Democrat Mary Gluesenkamp Perez | Photo Credit: AP
First-term Democrat Mary Gluesenkamp Perez won re-election in southwestern Washington state’s 3rd Congressional District on Saturday (Nov. 10, 2024), surviving a rematch with Republican Joe Kent.
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Two years ago, Ms. Glusenkamp Perez, who owns an auto-repair shop with her husband, came out of nowhere to win the seat, which had been in Democratic hands for more than a decade. He defeated Trump-backed Kent by less than 3,000 votes out of nearly 320,000 cast, making it one of the closest races in the country and setting the stage for a tough election battle this year.
His predecessor, Republican Jaime Herrera Butler, held the office for six terms but failed to survive the 2022 primary after voting to impeach Trump over the January 6 insurrection. The district swung in Trump’s favor by a small margin in 2020, making it a key target for both parties this year.
The race gained additional attention last week when an arson attack in Vancouver, the district’s largest city, hit a ballot box and charred hundreds of ballots. Those who cast their vote in that box were urged to contact the county auditor’s office to receive a replacement ballot.
Glusenkamp Perez has balanced progressive policies with some measures popular among Republicans during her tenure, including securing the US-Mexico border – which she criticizes Biden for failing to do – and the budget. Balancing involves introducing a constitutional amendment to force presidents.
She supports abortion access and has attacked Kent, who previously said he supports a national abortion ban, for changing his position after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade. Kent now says abortion laws should be left up to the states.
Glusenkamp Perez supports policies to combat climate change, but also speaks openly about gun ownership. The top priority is to advance a “right to repair” bill that would help people get devices fixed without paying exorbitant prices to the original manufacturer.
Kent, a former Green Beret who has called for the impeachment of President Joe Biden, cited inflation and illegal immigration as top concerns.
The two disagreed on a major local issue: the replacement of A major bridge over the Columbia River Between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. Glusenkamp Pérez supports the plan to replace the existing bridge; Kent argued that a separate new bridge should be built while maintaining the old bridge.
published – November 10, 2024 11:40 am IST
