Politics
Washington’s 3rd District contest could help decide control of the U.S. House
Three congressional races in Washington offer different tests of the state’s political landscape, from a nationally competitive southwest Washington matchup to two Republican-held seats where Democrats hope to make gains. All 10 of the state’s U.S. House seats are on the ballot in the midterm election, less than three weeks away.
Voters in Washington’s 3rd, 4th and 5th congressional districts face sharply different contests this fall, with the race in southwest Washington among the small number nationwide that could help determine which party controls the U.S. House.
In the 3rd District, Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking another term against Republican state Sen. and businessman John Braun. The race has drawn significant attention and campaign spending, according to political reporter Jerry Cornfield, who said Republicans held a four-seat advantage in the House when he assessed the contest.
“If this seat flipped, it would be a huge boost for Republicans,” Cornfield said. The district, in the southwestern part of the state, was held by Republicans for more than a decade before Gluesenkamp Perez won it. She is a Democrat who sometimes breaks with her party to side with Republicans.
The 4th District, which includes Yakima and the Tri-Cities, is an open-seat race. Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse is not running again. Republican Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney, who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, is facing Democrat John Duresky, a longtime community figure who has fewer campaign resources, Cornfield said.
The contest will test whether Democrats can make inroads in a district that has long favored Republicans. Cornfield said a broader Democratic wave could make the race more competitive, though the party has not rallied behind Duresky as strongly as it has behind candidates in some other contests.
In the 5th District, centered on Spokane, Republican Rep. Michael Baumgartner is seeking re-election against Democrat Carmela Conroy. The candidates also faced each other two years ago. Baumgartner has Trump’s support, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has signaled it sees an opportunity for Conroy amid a possible national shift toward Democrats.
Cornfield described a Democratic win in the 5th as a long shot, despite the committee’s interest in the race. The other seven congressional contests in Washington feature Democratic and Republican candidates, and analysts expect Democrats to retain those seats.
The outcomes will carry consequences beyond the candidates’ districts. A change in control of the House could affect which party sets the chamber’s agenda, while the three races will also offer a measure of Republican strength in a state where Democrats hold most congressional seats.