouse, a farmer from Sunnyside, ultimately survived the state’s top-two primary and will move on to the general election with Jerrod Sessler, a Trump-aligned candidate and retired regional circuit NASCAR driver.

The Pasco veterans advocate hasn’t endorsed either candidate and it’s unclear at this point if she will. The Tri-City Herald reached out to request an interview but has not heard back yet.

“It has been amazing traveling across the Fourth Congressional District, where I was born and raised, sharing my vision for a better future,” Smiley wrote. “I got into this race to break through the status quo that has plagued our state for far too long and to stand up for the millions who desire a voice for the good of this state.”

Newhouse statement

Newhouse, who beat Smiley by 4 percentage points in the primary, also released his first statement this week, acknowledging the “tremendous” primary election support he received.

“Your votes, contributions and unwavering belief in our campaign have made all the difference,” his campaign wrote on a Monday post to Twitter/X . “As we move towards the general election, I remain committed to fighting for the interests of Central Washington.”

A small number of ballots are still being tallied a week after the Aug. 6 primary. As of Wednesday morning, more than 145,000 ballots had been counted in the Central Washington congressional race.

Sessler has a commanding lead with 33% of the vote, and Newhouse trails with 23%. Smiley is in a close third with 19%, but it’s not possible for her to catch up.

Democrats could have been competitive this cycle had they coalesced behind a single candidate, but instead split the 23% they received among three candidates.

Mary Baechler, a businesswoman from Zillah, received nearly 15%, while Birdie Jane Muchlinski, a Tri-Cities photographer, had 6% and Barry Knowles, a Yakima licensed home inspector, eked out 2%.

Bitter ad campaign

Smiley’s campaign was defined by sharp jabs at her Republican opponents, large fundraising hauls spent on numerous TV attack ads, and the pitch that she was the only candidate who could work alongside Trump, the Republican Party’s nominee for president this year.

Some argue that Smiley miscalculated her support in the Fourth Congressional District , the state’s most conservative-voting district. Advertisements backed by her campaign tried painting Newhouse as a supporter of immigration amnesty , and labeled Sessler a “tax-hiking vegan.”

Some Smiley ads focused on public safety and affordability, but the majority were jabs taken at her opponents. Newhouse fired back, calling her a “two-faced, debt-ridden, double dealer in disguise.”

Sessler called Smiley’s characterizing “down-right ridiculous.”

Sessler previously ran to oust Newhouse in 2022, but failed to make it past the primary after he and five other Republicans split the ticket. He spent the next two years building up a grassroots coalition of Republican supporters eager to see Newhouse go.

His long-term strategy appears to have fared well in the primary. Sessler leads in all eight counties that make up the district: Benton, Franklin, Yakima, Okanogan, Douglas, Grant, Adams and Klickitat.

Newhouse will likely have to rely on the lion’s share of Democratic and independent voters to save him in the general election. Conversely, Sessler himself also will need to convert many moderate Republicans if he wants a shot at being Central Washington’s next congressman.

Both Smiley and Sessler were endorsed by Trump in the primary. Sessler earned the former president’s backing in April , about a month before Smiley formally declared her intention to run.

Then, a few days before ballots were due to be turned in, Trump shook things up and gave a “complete and total” co-endorsement to both MAGA candidates.

Washington’s Fourth Congressional District stretches from the U.S.-Canada border down to the Columbia River, and includes the Tri-Cities, Omak, East Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Yakima and the Yakama Indian Reservation.