Politics

Poll shows Third Congressional District race has a razor thin margin

Republican challenger John Braun leads incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 48 percent to 47 percent in DHM Research/OPB poll

By Clark County Today · October 1, 2026

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WA-3 Poll: Braun Leads MGP by One Point

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Poll shows Third Congressional District race has a razor thin margin — Washington state Senate Minority Leader John Braun, left, is squaring off with U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, right, in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)

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.