Amanda McKinney

McKinney was first elected to the Yakima County Board of Commissioners in 2020 and currently serves on it. MyNorthwest reported that she worked in mortgage banking for more than two decades before entering politics.[1][2][5] As commissioner she has focused on water and agriculture, including support for the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, a county water bank built through senior water rights acquisition, and floodplain restoration projects. The Yakima Herald also reports that she opposed prolonged COVID-19 shutdowns and vaccine mandates and has supported law enforcement, emergency communications, and efforts to address fentanyl and violent crime.[1] In 2024 she appeared in a television ad supporting Rep. Dan Newhouse's reelection against Jerrod Sessler, a Trump-endorsed Republican challenger.[6]

McKinney announced her congressional campaign days after Newhouse said he would not seek reelection, leaving the seat open for the first time in about a decade. Her county commission seat (Position 1) also drew other candidates' filings for 2026.[1][7] She describes herself as an America First Republican aligned with President Trump on border security, the Second Amendment, and eliminating DEI programs. Trump endorsed her campaign on January 6, 2026, as did House Speaker Mike Johnson.[1][6] She led the August 4 top-two primary with 34.9%, and her stated priorities included defending faith, family, agriculture, and rural Washington.[1][2] She won the November 3, 2026 general election with 53.9% of the vote to John Duresky's 45.9%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]