Incumbent Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., is seeking a third term in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, facing a primary challenge from state Senator John Braun, Democrat Brent Hennrich, and six other candidates. The August 4 primary will determine which two candidates advance to the general election to represent the region, which includes Clark and Cowlitz counties. Gluesenkamp Perez is currently a second-term congresswoman seeking re-election to what would be her third term.

According to reporting by The Center Square, the candidates have focused on tax policy and federal spending as central issues. Braun, who has served as the state Senate minority leader since 2020, criticized Gluesenkamp Perez for voting against the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ Braun, who received an endorsement from Donald Trump, argued that the incumbent has been ‘pro-tax in every aspect of her voting.’ The bill included tax provisions such as no tax on tips and no tax on overtime pay.

Gluesenkamp Perez has highlighted her support for bipartisan measures, including the No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act and the Fiscal Commission Act, which aims to address the federal budget deficit. She also supported a resolution to keep the federal deficit at or below 3% of the gross domestic product, stating that the nation urgently needs to balance its budget to avoid passing debt to future generations.

Hennrich, challenging from the left, criticized the incumbent for being one of four Democrats to vote for a bill providing $70 billion in funding for ICE and Border Patrol after a lack of funds had shut down the agency. He also criticized her for supporting the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship for federal voting. Hennrich has proposed doubling federal support for Medicaid expansion.

Financial disclosures from the Federal Elections Commission show Gluesenkamp Perez leading in fundraising with more than $2 million in cash on hand. Her donors include the Jeffries Battleground Fund and the American Sugar Cane League PAC. Braun has raised more than $1.1 million, with contributions from the Emmer Majority Fund and the Caterpillar Inc. PAC. Hennrich reports $17,000 in cash on hand, primarily from small individual donors.