Perez has spent two terms positioning herself as an independent check on her party, but according to the RNC, her voting record makes clear she supports an income tax

Carleen Johnson
The Center Square Washington

Two months after the National Republican Congressional Committee released polling in Washington state’s 3rd Congressional District that showed Democratic incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez trailing her challenger, pressure is mounting for the incumbent to publicly state her position on Washington’s new income tax.

The Center Square has repeatedly attempted to secure an interview with Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washougal) to discuss her position on the income tax and to discuss the challenge from Republican State Senator John Braun, R-Centralia. Most responses have gone unanswered, or indicated she was unavailable.

A spokesperson previously told The Center Square the congresswoman is focused on working people in her district and working to lower taxes on Washington families, without addressing the millionaires’ tax specifically.

“In spite of all her claims to be moderate, she has been pro tax in every aspect of her voting in Washington, D.C. As recently as last year, she voted against the largest tax reduction in our country’s history,” said Sen. Braun in a July 2 interview with The Center Square.

“She talks a good game when she talks about affordability, but on the issues that really matter, the issues that cost individual taxpayers, individual voters, more money in their daily lives, she’s been absolutely wrong on the issues,” he added.

Perez has spent two terms positioning herself as an independent check on her party, but according to the RNC, her voting record makes clear she supports an income tax.

“As a member of the Washington Democrats’ executive committee in 2020, Marie was one of a select few who drafted the party’s platform which called for ‘a fair and just tax system for all,’ and specifically to ‘tax the highest incomes,'” wrote RNC Spokesman Nick Poche via email to The Center Square.

“Gluesenkamp is a total phony; a spoiled Portland rich kid whose entire persona is completely fabricated to hide her far-left beliefs.”

Braun said when he’s out in the district, constituents are always bringing up the income tax and lack of affordability in Washington.

“They’re ready for change. They’re ready for different leadership that’s focused, truly focused on affordability, accountability and results,” he said. “I’m about results. I don’t talk about doing things, I get out and get them done. My record here in Washington says exactly that. My business record, my military record. Let’s get things, real things done for the people who stay in Washington.”

In the early May, 2026 NRCC internal poll, John Braun led in a head-to-head with Gluesenkamp Perez by 7%, at 41% to 34%. Governor Bob Ferguson also compounds the Democratic down ballot. Only 22% of voters in WA-03 (as of May, 2026) approved of the job Ferguson is doing as governor. The Democratic brand in the district sits at 28%.

Republicans are entering the 2026 midterms with a 217-212 majority in the House. All 435 seats are up for election in 2026. The Washington primary will be held Aug 4, with the top-two vote getters advancing regardless of party affiliation.

As reported by The Center Square, opponents of Washington’s new income tax last week turned in more than 500,000 signatures to the office of Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, for an initiative aimed at repealing the income tax. Let’s Go Washington hopes to get the measure qualified for the November ballot.

Hobbs’ office is expected to announce if the measure has qualified sometime in the next few weeks.

This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.