Washington District 3: Affordability and tariffs clash in tight House race

More than $20 million has poured into the U.S. House race in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, where polls show a statistical tie. Democrats are targeting the seat to reclaim control of the chamber. The contest pits incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez against state Sen. John Braun, who secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement in April.

The district spans six counties, including Vancouver, the state’s fourth-largest city, and rural areas dependent on logging and seafood. This mix of urban and rural voters creates a challenging political environment. Both candidates identify affordability as a primary concern for residents but disagree on the underlying causes.

Gluesenkamp Perez cites the war in Iran as the main driver of rising costs. She argues that fuel price spikes hurt logging, farming, and commuting. "This war has been a disaster," she said during a recent debate. She has voted against the conflict six times. Braun, a fiscal conservative, points to domestic tax and energy policies. He supports the Republican tax cuts in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and the administration’s strategy to expand fossil fuel production to lower long-term prices.

Braun operates a family business in Chehalis that manufactures emergency vehicles. He estimates tariffs have added $2.5 million in costs to his company this year alone. "Tariffs is a big problem," Braun said. He noted that the extra expense is passed to customers, primarily small cities and fire departments in the West. He views his work on the shop floor as a way to stay connected to working families.

Gluesenkamp Perez campaigned at a repair event in Centralia, promoting the "right to repair" as a key legislative priority. She and her husband own an auto repair shop. "The middle class is hemorrhaging money" when corporations force consumers to buy new items instead of fixing old ones, she said. She described her supporters as people trying to keep their 2003 Toyota Corolla running.

Despite their differences, the candidates share several policy positions. Both support increased logging on public lands to aid the timber industry and reduce wildfire risks. Braun advocates lifting the Clinton-era roadless rule, which protects about two million acres in Washington. Gluesenkamp Perez remains undecided on the rule change but wants more work for local mills. Both also criticize the executive branch for overreaching in spending and war powers.

The district voted for Trump in 2020 and 2024. Winning requires attracting independent voters. Michael Blumm, a professor at Lewis and Clark Law School, described Braun as a more mainstream Republican than Gluesenkamp Perez’s 2022 opponent, Joe Kent. "It’s a smarter move on the part of the Republican Party," Blumm said. Recent weeks have seen intense advertising, including disputes over the workplace safety record at Braun’s business.

The next televised debate is scheduled for November 5. Campaign spending from outside groups accounts for more than half of the total funds raised, signaling high stakes for national control.