U.S. House, Washington 4th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Washington's 4th Congressional District?
Amanda McKinney has the strongest record in Washington's 4th Congressional District. Amanda McKinney scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of John Duresky at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Amanda McKinney's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. John Duresky's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
John Duresky
53 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Amanda McKinney
56 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
John Duresky
- On the record2026-09-30
Debated Republican Amanda McKinney on Sept. 30, 2026 at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
- Credit2026-01
Retired from the Air Force as a major after 24 years, and then worked as a project control officer at the Department of Energy's Hanford site.
Sources: Yakima Herald-Republic, Jan. 29, 2026, Tri-City Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 1, 2026
Amanda McKinney
- On the record2026-09-30
Debated Democrat John Duresky on Sept. 30, 2026 at Washington State University Tri-Cities in a forum hosted by AARP Washington, the League of Women Voters and Northwest Public Broadcasting.
- On the record2025-09
Wrote a Yakima Health District letter calling unlicensed food vendors part of a criminal enterprise, copied to ICE; the health board voted unanimously in September 2025 to retract it.
- On the record2022-10
Settled two 2021 lawsuits alleging Open Public Meetings Act violations for $60,000 paid by Yakima County, with no admission of liability and required open meetings training; the cases were dismissed Oct. 13, 2022.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
John Duresky. A 2026 candidate financial disclosure is on file with the House Clerk (filed Sept. 8, 2026) and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082804, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Amanda McKinney. A 2026 candidate financial disclosure is on file with the House Clerk (filed July 3, 2026) and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10073304, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
John Duresky. No public record found.
Amanda McKinney. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
John Duresky. Took part in the Sept. 30, 2026 general election debate at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
Amanda McKinney. Took part in the Sept. 30, 2026 general election debate at Washington State University Tri-Cities hosted by AARP Washington, the League of Women Voters and Northwest Public Broadcasting.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
John Duresky. Served 24 years in the Air Force, retiring as a major, then worked as a civil servant at the Hanford site. No conduct finding found.
Amanda McKinney. In her second term as a Yakima County commissioner, after a career in mortgage banking. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found; a 2021 open meetings lawsuit was settled in 2022 without an admission of liability.
Sources: Tri-City Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 1, 2026, Yakima Herald-Republic, Oct. 2022
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
John Duresky. Served in the Air Force and retired as a major, then in federal civil service at the Department of Energy's Hanford site. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: Yakima Herald-Republic, Jan. 29, 2026, Tri-City Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 1, 2026
Amanda McKinney. Holds sworn office as a Yakima County commissioner, now in her second term. No misuse-of-office finding or recorded act on certified results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
John Duresky. Air Force career of 24 years as an avionics technician and later cyberspace officer, retiring as a major, then project control officer at the Hanford site. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Yakima Herald-Republic, Jan. 29, 2026, Campaign site, About
Amanda McKinney. Yakima County commissioner in her second term; previously a licensed mortgage broker; serves on Washington State Association of Counties and National Association of Counties boards.
Sources: Yakima Herald-Republic, Oct. 2022, Tri-City Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 1, 2026, Campaign site, About
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
John Duresky. Publishes an issues page on agriculture, tariffs, water rights, health care and jobs, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Amanda McKinney. States positions on immigration enforcement, temporary farm labor, data center permitting, water storage and state energy policy, mostly in general terms.
Sources: KUOW, Sept. 17, 2026, Campaign site, About
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
John Duresky. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025, publishes an issues page and took part in the general election debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Duresky, Campaign site, Issues, Tri-City Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 1, 2026
Amanda McKinney. Took part in the general election debate and publishes a campaign biography explaining her positions. Ballotpedia shows no completed survey.
Sources: Tri-City Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 1, 2026, Campaign site, About, Ballotpedia, Amanda McKinney
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
John Duresky. Lives in West Richland. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 94 percent of itemized individual contributions from Washington.
Sources: Yakima Herald-Republic, Jan. 29, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Amanda McKinney. Lives in Yakima and serves as a Yakima County commissioner, with a record of local volunteer service. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 72 percent of itemized individual contributions from Washington.
Sources: Yakima Herald-Republic, Oct. 2022, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
John Duresky. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Amanda McKinney. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. Serves on the three-member Yakima County board of commissioners.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
John Duresky. No public record found.
Amanda McKinney. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
John Duresky. No public record found.
Amanda McKinney. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
John Duresky. No public record found.
Amanda McKinney. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
John Duresky. No public record found.
Amanda McKinney. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
John Duresky. No public record found.
Amanda McKinney. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Washington's 4th Congressional District?
Amanda McKinney has the strongest record in Washington's 4th Congressional District. Amanda McKinney scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of John Duresky at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Amanda McKinney's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. John Duresky's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Washington's 4th Congressional District in 2026?
John Duresky (Democratic), Amanda McKinney (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is John Duresky a good candidate for Congress?
John Duresky scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Amanda McKinney a good candidate for Congress?
Amanda McKinney scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Washington race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Washington 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.