Washington’s Aug. 4 primary election is coming up. Here on Soundside, we’re diving into this year’s most competitive races, like the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington.

This area includesClark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County. 

It’s a purple district where voters have backed Donald Trump in recent presidential elections. But it’s also where a Democrat has repeatedly defeated a Trump-backed opponent.  

We heard from that Democratic incumbent who has held this seat for the past two terms. She has positioned herself as a champion of the working class and someone who’s willing to work across the aisle.

Guest: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a U.S. representative for Washington's 3rd Congressional District

Related links: 
House Speaker Mike Johnson fundraises for Joe Kent in Vancouver | Washington State Standard
Trump backs Joe Kent in Washington state | KUOW
Gluesenkamp Perez’s Farm Bill banana amendment draws mixed reaction | The Seattle Times
Gluesenkamp Perez thinks the Democratic Party needs to change, not her | Washington State Standard

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes


Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Washington&rsquo;s Aug. 4 primary election is coming up. Here on Soundside, we&rsquo;re diving into this year&rsquo;s most competitive races, like the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington.
This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s a purple district where voters have backed Donald Trump in recent presidential elections. But it&rsquo;s also where a Democrat has repeatedly defeated a Trump-backed opponent.&nbsp;&nbsp;
We heard from that Democratic incumbent who has held this seat for the past two terms. She has positioned herself as a champion of the working class and someone who&rsquo;s willing to work across the aisle.
Guest:&nbsp;Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a U.S. representative for Washington's 3rd Congressional District
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/08/18/house-speaker-mike-johnson-fundraises-for-joe-kent-in-vancouver/">House Speaker Mike Johnson fundraises for Joe Kent in Vancouver | Washington State Standard</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/2022-07-26/trump-backs-joe-kent-in-washington">Trump backs Joe Kent in Washington state | KUOW</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/gluesenkamp-perezs-farm-bill-banana-amendment-draws-mixed-reaction/">Gluesenkamp Perez&rsquo;s Farm Bill banana amendment draws mixed reaction | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/11/21/marie-gluesenkamp-perez-thinks-its-the-democratic-party-that-needs-to-change-not-her/">Gluesenkamp Perez thinks the Democratic Party needs to change, not her | Washington State Standard</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
 Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

The 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington is a competitive one. Voters there have turned out for Trump in past elections... but they've also repeatedly chosen Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez as their representative. Now, she's running for re-election in one of the country's few swing districts.