Washington's 3rd District Race Tightens as Incumbent Faces GOP Challenger

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, known for her distinctive style and advocacy on issues such as school-lunch apple choices and sea-lion management, is locked in a tight race against state Sen. John Braun in Washington’s 3rd congressional district. A poll of 500 likely voters shows her trailing Braun by one point, a gap that falls within the poll’s margin of error, while 5% of respondents remain undecided. The district, which backed Donald Trump in each of his elections, also elected Gluesenkamp Perez twice, and 35% of voters identify as independents.

In the August open primary, Braun captured 39.7% of the vote, Gluesenkamp Perez 36.4%, and progressive Brent Hennrich 16.7%; analysts expect most Hennrich supporters to back the incumbent, though some may abstain due to her votes on Israel and the SAVE Act. Political scientists describe both candidates as focused on local concerns, with Braun’s emphasis on district-specific issues making him a formidable opponent. The outcome could hinge on Gluesenkamp Perez’s response to recent local events, such as the Longview paper-mill disaster and her sea-lion culling proposals.