McClure works for Congressman Newhouse

Having grown up on a cattle ranch in Nespelem, Rachel McClure now finds herself working for a congressman, striding two worlds connected by legislation with a large influence on agriculture. 

McClure grew up on her family's cattle ranch, near Nespelem, that has been in operation for over  100 years.

"My roots are deep there," she told The Star in an interview conducted over email. " I feel very fortunate to have grown up in such a beautiful place and with access to horses, fishing, and all the other benefits of living in a rural area. It wasn't until I had been in college for a while that I realized how unique an upbringing I had – not only on the ranch but also in a community with such a vibrant culture."

Having graduated from Lake Roosevelt in 2011, McClure went to Walla Walla Community College for an associate degree, then transferred to Washington State University to major in agriculture economics with minors in business and sustainable development. 

"I was an active member of the Post-Secondary Agriculture Students group (PAS) at Walla Walla and picked up the sport of rugby there, playing for the Whitman College club team," she said about her time in college. "I continued to play at WSU for their club team. The communities in Walla Walla and Pullman are awesome, and I enjoyed my time in both places."

In 2020, McClure landed her  job as North District representative for Congressman Dan Newhouse, a Republican first elected to represent Washington's 4th Congressional District in 2014.

When the position opened, McClure said, she was in between jobs when a friend told her about the opportunity.

"It's different than any other job I've had," McClure said, working out of Grand Coulee, "and I thought it would be a good challenge to try something out of my comfort zone. It has been very interesting; I learn something new frequently."

"Politics isn't a field I ever sought out to work in," she said. "My interest lies in agriculture. Legislation and regulations are influencing that sector more and more. ... This job allows me to connect with people across Central Washington while staying up-to-date on agriculture and natural resources issues that impact our region." 

Newhouse was, prior to being elected to Congress, the director for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

McClure said that working as a tour guide at the Grand Coulee Dam during college gave her "a good base for working with the public," which is a large part of her job.

"It is my job to act as a liaison for the Congressman throughout the North District, gathering information on the concerns of constituents and attending events and meetings on his behalf," she explained. "Within the Congressman's office, we also conduct casework for constituents who may need assistance dealing with a federal agency. I serve as the primary caseworker for agriculture, natural resources, and FEMA-related casework district-wide, and I help to gather paperwork or information for any constituents in the North District."

"As North District Representative, I primarily focus on Douglas and Okanogan Counties," McClure explained, but "since Grant and Adams Counties are nearer to me than the other district offices - and because I am very familiar with the area - I also regularly take meetings and conduct outreach there as well."

As the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, McClure will be able to travel more for her position. 

"Beginning a people job during a pandemic has been challenging," she said. "In normal times, I would have been sent to D.C. for training when I first took the position. However, with COVID restrictions my training was done in District. As our district opens up, I will be traveling more to attend meetings and meet with constituents."