Live Results: Washington Democrat Marie Pérez defeats Republican Joe Kent
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Democratic Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez defeated Republican Joe Kent to win the US House race for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. Pérez’s win will flip the district from Republican to Democrat, a first in 12 years.
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Kent, an army veteran endorsed by former President Donald Trump, defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler during Washington state’s August primary. Beutler was one of 10 Republicans in the House who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 following the January 6 insurrection.
Pérez, an auto shop owner from Skamania County, campaigned as a moderate in support of reproductive rights while trying to paint Kent as an extreme candidate with ties to the far right.
Kent was been vocal about his “America First” agenda, spread misinformation about vaccines, and attended a rally in Washington, DC, in support of the January 6 rioters,
Pérez joins Democratic lawmakers like Hillary Scholten, who defeated Trump-backed John Gibbs after he ousted pro-impeachment incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer.
There are still 25 uncalled seats in the US House. Democrats need 18 in order to have a majority, while Republicans need eight.