Trump throws support behind challenger of Washington Republican who voted to impeach him

Former President Trump endorsed a challenger to Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) Friday, calling the incumbent House lawmaker a “weak and pathetic RINO” in a social media post.

Trump threw his support behind Jerrod Sessler, the U.S. Navy veteran and former NASCAR driver running against Newhouse to represent the 4th Congressional District of Washington.

“Jerrod Sessler is a fantastic candidate and will be a GREAT Congressman for Washington State’s 4th Congressional District,’ Trump said in a Truth Social post. “A Navy Veteran, Entrepreneur, Loving Father and Husband, Jerrod will fight hard every day to secure the Border, stand for the Rule of Law, strengthen our Military, take care of our Vets, Defend our Nation, and protect our always under siege Second Amendment.”

“He is running against a weak and pathetic RINO named Newhouse, who voted to, for no reason, Impeach me,” Trump continued. “Newhouse has to go! Jerrod Sessler is MAGA all the way, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement – He will never let you down!!!”

Newhouse was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. He was reelected in 2022, despite Trump’s endorsement of another candidate.

Sessler welcomed Trump’s endorsement in a post on the social platform X.

“#honored,” Sessler said in his post, which featured a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post backing him.

Newhouse floated the idea of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office after the Jan. 6 riot, according to the book “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future” by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns. He brought up the suggestion amid a virtual meeting of House Republicans following the Capitol riot, according to the book.

Newhouse’s fellow Washington Republican, then-Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, also suggested that top Republican figures ask Trump to resign in the same meeting.

“I think another way out that we should consider as a conference,” Herrera Beutler said, according to the book, “is asking our own leadership to join with the Republican leadership in the Senate and asking this president to resign.”

The Hill has reached out to Newhouse’s campaign.