Republican state senator will advance to faceoff with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the November general election race in the Third Congressional District

Aspen Ford
Washington State Standard

State Sen. John Braun, a Republican from Centralia who is running for the U.S. House seat now held by U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, was feeling upbeat as the first release of ballot count results neared.

“I’m pretty optimistic,” Braun said. “We’ve been out all over the district talking to folks, and I think we’re getting a good response.”

Braun’s optimism was validated when the initial results of the Aug. 4 primary election were announced Tuesday night. Gluesenkamp Perez is currently leading the multi-county race in the Third Congressional District. The Democratic congresswoman has 54,132 votes (38.90 percent). Braun, the Republican state representative, is second with 53,869 votes (38.71 percent). Democratic challenger Brett Hennrich is a distant third with 21,290 votes (15.30 percent).

Braun, the state senate minority leader, was mingling with constituents at his primary watch party in Chehalis. Around 100 people showed up. Also in attendance: state Reps. Jim Walsh, who is also state Republican Party chair, and Peter Abbarno, who represents the same district as Braun in the Legislature.

As for Gluesenkamp Perez, Braun said, “I think she’s genuine, but I think she’s just wrong.”

“She’s been wrong on taxes, she’s been wrong on funding for national defense, she’s been wrong on border security, she’s been wrong on parental rights.”

Information in this report was first published by the Washington State Standard.