AP Calls McKinney Winner Over Duresky in Washington’s 4th

Central Washington will keep a Republican in the U.S. House after the Associated Press on Thursday evening projected Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney the winner over Democrat John Duresky in the 4th Congressional District, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported.

Unofficial returns cited by the Herald from the Washington secretary of state’s website showed McKinney with 101,701 votes (54.6%) to Duresky’s 84,129 (45.2%). OPB listed McKinney as the winner at 54.7% to 45.1% with about 74% of the expected vote counted. NBC News results showed the same 54.7%–45.1% split on 184,915 votes with about 73.9% in, using Associated Press data.

Outstanding ballots still arriving

Developing: Results remain unofficial. The Herald, citing the secretary of state, said Yakima County still had an estimated 13,800 ballots left to count after 54,603 had been tabulated Thursday; counties will keep processing mail and late-arriving ballots in the days ahead.

McKinney led in all eight counties that make up the district, with the closest margins in Yakima and Franklin counties, the Herald reported. The district runs from the Canadian border to the Oregon line and includes Douglas, Okanogan, Grant, Yakima, Benton and Klickitat counties plus parts of Adams and Franklin counties.

Open seat after Newhouse’s exit

Incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse of Sunnyside did not seek re-election. McKinney, a Yakima County commissioner endorsed by President Donald Trump, topped a crowded Republican primary field. Duresky, a retired Air Force major from West Richland, congratulated McKinney on Thursday and said he hoped she would be an accessible representative for all of Central Washington, according to a statement published by the Herald. McKinney said on social media Thursday evening that she was humbled by the trust voters placed in her. See also Kennedy’s hold in Utah’s 4th.

Sources: Yakima Herald-Republic, OPB, NBC News, Associated Press