“The members of Congress work for you. You are the taxpayer. You pay for them to represent you in Washington, D.C., and they need to understand that they are accountable to the constituents that they represent.”

— AARP Advocacy Director for Washington Cathy MacCaul

RICHLAND — With Washington's 4th Congressional District preparing to elect a new representative for the first time in more than a decade, AARP Washington leaders said their goal in hosting Wednesday’s candidate forum was simple: give voters the information they need to make informed decisions.

The forum, organized by American Association of Retired Persons Washington, the League of Women Voters and Northwest Public Broadcasting, brought Republican candidate Amanda McKinney and Democratic candidate John Duresky together to discuss issues ranging from affordability and healthcare to Social Security and caregiving.

“We're really focused on empowering voters 50-plus, but the general population as well, with trusted information so that they can make informed decisions,” said Cathy MacCaul, advocacy director for AARP Washington.

MacCaul said affordability, Social Security and caregiving were among the organization's top priorities when developing questions for the candidates.

Those concerns align with what AARP is hearing from its members. A September 2026 AARP poll found that 94% of adults age 50 and older have seen prices rise in recent months, with many cutting back on discretionary spending and even essentials such as groceries. The organization also found that 90% of voters age 50 and older are more likely to support candidates who will protect Social Security.

“The issues discussed today are not partisan issues. They're kitchen-table issues that affect people and families every day,” MacCaul said.

She said both candidates acknowledged the importance of Social Security during the debate and recognized the program's role in helping Americans retire with financial security.

“It's a promise made, and it's a promise that they want to keep,” MacCaul said.

Another major focus for AARP was caregiving, an issue MacCaul said affects millions of Americans, including roughly 1.3 million family caregivers in Washington state.

Many caregivers, she said, are part of the so-called "sandwich generation," balancing the responsibility of raising children while also caring for aging parents or relatives. In many cases, caregivers reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely, creating financial challenges for themselves and their families.

“We know that family caregivers really are the backbone of our long-term care system,” MacCaul said.

MacCaul said forums such as Wednesday’s event help voters cut through political rhetoric and hear directly from candidates about their priorities.

“The members of Congress work for you,” she said. “You are the taxpayer. You pay for them to represent you in Washington, D.C., and they need to understand that they are accountable to the constituents that they represent.”

She noted that voters age 50 and older accounted for more than 55% of the electorate in the district during the 2024 election, making them a significant voting bloc heading into November.

The influence of older voters was also evident in Grant County's 2026 primary election. According to Grant County Elections Administrator Rebecca Pettingill, voters 65 and older returned 59% of ballots issued to that age group, the highest participation rate of any age category. Voters ages 55 to 64 returned 42.76% of ballots, while voters ages 45 to 54 returned 32.8%. Turnout declined among younger voters, with residents ages 35 to 44 returning 22.4% of ballots and voters ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 returning 14.2% and 14%, respectively. 

"The older (the voter), the higher the return rate was," Pettingill said.

Still, MacCaul said issues such as Social Security, healthcare and affordability are not concerns exclusive to older voters.

“These issues are not just for 50 and older,” she said. “Future generations and younger generations need to think about these issues because we're all paying into them and we're all planning for our futures.”

MacCaul said she hopes voters come away from the debate with a better understanding of where the candidates stand and feel encouraged to continue researching the issues before casting their ballots.

“Your vote is very personal,” she said. “Each person is going to have a different issue that they're really concerned about. Our hope is that by hearing directly from the candidates, voters can make the decision that's best for them and their families.”

To watch the full forum, visit bit.ly/4rthCongressionalForum.