In the most competitive congressional race in Washington state, incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez led state Sen. John Braun by 11 percentage points after Tuesday’s voting. Ballot counting in the state’s 3rd Congressional District in southwest Washington was still underway, so final results were expected in a few days.
National media outlets projected that Democrats would regain control of the House and Senate. The outcome in the 3rd District could affect the size of the House majority and Congress’s ability to oversee the actions of the Donald Trump administration. For Washington state, it could also mean greater influence over the House agenda: Pramila Jayapal could lead the Subcommittee on Immigration, for example, while Adam Smith could chair the House Armed Services Committee.
The district, which borders Oregon and the Pacific Ocean and stretches east to the Cascade Mountains, has long been considered a political battleground. Its residents have backed Trump in all three of his presidential campaigns, while also sending a Democratic candidate to Congress twice. This split reflects the fact that voters may choose candidates for federal office differently, weighing their reputations, local ties and positions on specific issues. As a result, neither party can take the district for granted.
More than $18 million in outside spending went into the race, and much of the choice came down to who should set the course for Congress—the Republicans or the Democrats. The local economy also played a prominent role in the campaign. Manufacturing and the timber industry provide jobs and income, making economic development, infrastructure and access to natural resources important to residents. Disputes over logging, environmental protection and the regulation of natural-resource use shape differing views on the role of government and environmental measures.
Both candidates sought to emphasize their independence and focus on local issues: manufacturing, the timber industry, skilled labor and the use of natural resources. Gluesenkamp Perez supported the right of owners to repair their own equipment and advocated bringing vocational workshops back to schools. Braun, a Navy veteran and head of a company that makes emergency vehicles, spoke about lowering taxes and energy costs. Late in the campaign, Perez more often criticized Trump and spending by a group supporting him, while Braun accused her of failing to deliver legislative results and urged voters to keep the Republican majority.
Perez won the district in 2022, defeating Republican Joe Kent, and beat him again in 2024, widening her margin. Her moderate, unconventional style—including a willingness to work across party lines—made the district a test of whether a Democrat like her could maintain support in a predominantly Republican area. Braun offered a more traditional conservative approach, and the race’s result was expected to show which option resonated more with voters.
Based on: Gluesenkamp Perez leads in WA race, Democrats poised to flip U.S. House