Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican Joe Kent have secured the top two spots in Washington state’s primary for the 3rd congressional district, leading to a direct showdown in November.
In Washington state, a top two primary system is employed where all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, appear on the primary ballot, and the two candidates with the most votes advance.
Since 2022, Gluesenkamp Perez has been serving Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes the southwestern counties of Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania, along with a small section of southern Thurston County.
Two years ago, Gluesenkamp Perez unexpectedly won a congressional seat against Kent, who had the endorsement of Trump in a district that had been Republican for over ten years. She claimed the seat from a more centrist Republican candidate who lost in the primary due to her vote to impeach Trump following the January 6th Capitol riot.
TIM WALZ SLAMMED AS ‘POLITICAL CHAMELEON’ AFTER DITCHING FORMER PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT STAND
Washington state employs a top two voting system (Getty Images)
Kent, who narrowly lost to Gluesenkamp Perez by less than a percentage point in 2022, has recently received a second endorsement from Trump.
“Joe is a Gold Star Husband, who bravely served our country as a Special Forces Combat Veteran,” Trump stated in his endorsement.
“His opponents cannot match Joe in any way! In Congress, Joe will work diligently to grow the economy, combat inflation, uphold the rule of law, secure our borders, support our military and veterans, and safeguard our ever-challenged Second Amendment.”
OBAMA TAKES SUBTLE SWIPE AT VANCE WHILE PRAISING WALZ AS ‘IDEAL’ HARRIS RUNNING MATE
Washington, DC – July 27: Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) poses for portraits on Capitol Hill on Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Gluesenkamp Perez, recognized by the Lugar Center and the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy for having one of the most bipartisan voting records in the U.S. House, has yet to endorse VP Kamala Harris for president. Late last month, her office informed Fox News Digital that she has “no plans” to do so.
In the 3rd Congressional District primary, Republican Leslie Lewallen and Independent John Saulie-Rohman also participated.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Republican Congressional candidate Joe Kent speaks at a campaign event on October 5, 2022 in Morton, Washington. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
Kent faced tough competition from Lewallen, a former King County prosecutor, as she garnered a significant following from conservatives aiming to reclaim the seat for more moderate Republicans.
Associated Press contributed to this report
