Washington State Primary: Perez, Braun Lead Key Race 2026

Key Points

• Nine contenders are competing in Washington state’s primary for two places on the November general election ballot in one of the country’s most contested congressional races.
• Voters across Washington are also selecting finalists for the state’s nine other congressional seats, as well as for the state Legislature and state Supreme Court.
• Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking re-election in the 3rd Congressional District, where she first won narrowly in 2022.
• Perez is the best-known and best-funded of the four Democrats on the ballot.
• She faces three Republicans, including state Senate Minority Leader John Braun, who has an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
• The southwest Washington district is expected to be a major U.S. House battleground this autumn.

Washington (Evening Washington News) August 3, 2026 – The Washington state primary will decide which candidates move forward in a top-two system, where all contenders appear on the same ballot and the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party. Nine candidates are competing in the 3rd Congressional District, while other races across the state will also be narrowed on Tuesday.

Why is the 3rd Congressional District attracting attention?

The 3rd Congressional District in southwest Washington has become one of the most closely watched House races in the state. The district borders Oregon to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, and it is expected to be a key battleground in the general election.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is the incumbent Democratic representative and is running for another term after first winning the seat narrowly in 2022. She is the best-known and best-funded of the four Democrats in the race, but she also faces three Republicans on the same ballot.

What role is John Braun playing in the race?

State Senate Minority Leader John Braun is among Perez’s challengers, and he has a key endorsement from President Donald Trump. That endorsement is politically significant because the district has shown competitive results in recent elections, making the primary and the November contest closely watched.

Trump won 50.3% of the vote in the district in 2024, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 47%. Perez won 50.1% in the 2022 general election and about 52% in 2024, which underlines how closely divided the seat has been.

What else is on the ballot in Washington?

Beyond the 3rd Congressional District, voters are selecting finalists in Washington’s nine other congressional districts. They are also voting in races for the state Legislature and the state Supreme Court, making the primary a broad statewide test of candidate strength and party organisation.

Incumbents are running for re-election in nine of the state’s 10 congressional districts. The only exception is the 4th Congressional District, where Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse is retiring after six terms.

Why is the 4th District open?

Newhouse was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump after the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Eleven candidates are running to replace him, including Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney and entrepreneur and former NASCAR driver Jerrod Sessler, both Republicans.

Trump endorsed McKinney in January, while he had previously endorsed Sessler in his unsuccessful effort to unseat Newhouse in 2024. Trump received 59% of the vote in the district in the 2024 presidential election.

How does Washington’s top-two system work?

Washington uses a top-two primary format, meaning every candidate appears on the same ballot and the two candidates with the most votes move on to the general election, regardless of party. That system often encourages broader competition in primaries, especially in districts where multiple candidates from the same party enter the race.

In practical terms, this means voters are not simply choosing one party nominee. They are deciding which two candidates will continue to November, which can create unusual matchups and strategic campaigning in crowded districts.

Explore More Local News

Dr. Rajasekhar Nalluri Named Top Plastic Surgeon in Bellevue 2026

Seattle business survival survey: metro ranks 8th in 2026

What is the background to this development?

This primary is taking place in a state where partisan control of Congress and the Legislature remains highly competitive in several districts. About half of Washington’s 49 state Senate seats and all 98 state House seats are up in 2026, while Democrats currently hold about 60% of seats in each chamber.

The 3rd Congressional District has already seen close and consequential elections, with Perez first winning narrowly in 2022 and then holding the seat in 2024. Because the district has shown swing behaviour at the presidential and congressional levels, the outcome of Tuesday’s primary is being treated as an early indicator of how the race may develop later in the year.

What is the prediction for voters?

For voters in the 3rd Congressional District, the immediate effect of this primary is that it will determine which two candidates stay in the race for November. For voters elsewhere in Washington, it will shape the field for congressional, legislative and judicial contests, helping define the state’s political direction heading into the general election.

Because the district is closely divided and both major parties have strong candidates in the field, the result is likely to influence campaign strategy, fundraising and national attention in the months ahead. The broader impact for Washington voters is that the primary will help show which messages and candidates are resonating before the autumn contest begins.