MGP "closing in" on victory for a second term as SW Washington U.S. Rep
Skamania Democrat increases lead over Republican Joe Kent in further ballot counting, leaving Kent with a statistically improbable path to victory
Southwest Washington Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez on Wednesday increased her lead to 12,000 votes — about 1,000 more than Tuesday — putting her on a trajectory to win re-election to a second two-year term.
She declined to claim victory Wednesday night but said she is “closing in.”
The Skamania County Democrat led Clark County Republican Joe Kent 169,426 to 157,383. MGP had won 51.65% of the ballots cast.
Tens of thousands of ballots are yet to be counted. However, the incumbent’s percentage of the vote remained essentially unchanged through further ballot counting on Wednesday. Most importantly, her percentage remained at 56.55% in Clark County, which counted nearly 14,000 additional ballots Wednesday.
If the trend remains unchanged through another day of counting on Thursday, Kent will have only a statistically improbable path to victory.
Clark County has by far the largest percentage of the 3rd District electorate, and it is there that MGP is winning the race. Most of the uncounted ballots are from Clark County.
Kent continues to lead in Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, Wahkiakum and Thurston counties. MGP is winning Pacific County in addition to Clark County.
MGP put out a statement at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday saying she is “closing in” on victory, but her campaign said it will await a determination by the Associated Press.
“Wednesday’s count is done, and we increased our vote lead over Joe Kent. We’re now winning by more than 12,000 votes, with less than 100,000 remaining (to be counted). Closing in,” MGP said in a text.
She spent the day in the Portland auto shop she co-owns with her busband, “trying to stay balanced as we await final results.”
The race is being watched closely because it will help determine whether Democrats can regain control of the House of Representatives and salvage at least one major general election victory after losing the presidency and control of the Senate.
The race is a rematch of the 2022 campaign, which MGP won by fewer than 3,000 votes. The winner was not determined for days. The outcome this time seems certain to be determined quicker and be more decisive.
Kent is a former Green Beret and advisor to Donald Trump, who backed Kent in 2022 and again this year.
MGP has carved out a niche as a hybrid Democrat. She is a member of the party’s
”Blue Dog” caucus, which strives for bipartisan action. She criticized the Biden administration’s border policies and called for the President to drop out of the race.
She is pro choice, pro Second Amendment and took flak from liberal Democrats for her unwavering support for Israel in the Gaza War. National pundits have called her a model for the Democratic party to reclaim rural voters.
As a first-termer she has emphasized her work helping constituents settle conflicts with federal agencies, saying she has helped them recover $3 million. She has emphasized the need for job training and economic development and consumer rights. She has helped obtain more than $2 billion in federal money to replace to Interstate Bridge.
This story will be updated tonight if there are further developments.
Great news! Marie really is a model for rural Democrats. She works hard for all of us. Should the house flip, she’ll be even more effective.
The last update I have seen as to who will control the House was the Reps need 7 and the Dems need 15 wins.
Even though it appears MGP will win, other House races still haven't been decided. And in many ways, should the House go R, there will be no hope to somewhat block the excesses of DJT, project 2025, dismantling of the ACA, support to Ukraine certainly will be gone, and it's possible China will become more aggressive towards Taiwan as the U.S. will abdicate it's support and security-related ties.
I have a friend who writes for Die tageszeltung (taz) and who emailed me this morning as to her appreciation of the mtg of European states happening right now. Her view, Europe is shocked and scared. The EU folks fear that NATO will lose the U.S. as to leadership and of course monetary contribution, perhaps even total withdrawal from NATO and what that will mean.
The simple fact is, many nations are frankly worried about U.S. isolationism and loss of its contribution to trying to make a safer and saner world.
Think not just about what is ahead within our borders, we are part of the sum total of the world but we may face events frankly too scary to even think about but maybe ought to.