Trump-backed Republican advances to face vulnerable Democrat in key House battleground

Republicans just took a major step forward in their goal to keep the House majority this November.A GOP hopeful backed by President Donald Trump advanced in a jungle primary for Washington's 3rd Congressional District alongside Rep.Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., and the two will now face each other in this fall's general election.A jungle primary is a race that's not separated by political party, but rather has all candidates compete on one ballot.

The top two vote-getters advance to the general election.100 DAY SPRINT TO THE MIDTERMS KICKS OFF AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CLASH FOR CONTROL ACROSS THE COUNTRYRep.Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., walks up the House steps for the final votes in the Capitol before Congress' October recess on Sept.

25, 2024.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.

via Getty Images)In this case, Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state Sen.John Braun are the two winners who will now compete for the former's seat in the House of Representatives.For Gluesenkamp Perez, that meant surviving challenges from her left flank.

Among her opponents was Brent Hennrich, a progressive politician who ran on policies like taxing the rich and Medicare for All.He accused the moderate Democrat of siding too often with Republicans at the expense of the left's agenda, including on his campaign website, where he highlighted all the times she voted with the GOP.DSA MEMBER LEADS DEM PRIMARY IN MIDWEST BATTLEGROUND BUT TRAILS LIKELY GOP NOMINEE: POLLPresident Donald Trump announces the Freedom Haulers initiative on West Executive Avenue in Washington, D.C., on July 30, 2026.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)But Gluesenkamp Perez, who is seeking a third term, is likely Democrats' best chance to keep hold of that swing district in Southwest Washington state.And the race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive House elections in the country with Braun's victory as well.Unlike former Trump administration official Joe Kent, whose association with far-right groups made ...