Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez advanced from Washington’s 3rd Congressional District primary with roughly 39 percent of the vote, positioning her for a competitive November general election against Republican state Sen. John Braun, who received about 38.7 percent in the crowded primary field.
The primary results, announced early Tuesday evening, set up one of the nation’s most consequential House races. The Cook Political Report ranks Washington’s 3rd District as one of just 18 toss-up races nationwide, with both major parties viewing it as critical to their efforts to control Congress.
Braun, a Navy veteran and state Senate minority leader from Centralia, earned President Trump’s endorsement in April. He has campaigned on fiscal conservatism, increased border security, and expanding domestic manufacturing. Political observers note that Braun’s more moderate profile differs significantly from the hard-right candidates Gluesenkamp Perez defeated in her previous two races.
Gluesenkamp Perez, seeking a third term, first flipped the reliably Republican seat to Democratic control in 2022 in an upset victory, then held it again in 2024 against Republican Joe Kent. Her path to victory has centered on local issues such as manufacturing, timber, agriculture, and cost of living rather than national partisan politics.
The primary results offered mixed signals for both camps. While Gluesenkamp Perez and Braun finished nearly tied, the Democratic vote split between her and progressive challenger Brent Hennrich, who captured 15.3 percent. Combined, the two Democratic candidates received roughly 54 percent of the primary vote, suggesting a reservoir of Democratic support in the district despite some progressive dissatisfaction with the incumbent’s centrist record.
Ben Gaskins, a political science professor at Lewis and Clark College, noted that Hennrich’s showing exposed some vulnerability for Gluesenkamp Perez among her party’s base. “There’s some liberal, progressive dissatisfaction with her,” Gaskins said. “She’s taken a lot of high-profile positions that have angered the progressive base of the party.” However, he added that many of Hennrich’s voters are likely to support Gluesenkamp Perez in November, and that Braun’s performance under 40 percent was “not really good news for the Republican side.”
The 3rd District, which encompasses Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, and Skamania counties, along with part of southern Thurston County, is a true swing district. Its voters have backed Trump in each of the past three presidential elections while narrowly electing a moderate Democrat to Congress twice. Gluesenkamp Perez has built a national profile by frequently crossing party lines, supporting a defense policy bill with Republicans while voting against Trump’s military actions, and championing right-to-repair legislation as a signature bipartisan issue.
Fundraising disparities favored Gluesenkamp Perez heading into November, with her campaign reporting $6.5 million raised compared to Braun’s roughly $2 million as of July. Both candidates’ coffers are expected to grow substantially as the general election approaches, with outside spending likely to pour into this closely watched race. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Sources
- The Seattle Times — primary results, vote percentages, expert analysis from Ben Gaskins, candidate statements, district demographics, and Gluesenkamp Perez’s legislative record
- Oregon Public Broadcasting — primary results, candidate backgrounds, Cook Political Report toss-up ranking, and expert commentary on the race’s national significance
- The Guardian — Gluesenkamp Perez’s 2024 performance relative to her party’s presidential nominee
- Ballotpedia — Gluesenkamp Perez’s 2024 election result (51.7 percent to Kent’s 47.9 percent) and district composition
- Washington State Standard — Trump’s April endorsement of Braun
- The Hill — Trump endorsement of Braun and characterization of the race as a toss-up
