State Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, on Feb. 21, will hold his first town hall of the 2026 legislative session and since declaring his run for the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The town hall meeting will be from 10 to 11 a.m. in Room SWL 121 at Columbia Basin College, according to a release.  

“For me, there’s no substitute for hearing directly from the people I represent,” he said in a statement. “Your input helps guide how I vote, what legislation I prioritize, and how I advocate for the 8th Legislative District in Olympia.” 

Boehnke joined a crowded field of primarily Republicans vying to represent the 4th Congressional district. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, has said he will not seek re-election as his current term expires at the end of 2026. 

Other declared candidates for Newhouse’s seat include Republican Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County commissioner; Republican Jerrod Sessler, a business owner, who has run for the seat twice; Democrat John Duresky, a retired Air Force officer who also worked at the Hanford nuclear cleanup site; and independent Devin Poore, a tech consultant.