Republican Amanda McKinney and Democrat John Duresky are competing
The Candidates
John Duresky
Democrat
Residence: West Richland | Age: 58 | Previous office(s): None | Work: Retired Air Force major and project controls officer at Hanford Field Office after having worked as a bomber technician, commissioned cyberspace officer and IT project manager at U.S. Strategic Command | Education: A.A. in Applied Science, Avionics System Technology, Community College of the Air Force; B.S., Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Amanda McKinney
Republican
Residence: Yakima | Age: 48 | Previous office(s): Yakima County commissioner, 2019-present | Work: Yakima County commissioner; former mortgage banker and small business owner | Education: Bachelor's degrees, pre-law, with emphasis on criminal justice, and political science, with emphasis in constitutional law, Central Washington University
The Issues
What’s the most pressing issue for people in the 4th Congressional District that Congress has the power to solve?
John Duresky (D)
The most pressing issue for people in the 4th is affordability. I’ve been all over central Washington, this is our lived experience. People are making difficult decisions between medication or food, gas to get to work or medical premiums. We need to support labor unions, protect Social Security, and raise the minimum wage. We also need to rework our tax structure to benefit small businesses and working families instead of billionaires and corporations.
Amanda McKinney (R)
Central Washington families, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses are being crushed by inflationary housing costs, excessive federal spending, burdensome regulations, and failed energy policies. To help us here at home, Congress must restore fiscal responsibility by cutting wasteful and fraudulent spending, make the Trump tax cuts permanent, restore American energy dominance through expansion of oil, gas, hydro and nuclear energy sectors, make permanent the policies that President Trump used to secure our borders, and eliminate regulations that drive up the cost of producing food and doing business. Central Washington feeds America, and our producers deserve a representative who will fight to protect agriculture, defend and expand access to water, strengthen and grow our economy by leveraging innovation in the agriculture and energy sectors we specialize in, and put American families and workers first.
Has Congress ceded too much power to the executive branch?
John Duresky (D)
Absolutely, yes. When the Democrats retake Congress this fall, the first priority should be to reassert Congress’ authority over tariffs. I would support laws removing any emergency powers from the presidency. Oversight over the executive branch is not optional, it is the job representatives are sent to the Capitol to do. Congress also needs to immediately reestablish agency independence from the executive branch.
Amanda McKinney (R)
Yes, Congress has allowed unelected bureaucrats within federal agencies that act as an extension of the executive branch to exercise powers that belong to the people’s elected representatives. The Constitution clearly separates the powers of government, and Congress must reclaim its legislative authority. That means restoring enhanced congressional oversight, reducing the authority of the administrative state by placing weighted deference to local governments whose elected officials are closest to the people, ending rulemaking (defacto-lawmaking) by unelected agencies, and requiring Congress to take responsibility when implementation of major policy decision results in data-proven economic harm by halting or pivoting future funding. Congress should be nimble, results and cost-benefit driven. The federal government works best when it follows the Constitution, not when power is concentrated in Washington bureaucracies.
Do you support the U.S. war with Iran? Why or why not?
John Duresky (D)
I do NOT support the U.S. war with Iran. First, it is unconstitutional to conduct war without approval from Congress. War powers of any kind should go through Congress, every time. Second, this is not how the U.S. conducts war, we fight as a team, after building consensus, both from the American people and the international community. That was not done here, and the results are clear. Finally, this war has been a strategic failure. Instead of intimidating our enemies or accomplishing our goals, Iran demonstrated the ability to close the Strait of Hormuz to commerce, as well as their ability to continue their government after the American/Israeli decapitation strikes. Additionally, the war has directly harmed central Washington’s economy, with higher gas and fertilizer prices.
Amanda McKinney (R)
Yes, I support President Trump’s hardline stance that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon. Americans do not seek or support endless wars. We also want leaders with a backbone who will never hesitate to defend our nation, our servicemembers, or our allies. Iran has been the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism for over 45 years. I support President Trump’s Peace Through Strength doctrine by maintaining overwhelming military deterrence while avoiding unnecessary nation-building and prolonged foreign conflicts. Any use of military force should be narrowly focused on protecting American interests, eliminating terrorist threats, and keeping our troops safe.
What’s one change you would make to H.R. 1 (the “Big, Beautiful Bill”), if any?
John Duresky (D)
It is a challenge to name just one, but all the changes with regard to the Medicaid/Medicare and the Affordable Care Act need to change. I would strike the work requirements immediately, it will likely cost more to implement work requirements than they will save, and they will needlessly get more people off insurance, further damaging our healthcare system. Our rural hospitals here in central Washington are already at risk, losing patients from these cuts will not help.
Amanda McKinney (R)
I strongly support President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. It delivers meaningful tax relief for our families and small businesses, strengthens the farm safety net that protects our producers, and advances American energy dominance — including preserving critical tax credits for hydropower that powers so much of our irrigation and economy here in Central Washington. To build on these successes and deliver even more for our agriculture and energy-producing district, I would like to see us expand and strengthen the nuclear energy provisions. We should accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors and small modular reactors by fully leveraging the world-class expertise, infrastructure, and workforce right here at the Hanford Site. This would give our farms reliable, affordable, always-on power for irrigation pumping, processing, and cold storage; create thousands of family-wage jobs; and position central Washington as a leader in America’s energy future. Reliable domestic energy is foundational to keeping our ag producers competitive and our rural communities strong.
What has the Trump administration done right or wrong with immigration enforcement?
John Duresky (D)
The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement is immoral and un-American. The “worst of the worst” was always only a part of their plan. When they started retroactively changing immigrants’ status, those who were going through the process “the right way,” they showed that it was never about crime rates. I stand for a fast, fair and affordable path to legal status for all immigrants who have lived here for more than five years and have contributed to their communities. These are valued members of our society, and we are stronger because of the diversity.
Amanda McKinney (R)
President Trump restored the principle that America is a nation of laws. His administration secured our borders, enforced immigration laws, reduced illegal crossings, and took decisive action against cartels, traffickers, and criminal illegal aliens. Those policies made our communities safer and reduced the economic drain of mass illegal immigration on small communities. Congress must build on that success by permanently securing the border, finishing physical barriers and installing enhanced monitoring and detection systems, strengthen interior enforcement, scale-up the judicial system necessary for mass deportations, end monetary incentives for illegal immigration, and modernize our legal immigration process for those who follow the law, including reforms that help agriculture producers meet legitimate workforce needs.
What’s one action Congress should take that would help Washington farmers?
John Duresky (D)
Reduce the tariffs and end the war in Iran. Our farmers are overburdened by simultaneous threats from increased costs for fuel and fertilizer to disappearing markets. All brought on by illegal wars, both trade and ground, that were initiated without the input of Congress or the people. There’s no excuse for standing by while this administration destroyed economies and communities. We need adults in the room who aren’t afraid to do what’s right, and I will stand up for central Washington’s farmers and families. At 19 years old I swore an oath to the constitution and this country, and my oath did not end when I retired.
Amanda McKinney (R)
The Endangered Species Act was intended to protect truly at-risk wildlife, not to serve as a weapon against American farmers and ranchers. In Central Washington, ESA-driven restrictions on water, pesticides, and land use have added crushing regulatory costs and uncertainty that are driving family farms out of business. Congress should amend the ESA to require a full economic impact analysis on agriculture and rural communities before any new listing or critical habitat decision, reform and limit distinct population limits and make delisting easier and automatic. We also need streamlined consultation timelines for everyday farming activities and better coordination across agencies. Our producers are the very best stewards because their lives and livelihoods depend on it. Amending the ESA will also drive down housing and development costs for everyone. Central Washington is feeding America — the law should recognize that balance instead of punishing it.
What additional regulations on data centers do you support, if any, and why?
John Duresky (D)
The future is digital and there needs to be a place for data centers. However, data centers shouldn’t place burdens on the local communities or compete for vital resources. During my 24 years in the Air Force as an IT and cybersecurity officer, I was tasked with understanding and overseeing these types of systems. We don’t yet know what effects these data centers will have on future technology and the subsequent effects on society, but I have first hand experience with the infrastructure and hardware. And as an avid outdoorsman and father, I have a vested interest in seeing that our current actions don’t negatively impact future generations.
Amanda McKinney (R)
America must lead the world in artificial intelligence and advanced technology, not over-regulate innovation and risk major advancements occurring overseas. Existing laws protecting public safety, national intelligence, liability and critical infrastructure should be enforced. Our priority should be on expanding reliable on-site energy generation that does not increase costs to locals, modernizing infrastructure that also benefits local communities, and allowing innovation to flourish by requiring partnerships with local communities to formulate agreed upon community benefits as perceived by and articulated by the local community. Winning the AI race is a matter of extreme importance to national security.
Do you support IL26-638, the initiative on the Washington state ballot this year that would ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports?
John Duresky (D)
No. I believe that everyone has the right to live their lives as their most authentic selves free from persecution or retribution —as written in the constitution. This is an issue that was created to divide people. Plain and simple. It doesn’t solve anything, and it doesn’t help anyone. I swore an oath to and fought for, the constitution. And that grants us all the freedom of expression and to live a life.
Amanda McKinney (R)
Yes. Girls deserve fair competition, equal opportunity, and safe environments. Title IX was created to protect opportunities for women and girls. Those protections should be preserved based on biological sex. Allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports undermines decades of progress for female athletes and denies biological reality. I have been a proud partner with Let’s Go Washington for many years and worked to help qualify the initiative to appear on the November ballot. I am a fierce purveyor of common sense. Men are men. Women are Women. There are two sexes. Acknowledging these facts upholds fairness, safety, and equal opportunity.
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