Republican John Braun, backed by former President Donald Trump, has advanced past the jungle primary to challenge incumbent Democrat Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in Washington's 3rd Congressional District. This race is considered one of the most competitive House contests in the November 2026 midterm elections.

The 2026 midterms mark a 100-day sprint as Republicans and Democrats clash nationwide for control of Congress. Analysts, including Republican strategist Collin Reed and Fox News contributor Richard Fowler, have highlighted this race among 16 House toss-up seats and four Senate toss-ups in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, and Ohio.

Braun, who received Trump's endorsement in an April 2026 Truth Social post, is committed to policies aimed at economic growth, tax and regulation cuts, promoting American-made products, securing the border, combating migrant crime, supporting the military and veterans, and defending the Second Amendment. Trump stated Braun "will work hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Great Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment."

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat, has served in the House and previously defeated Joseph Kent, who ran against her twice before serving as Trump's director of the National Counterterrorism Center from 2025 until earlier this year.

The general election between Braun and Gluesenkamp Perez will be a key battleground in the fight for House control this November.

Sources