Contested congressional seat comes down to the wire with millions of dollars spent in final weeks

Campaign dollars, endorsements, and big players in political parties are coming to a head as incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, and challenger John Braun, R-Centralia, are in the final week of campaigning before votes are tallied on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. 

In Battle Ground on Saturday, Oct. 24, speakers emphasized that Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is a battleground in its own right as volunteers prepared to knock on doors in the area on behalf of Glusenkamp Perez’s campaign. After discussing the importance of the election, volunteers heard directly from both Glusenkamp Perez and Washington’s 1st Congressional District Rep. Suzan DelBene, who also serves as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). 

DelBene called the race for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District critically important to the national political landscape, emphasizing the Democrats’ need to retain competitive seats and encouraging voters to support Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

DelBene said the district is a key part of Democrats’ efforts to maintain their representation in Congress.

“This race is critically important, that's why I'm here,” DelBene said in Battle Ground’s Kiwanis Park. “... We've got to make sure we keep the districts we have and this one is a critically important seat.”

DelBene praised Perez’s work in Southwest Washington and said the campaign would focus on reaching voters before Election Day.

“Marie has done an incredible job and we just need to make sure that when people know what Marie stands for and the work she's done for this community, she wins,” DelBene said. “So we're going to work hard to make sure we get out every vote.”

DelBene also criticized the Republican-controlled Congress, arguing that lawmakers have not provided sufficient oversight of President Donald Trump’s administration.

“We've seen a Republican Congress that's been a rubber stamp for Donald Trump,” DelBene said. “They have not acted as an independent branch of government and so we need folks who are actually going to stand up for our community, stand up for people.”

She described Perez as an independent-minded representative whose primary responsibility is serving her constituents.

“She has been an authentic, independent-minded voice for the people of Southwest Washington and they see that every day,” DelBene said. “Her number one job is serving her community. She's been doing it. She has a strong track record of doing that and she will continue to do that when she's re-elected.”

DelBene said grassroots campaigning, including door knocking and direct conversations with voters, remains essential despite the significant amounts of money spent on political advertising.

“It's incredibly important,” DelBene said. “You know, Republicans have seemingly infinite amounts of money, but they have nothing to say.”

She added, “Infinity times zero is still zero.”

Campaign spending has crossed the $20 million mark in the 3rd Congressional District. According to reporting by the Washington State Standard, spending has reached over $10 million dollars in just the final stretch before the first week of November. 

Gluesenkamp Perez, who is pursuing a third term, has raised $8.8 million and began October with roughly $640,000 on hand, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Her opponent, Republican state Sen. John Braun, has hauled in $3.2 million and started October with $1.1 million available, according to reporting by Washington State Standard.

Large sums are getting poured into the race by Democratic and Republican organizations, and an array of political committees, at least one tied to President Donald Trump, the Washington State Standard article added. 

Collectively, they have committed in excess of $15 million on advertising, mailers, text messages, phone calls and direct outreach to voters in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania counties, and a touch of Thurston County. 

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, House Speaker Mike Johnson returned to the state of Washington to campaign for Braun. A second visit by House Speaker Mike Johnson earmarks the importance of this seat for both political parties. 

Johnson’s first visit on behalf of Braun occurred in Vancouver earlier this year. This time around, Johnson headlined a rally at Braun’s business in Chehalis and was joined by four other Republican members of Congress including U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

According to the Washington State Standard, Johnson warned the crowd that Democrats in Congress, and many of those running for seats, are pushing a policy agenda to “abolish everything” achieved by the Republican majorities there now. He acknowledged that in nearly every midterm election sitting presidents lose seats, but insisted this year will be different if Republicans turn out.

“I’m absolutely convinced we’re going to defy history and hold the majority, “ he said.

Republicans currently hold an advantage of 218-214 over the Democrats in the House as the Braun-Gluesenkamp Perez race holds great importance for both parties’ goals this November.