Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican State Senator John Braun are set to compete in the general election for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, according to projections from CBS News.
Washington’s election system employs nonpartisan primaries, allowing the two candidates with the highest vote counts to move forward to the November ballot. Gluesenkamp Perez and Braun emerged successful from a field of nine candidates.
This election is among the most closely monitored House races in this election cycle and will play a significant role in determining control of the House of Representatives in the coming year. Notably, this district was one of 13 that supported President Trump in the 2020 election while also electing a Democrat to the House.
The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics categorizes the race as leaning Democratic, while the Cook Political Report describes it as a toss-up.
Since 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez has been the district’s representative, having successfully defeated far-right candidate Joe Kent on two occasions. Kent previously served as a counterterrorism chief under Trump before resigning in protest against the Iran war.
The two-term congresswoman has faced criticism from the more progressive members of her party due to her votes, which have resonated with constituents in the rural district. She opposed President Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness, supported military aid to Israel, and backed an earlier iteration of Trump’s voting regulations bill, known today as the SAVE America Act.
In April, Trump endorsed Braun, labeling Gluesenkamp Perez as “a true radical left extremist.”
Braun, a veteran of the Navy and head of an emergency vehicle manufacturing company, has held various leadership positions since his election to the state Senate in 2012.
In a recent interview with local news outlet KGW, Braun expressed disagreement with Trump’s view on the 2020 election outcome, affirming that Biden was the legitimate winner. “That’s correct,” he confirmed when asked to clarify Biden’s victory.
Additionally, Braun voiced his concerns regarding Trump’s broad tariffs, stating that their indiscriminate application could be detrimental, including to his own manufacturing enterprise. He acknowledged that while tariffs can be useful in certain contexts, such as addressing threats from China and Russia, their overall usage requires careful consideration.
