Gluesenkamp Perez wins rematch against Republican Joe Kent
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U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., at a news conference in March. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat who flipped Washington's 3rd Congressional District blue in an upset victory two years ago, has won a second term, per the Associated Press.
Why it matters: Gluesenkamp Perez's victory over Joe Kent, a far-right conservative backed by President-elect Trump, has been considered crucial in helping decide which party will control the U.S. House.
The big picture: Winning the House is Democrats' last hope to block a Republican trifecta in D.C., now that the GOP has secured a Senate majority and Trump will be inaugurated in January.
State of play: The rematch between Gluesenkamp Perez and Kent in Southwest Washington was among the country's most competitive U.S. House races — one of only about two dozen tossups nationwide.
- The Associated Press called the race for Gluesenkamp Perez on Saturday, after five days of counting ballots in Washington's vote-by-mail election.
- Gluesenkamp Perez was leading Kent by about four percentage points on Saturday afternoon.
Flashback: The two candidates faced off before in 2022, when Gluesenkamp Perez narrowly came out ahead of Kent.
- Kent, a former Green Beret, had ousted the 12-year Republican incumbent, Jaime Herrera Beutler, in that year's primary.
- Herrera Beutler was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his actions surrounding the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, a vote Kent heavily criticized.
Catch up quick: On the campaign trail, Kent and Gluesenkamp Perez clashed over immigration policy, with Kent supporting mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship.
- Although Gluesenkamp Perez tried to distance herself from President Biden on the issue, pledging to secure the southern border, she argued that Kent's plans would go too far.
- She characterized Kent as wanting to "reestablish a white majority" by shutting down all immigration, including for immigrants with work visas.
- Her campaign ads called Kent "too extreme," citing his opposition to abortion and his comments denying the 2020 election results.
Kent in turn knocked Gluesenkamp Perez's support of increased government spending and policies that he says led to rising inflation.
What they're saying: "I'm deeply grateful for this vote of confidence in the work I've done to set aside national politics and represent our community in Washington, D.C." Gluesenkamp Perez posted on X late Thursday, after some local media outlets called the race in her favor.
- "I will continue to honestly reflect the independence of Southwest Washington in everything I do as our voice in D.C."
- Axios has reached out to Kent's campaign for comment.