Voters in southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District are weighing two candidates who both present themselves as practical, small-business-minded moderates — but who face sharply different pressures from their parties and constituents. Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking another term against Republican state Sen. John Braun in a district that has backed Donald Trump for president three times, yet elected Gluesenkamp Perez in 2022. The race is among the country’s most competitive and could help decide which party controls the House of Representatives. Democrats may need Gluesenkamp Perez to hold the seat to win a House majority. Republicans, who have Trump’s endorsement of Braun, are seeking to retain control and advance the president’s agenda. The candidates’ challenge is to appeal across a district that includes Vancouver, industrial communities such as Longview, and small coastal towns with economies tied to seafood, timber and tourism. Braun said the district’s voters expect candidates to show up and explain their positions. “You got to go earn those votes,” he said. Both candidates emphasize manufacturing, natural resources and small businesses. Braun owns Braun Northwest, an emergency-vehicle manufacturer, and says tariffs have raised the cost of materials used to build ambulances and fire trucks. He supports some tariffs but opposes their broad, indiscriminate use, saying policy should be more considered. The cost of tariffs is also a concern for Longview Mayor Erik Halvorson, who said they have hurt local industries. The city was built around timber, but the natural-resource economy has changed as logging declined and mills closed. In rural Pacific County, oyster farmer Kathleen Nisbet said her family’s shellfish business faces both regulatory costs and lost overseas sales. She estimates the company spends about $200,000 annually on fees to regulatory agencies and said it has lost more than half its international sales amid trade tensions with Asian countries. Nisbet said she wants regulation to be more consistent and workable for small producers, not eliminated. Coastal communities are also trying to diversify. In Ilwaco, where hospitality is now the leading industry, local officials are seeking businesses that can attract visitors. But the tourism season is limited, and the town relies on federal funding for infrastructure because its tax base is small and many residents live there only part of the year. Gluesenkamp Perez faces a different test in Clark County, home to Vancouver, the district’s largest city. The county has become more Democratic over time, and some voters there say the congresswoman’s votes on social issues have weakened their support. She backed a Republican-sponsored bill requiring parental consent if a public school student seeks to use a different name or gender in class, as well as the SAVE Act, a Republican-led voter identification measure. Gluesenkamp Perez said the latter vote reflected her belief that only U.S. citizens should vote in federal elections. Her votes prompted progressive Democrats to mount a primary challenge. Gluesenkamp Perez still advanced through Washington’s top-two primary, in which the two leading candidates move on to the general election, but the challenge highlighted discontent among some Democratic voters. Vancouver resident Gretchen Hoyt said she felt some constituents who once identified with the congresswoman now see her as out of step with them. Housing affordability is another concern in Vancouver, where development has reshaped the waterfront and downtown. Hoyt said home prices have made it difficult for residents to buy locally. She acknowledged the city’s redevelopment has brought new energy, while worrying that Vancouver is becoming unaffordable. The district’s voting patterns have often crossed party lines. Halvorson said voters may support Trump and Gluesenkamp Perez on the same ballot, making candidates’ local records and credibility especially important. In the coastal communities, Ilwaco Councilman Matt Lessnau said voters want representatives who understand local economies and struggles. For Braun, Trump’s endorsement offers support from the Republican president, but the midterm election also places his party’s record in office under scrutiny. For Gluesenkamp Perez, incumbency brings name recognition but also exposure to voter frustration, including among Democrats who object to her votes. The outcome will turn on whether either candidate can bridge the district’s urban-rural divides and persuade voters that their approach can support local jobs and communities while addressing the national issues shaping the race.