Gluesenkamp Perez wins Washington's 3rd District, sealing Democratic House majority

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Washington Democrat, is projected to hold her House seat, defeating Republican John Braun in the race for Washington's 3rd Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ ¹. She stood at about 55 percent of the vote to Braun's 44 percent with 81 percent of ballots counted, the outlet reported ¹.

The call closes out a key, nationally watched battleground race of the midterms. Democrats flipped both chambers of Congress, according to The Associated Press, and will take the House majority when the next Congress is sworn in in January ².

A Trump district, held

The 3rd District backed President Trump in 2024, according to The Downballot, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the race as leaning Democratic ¹. OPB reported the victory is the Democrats' third electoral win in a district that backed Trump in each of his three presidential contests ².

Gluesenkamp Perez, co-owner of an auto repair shop, was first elected in 2022, when she defeated Republican Joe Kent and flipped the seat held by former Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler ¹. She beat Kent by 2,629 votes in 2022 and by 16,123 votes in 2024, OPB reported ².

Trump endorsed Braun, a Navy veteran and owner of the vehicle manufacturer Braun Northwest, in April, framing Gluesenkamp Perez as an extremist opposed to his agenda ¹. Braun is minority leader in the state Senate and has served in the Washington Legislature since 2013, OPB reported ².

Speaking to supporters Tuesday night in Vancouver, Gluesenkamp Perez said voters had lost faith in Congress and called for an "anti-corruption package," mentioning ethics standards and banning stock trading ².

I have talked to thousands of voters over this year, and they have told me that they have lost faith in Congress.

Braun told reporters at his own event in Chehalis on Tuesday night that he would wait for more ballots to be counted before conceding ².

It was never about the president’s endorsement.

What happens next

Democrats will control the House when the new Congress convenes in January ². Gluesenkamp Perez, a moderate who has crossed the aisle to support legislation opposed by her party, has been scrutinized by fellow Democrats for those votes ¹.

That matters because the size of the Democratic margin will shape how much room lawmakers like Gluesenkamp Perez have to break with their party on spending, health care and oversight fights. Her win in a Trump-carried district also gives her a strong hand in those negotiations.

The Record

1. Nov 8, 2022Gluesenkamp Perez first won the seat, defeating Republican Joe Kent and flipping a district held by former Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler ¹.
2. Apr 1, 2026Trump endorsed Braun against Gluesenkamp Perez in April, calling her an extremist ¹.
3. Nov 3, 2026Gluesenkamp Perez told supporters in Vancouver she was confident she would carry the seat ².
4. Nov 5, 2026Decision Desk HQ projected Gluesenkamp Perez the winner with about 55 percent to Braun's 44 percent and 81 percent reporting ¹.

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<h2>Gluesenkamp Perez wins Washington&#39;s 3rd District, sealing Democratic House majority</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/gluesenkamp-perez-wins-washington-s-3rd-district-sealing-democratic-house-majority">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Washington Democrat, is projected to hold her House seat, defeating Republican John Braun in the race for Washington&#39;s 3rd Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ . She stood at about 55 percent of the vote to Braun&#39;s 44 percent with 81 percent of ballots counted, the outlet reported .</p> <p>The call closes out a key, nationally watched battleground race of the midterms. Democrats flipped both chambers of Congress, according to The Associated Press, and will take the House majority when the next Congress is sworn in in January .</p> <h2>A Trump district, held</h2> <p>The 3rd District backed President Trump in 2024, according to The Downballot, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the race as leaning Democratic . OPB reported the victory is the Democrats&#39; third electoral win in a district that backed Trump in each of his three presidential contests .</p> <p>Gluesenkamp Perez, co-owner of an auto repair shop, was first elected in 2022, when she defeated Republican Joe Kent and flipped the seat held by former Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler . She beat Kent by 2,629 votes in 2022 and by 16,123 votes in 2024, OPB reported .</p> <p>Trump endorsed Braun, a Navy veteran and owner of the vehicle manufacturer Braun Northwest, in April, framing Gluesenkamp Perez as an extremist opposed to his agenda . Braun is minority leader in the state Senate and has served in the Washington Legislature since 2013, OPB reported .</p> <p>Speaking to supporters Tuesday night in Vancouver, Gluesenkamp Perez said voters had lost faith in Congress and called for an &quot;anti-corruption package,&quot; mentioning ethics standards and banning stock trading .</p> <blockquote><p>I have talked to thousands of voters over this year, and they have told me that they have lost faith in Congress.</p><p>&mdash; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, U.S. representative, D-Wash.</p></blockquote> <p>Braun told reporters at his own event in Chehalis on Tuesday night that he would wait for more ballots to be counted before conceding .</p> <blockquote><p>It was never about the president’s endorsement.</p><p>&mdash; John Braun, Washington state senator, R</p></blockquote> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Democrats will control the House when the new Congress convenes in January . Gluesenkamp Perez, a moderate who has crossed the aisle to support legislation opposed by her party, has been scrutinized by fellow Democrats for those votes .</p> <p>That matters because the size of the Democratic margin will shape how much room lawmakers like Gluesenkamp Perez have to break with their party on spending, health care and oversight fights. Her win in a Trump-carried district also gives her a strong hand in those negotiations.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/gluesenkamp-perez-wins-washington-s-3rd-district-sealing-democratic-house-majority">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/gluesenkamp-perez-wins-washington-s-3rd-district-sealing-democratic-house-majority.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Gluesenkamp Perez holds on to Washington House seat” (2026-11-05). thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6142047-gluesenkamp-perez-defe
2. opb, “Gluesenkamp Perez wins in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District as Democrats take the House - OPB” (2026-11-04). opb.org/article/2026/11/03/southwest-washington-3rd-congress

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