Washington state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, met with a small group of supporters Monday evening, April 20, at the Battle Ground Event Center as he campaigns to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, for the state’s Third Congressional District race.
While Braun’s campaign message centered on affordability and governance, the evening also highlighted two clear challenges ahead: building stronger turnout and addressing voters’ foreign policy concerns.
With just under 30 attendees in the room, local leaders acknowledged turnout was lower than expected for the early campaign event in Clark County, the district’s most populous county and a key area in the race.
“We expected a little bit (of a) bigger turnout, but this is a grassroots effort that we have to get started and get underway, and you guys are at that level,” said La Center Mayor Tom Strobehn, who kicked off the event.
Braun’s campaign focus
Braun’s background includes seven years of active duty as a U.S. Navy submarine officer, decades in the Navy Reserves and more than 20 years leading a Southwest Washington manufacturing business producing emergency vehicles. He has represented Washington’s 20th Legislative District in the state Senate since 2013, including serving in leadership roles for Senate Republicans and his work in state budget negotiations.
On Tuesday, April 14, President Donald Trump endorsed Braun for the position. Braun said he believes the endorsement will help unify Republican voters and boost turnout.
“It's a district (where) we need to pull our Republicans together and turn out voters, and I think having the president on our side is good; it will help us do that,” Braun said. “I look forward to, when elected, working with him in Congress on things that are important to Southwest Washington for voters in this district.”
Braun said his campaign is focused on what he described as the day-to-day financial strain facing Southwest Washington residents, noting that conversations with constituents consistently center on rising costs, public safety, education and long-term economic stability.
“Food, gas, housing, childcare, health care, all have become increasingly unaffordable for just regular Washingtonians,” Braun said.
During his opening remarks, Braun walked attendees through his personal and professional background before outlining contrasts between himself and Gluesenkamp Perez, criticizing her voting record on taxes, national security and border policy while positioning himself as focused on fiscal restraint, public safety and limited government.
He also emphasized the national significance of the race, describing it as a key seat that could determine whether Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House, and said winning it would help rebuild the party’s presence and messaging in Washington state.
Q&A highlights concerns over Iran conflict, turnout
The ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, currently in a ceasefire as both nations continue to block the Strait of Hormuz, emerged as a recurring topic in the evening’s Q&A, with multiple attendees raising concerns about the situation and its political impact.
Some attendees expressed unease about the administration’s handling of the conflict and its potential impact on Republican support in the district. Corey Frid pointed to past campaign dynamics, noting that ads tying former candidate Joe Kent to Trump played a role in Gluesenkamp Perez’s victory.
“There are a lot of people that aren't really happy with what's going on with Trump right now, so I feel like she's gonna have more (support),” Frid said.
Braun responded by pointing to what he described as a significant funding gap in the previous race, saying Gluesenkamp Perez’s campaign and outside groups spent roughly $23 million compared to about $4 million on Kent’s side, allowing her to dominate the messaging. He added that he expects stronger financial backing from national allies in his campaign.
Another attendee, identified as Steve, a veteran, raised broader concerns about U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts, questioning the cost of military engagements and whether they provide meaningful benefits, particularly in light of the national debt and long-term strategy.
While Braun did not directly criticize Trump’s handling of the situation, he emphasized a goal of achieving clear objectives and exiting the conflict in a way that protects U.S. interests as soon as possible. In an earlier interview, Braun described the situation as complex and dependent on information not available to the public.
“I think once we're in it, I think the idea that we get in, we accomplish our objectives, and we get out is important,” Braun said. “You've got to do it in a way that leaves the world (and) our U.S. interests in better shape than before. I think that it's a hard problem, but I think we're on a path to solving it.”
One attendee questioned how the campaign plans to build momentum in a purple district.
“Certainly you need us, but you're gonna need a lot more than just the people that will turn up for something like this,” one attendee said.
Braun acknowledged the district’s political makeup, describing it as evenly split between Democrats, Republicans and independents, and said his campaign is making a concerted effort to engage voters across that spectrum, particularly in the business community and among those who may not align strictly with either party.
In a separate interview, Braun addressed how he plans to navigate the district’s mixed political landscape, pointing to his experience working with Democrats during years of Democratic majorities in the Washington state Legislature. He said that his background demonstrates his ability to find compromise without abandoning core conservative positions.
“I have a long record of, without walking away from conservative principles, finding practical compromises to certain problems people have,” Braun said.
He contrasted that approach with his opponent, arguing that while moderate positioning is often emphasized in the district, he believes his own legislative record better reflects bipartisan results.
“She talks a lot about being in the middle,” Braun said. “ But when you look at what she's done, she's done virtually nothing to pull her party to the middle. She’s not bringing them to the middle, whereas I have a long track record at the state level of bringing the two sides together for practical solutions, and I think I can do that in Washington, D.C.”
Braun argued the district is one Republicans “can and should win,” pointing to its history of electing candidates from both parties and its importance in determining control of Congress.
Despite the small turnout, the event also highlighted support from local officials. Strobehn, who introduced Braun, and La Center City Councilmember Myrna Frantz both spoke in favor of Braun’s candidacy, pointing to his responsiveness to local issues and urging attendees to help build grassroots momentum.
Strobehn praised Braun’s work with local governments, describing him as accessible and engaged on issues affecting smaller communities.
“Anytime I have gone to them, or the 20th District, and asked for favors or needed assistance for our city, he’s actually come through, every single time,” Strobehn said. “That can’t be said the same for our current representative in Congress.”
Frantz urged attendees to take an active role in the campaign through outreach and organizing as the Q&A concluded
“You can get off the bench and you can get out there and talk to people,” Frantz said. “Because we need to get John Braun elected.”
Readers can learn more about Braun’s campaign at votebraun.com.
