Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez won one of the two spots in Washington state’s crowded all-party primary on August 5, 2026. The two-term incumbent faced attacks from both the left and right while defending a House seat in a district carried by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Gluesenkamp Perez will face Republican state senator John Braun, the GOP establishment’s preferred candidate, in the November general election. The primary also included progressive Democrat Brent Hennrich, who challenged Gluesenkamp Perez from the left, arguing she had moved too far from the Democratic party.

Washington’s primary system advances the top two finishers regardless of party affiliation. Since flipping the Republican-held seat in 2022, Gluesenkamp Perez has built support among moderates, independents, and some Republican voters. She often emphasizes her background as the co-owner of an auto repair shop and has broken with her party on key issues such as immigration, transgender rights, and Trump’s elections overhaul bill known as the Save Act.

This centrist approach has alienated some progressives within her party, who argue she sides too often with the president and Republicans. However, supporters contend her stance reflects the political realities of a district that consistently backs Trump, most recently by about three points. Notably, in 2024, Gluesenkamp Perez outperformed her party’s presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, by roughly seven points in the district.

The race remains a focal point in the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sources