Washington 3rd District Primary Advances Perez and Braun to General Election

Incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state senator John Braun finished as the top two vote‑getters in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District primary held on Aug. 4, moving on to face each other in November. Perez led with roughly 38.9 % of the vote (54,132 votes) while Braun trailed closely with about 38.7 % (53,869 votes); progressive challenger Brent Hennrich placed a distant third.

The race, a key battleground for control of the U.S. House, is conducted under Washington’s top‑two primary system, which advances the two highest‑finishing candidates regardless of party. Perez, a two‑term representative known for moderate positions and a background as an auto‑repair shop co‑owner, has defended a district that voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Braun, the Senate minority leader, has secured endorsements from former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has criticized him as a career politician favoring wealthy interests. Both campaigns are now gearing up for the November general election, which could influence the balance of power in Congress.