Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to face Trump-backed John Braun in November
Washington State senate Minority Leader John Braun and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez have advanced too the November general election after both finishing with 39% of the vote in their primary race, which was part of Washington’s top-two primary system. Braun,a Navy veteran endorsed by former President Donald trump,is a key Republican candidate competing for a seat considered a important pickup possibility for the GOP,as it is labeled a Democratic toss-up by the Cook Political Report. Perez, a centrist Democrat serving her second term, has taken a moderate voting approach, including siding with Republicans on some legislation, which has led to criticism from the progressive wing and a challenge from a fellow Democrat. The race is closely watched as part of the larger fight for control in Congress. Washington’s election process involves all candidates on one ballot, with the top two advancing. Perez has strong support, winning nearly 52% of votes in 2024, and previously defeating Joe Kent in her campaigns. Braun maintains a Trump endorsement and aims to flip this Democratic-leaning seat.
Washington Senate Minority Leader John Braun will face Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) in November, after both advanced to the general election from the all-party primary.
Braun will fight for one of the top pickup opportunities for Republicans this cycle — the seat is labeled one of the four Democratic toss-up seats by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Gluesenkamp Perez led the field with 39% of the vote when the Associated Press called the race at 11:15 p.m. Braun also had 39%.
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The Washington Republican is a Navy veteran and received the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
“John is running against Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a true Radical Left Extremist with a Track Record that REEKS, and who does not represent the Values of Southwestern Washington,” the president wrote earlier this year.
Gluesenkamp Perez is serving her second term in Congress, as she has maintained her reputation as one of the most centrist members of the House Democratic caucus. She has joined Republicans in voting for a handful of measures, including some of the efforts to get the SAVE America Act, a voter ID bill, across the finish line.
In doing so, Gluesenkamp Perez has isolated herself from the growing left-wing base and drew a progressive challenge from Brent Hennrich. He has campaigned on Gluesenkamp Perez’s voting record, with a tab on his website tracking votes she sided with Republicans.
“During the 119th Congress, Democrats have faced ongoing challenges in effectively pushing back against the GOP’s agenda,” Hennrich’s website says. “A lack of party unity has often been cited as a key reason for these setbacks. The timeline below highlights votes where Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez decided to join Republicans on key pieces of legislation.”
Hennrich, who ran an underfunded campaign, secured 16% of the vote at the time the race was called.
UNDER THE RADAR PRIMARY RACES YOU SHOULD BE FOLLOWING THREE MONTHS UNTIL MIDTERM ELECTIONS
The Washington Democrat received 50.1% of the votes in the 2022 general election and nearly 52% in 2024, twice defeating Joe Kent, who briefly served in the Trump administration as director of the National Counterterrorism Center before his resignation in the wake of the Iran war.
Washington uses a top-two primary system, meaning all candidates appear on the same ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the November election. After fending off candidates from all sides of the political ideological spectrum, Gluesenkamp Perez and Braun prevailed.
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