On August 6, 2024, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Republican challenger Joe Kent advanced to the general election in Washington’s congressional primary. The race, which promises a rematch of their tight 2022 contest, underscores the competitive nature of the Republican-leaning district in southwest Washington.
Gluesenkamp Perez, a first-term congresswoman and co-chair of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition, emerged as one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the 2024 election cycle. She secured 46.9% of the vote, while Kent, a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer endorsed by former President Donald Trump, received 38.4%.
The primary marked a crucial moment for Gluesenkamp Perez, who initially flipped the district in 2022 following the ouster of Republican Jamie Herrera Beutler. Beutler had been denounced by Trump after voting to impeach him for the events of January 6, 2021.
In a statement, Kent criticized Gluesenkamp Perez’s positions on issues such as Second Amendment rights, women’s sports, and local infrastructure. Meanwhile, Camas City Councillor Leslie Lewallen and independent candidate John Saulie-Rohman received 12.4% and 2.3% of the vote, respectively.
The 2024 race between Gluesenkamp Perez and Kent is shaping up to be another closely-watched contest, with both candidates gearing up for a tough general election battle. The district’s voters will once again decide whether to retain Gluesenkamp Perez’s moderate approach or shift towards Kent’s conservative, Trump-aligned platform.
