Perez and Braun Advance to Washington Third District General Election

Democratic U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican State Senator John Braun have advanced to the November general election for Washington’s Third Congressional District. Following the August 4 primary conducted under Washington’s Top Two system, the Associated Press projected both candidates to secure the top spots after outperforming seven other contenders.

Preliminary results indicate a razor-thin margin between the two frontrunners. Perez holds a narrow lead with 39.1% of the vote compared to Braun's 38.5%, with some reports suggesting the gap is as small as 300 votes. The Cook Political Report classifies the race as a toss-up, identifying it as a key contest for control of the House of Representatives in 2027.

Perez, a moderate member of the Blue Dog Caucus and a two-term incumbent, has faced criticism from progressive Democrats over her voting record regarding student loans and military aid to Israel. Braun, a Navy veteran and manufacturer, received an endorsement from Donald Trump in April. However, Braun has publicly diverged from Trump on the 2020 election results and the negative impact of sweeping tariffs on manufacturing businesses. His campaign focuses on homelessness, border enforcement, and affordability to attract independent voters.