Kent, who lost to Gluesenkamp Perez by about 2,700 votes (less than 1 percent) in the November general election in 2022, easily outdistanced fellow Republican Leslie Lewallen in Tuesday’s primary election

Ken Vance, editor
Clark County Today

It appears Republican Joe Kent will once again face off with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Kent, who lost to Gluesenkamp Perez by about 2,700 votes (less than 1 percent) in the November general election in 2022, easily outdistanced fellow Republican Leslie Lewallen, a current Camas City Council member, among Clark County voters in Tuesday’s primary election. 

In the first results released by the Clark County Elections Department Tuesday evening, Kent had 34.18 (25,587) percent of the vote. Lewallen received 12 percent (8,984). Independent John Saulie-Rohman got 2.42 percent (1,813). Perez, the incumbent Democrat, had 51.40 percent (38,482).

District-wide, Kent received more than 38 percent of the vote and Lewallen received more than 12 percent. Perez received just under 47 percent.

in a statement released Tuesday night, Lewallen endorsed Kent in the Republicans’ attempt to regain the Congressional seat from the Democrats.

“I got into this race to protect and grow the Republican majority in the House of Representatives,” Lewallen said. “I couldn’t sit on the sidelines while the people, values and country I love fall apart. I believe in this country and will continue to fight for conservative principles. We are at a pivotal crossroads right now between strength and success and weakness and failure. There is no margin for error and we have to flip this seat. I support Joe Kent in his campaign to defeat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. We need to get this country back on track because Southwest Washington deserves better.”

The top two candidates in Tuesday’s primary election will advance to the November general election.

Here’s a look at some of the other key races in Tuesday’s primary election.

18th Legislative District

In the race for state senator in the 18th Legislative District, it appears Democrat Adrian Cortes, a current Battle Ground City Council member, and Republican Brad Benton will head to November’s general election. Cortes has 46.86 percent (11,517), followed by Benton with 30.74 percent  (7,554) and Republican Greg Cheney with 22.40 percent (5,505). Cheney served the past two years as a state representative. Benton is the son of former state senator Don Benton.

In the race for state representative, position 2, in the 18th District, Democrat John Zingale with 48.35 percent (11,824) and Republican John Ley with 38.28 percent (9,362) will finish in the top two. Former Battle Ground City Council member Philip Johnson, a Republican, finished a distant third with 13.37 percent (3,269).

Clark County Council

In the District 3 race for a seat on the Clark County Council, it appears Chuck Keplar (35.91 percent, 4,552) and Wil Fuentes (35.57 percent, 4,509) will advance to the November general election. John Jay is currently third with 28.52 percent (3,616).

In the race for the District 4 seat on the County Council, it appears Joe Zimmerman (26.06 percent, 3,825) and Matt Little (23.76 percent, 3,488) will advance from a five-candidate field that also included Peter Cutile (17.93 percent, 2,632), Dorothy Gasgue (17.43 percent, 2,559) and Shannon L. Roberts 14.82 percent, 2,175).

Councilors Karen Dill Bowerman (District 3) and Gary Medvigy (District 4) did not seek reelection.

To view the complete list of primary election results released Tuesday evening, go to https://clark.wa.gov/elections/results.