Poll shows Third Congressional District race has a razor thin margin

A new DHM Research/OPB poll shows Navy veteran and small business owner John Braun leading vulnerable Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 48% to 47% in Washington's 3rd Congressional District.

In the August primary, Gluesenkamp Perez received 36.6% of the votes to Braun's 39.6%, and nearly one in three Democrats voted for her progressive challenger, who now says he won't support her.

The poll showed voters in Southwest Washington are focused on costs. 91% say it's hard to find an affordable place to live, and 80% think their kids will be worse off. Gluesenkamp Perez voted against the Working Families Tax Cut's tax relief, including the expanded Child Tax Credit and no tax on tips, overtime, and Social Security. Braun, who spent 31 years in the submarine force and built a 350-employee company in Chehalis, is running on lowering costs and protecting paychecks in a district Trump carried three times. "Southwest Washington families are paying more for everything, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has nothing to show for it. She's losing, her own party is walking away from her, and John Braun is going to flip this seat in November,’’ said NRCC Spokesman Christian Martinez. Related Coverage More on 2026 General ElectionPolitics Braun feeling upbeat after initial ballot results August 4, 2026 More on 2026 General ElectionPolitics Four takeaways from the Gluesenkamp Perez-Braun debate October 9, 2026 More on 2026 General ElectionPolitics Control of Congress at stake in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District July 30, 2026 More on 2026 General ElectionPolitics Prime-time debates set for WA income tax repeal measure, high-stakes US House race September 16, 2026 Comments Loading comments…