Outside spending tops $20 million in Washington state's Pivotal 3rd District race

Democratic incumbent Gluesenkamp Perez faces Republican Braun in contest that could decide House control

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Spending in Washington state's most closely watched congressional race has surged past $20 million, with outside groups pouring more than $15 million into the 3rd District contest between Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state Sen. John Braun, a race that could help determine which party controls the U.S. House in 2027.

Campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Commission show Gluesenkamp Perez, seeking a third term, has raised $8.8 million and began October with roughly $640,000 on hand. Braun has raised $3.2 million and started October with $1.1 million available. Outside forces, including party committees and super PACs, have committed more than $15 million on advertising, mailers, texts, phone calls and direct outreach to voters across Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania counties, plus part of Thurston County.

Much of that money is being spent on television ads ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The race is seen as a toss-up, with recent polling showing the candidates deadlocked. House Speaker Mike Johnson is scheduled to appear at a Braun rally in Washington state on Wednesday, underscoring the national stakes.

The district leans Republican, as Trump won it in all three of his presidential campaigns, but Gluesenkamp Perez, co-owner of an auto repair and machine shop, won the seat in 2022 and defeated Republican Joe Kent again in 2024.

Federal records show Gluesenkamp Perez has been the target of about $11 million in direct opposition spending. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, has spent $4.8 million; No Going Back, aligned with Trump's MAGA Inc., has spent roughly $3.9 million opposing her and about $500,000 supporting Braun; the American Action Network has shelled out $1 million; and the National Republican Congressional Committee and Braun campaign jointly spent about $2.6 million, mostly against the incumbent.

Braun has faced $4.3 million in spending by the House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Gluesenkamp Perez campaign have jointly spent $2.6 million on opposition ads.

Tim Gowen, Gluesenkamp Perez's campaign manager, said: "The level of outside spending in this race has been obscene. Republican groups, including Trump's own super PAC, have spent more than $10 million on deceptive negative ads — more than double what groups supporting Democrats have spent."

A Braun campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The 3rd District race is one of a handful of close contests that will decide which party controls the U.S. House, where Republicans currently hold a slim 218-214 majority.
Record-level outside spending shows how national groups view this race as critical to their broader strategy.
The outcome will test whether a Democrat can hold a Republican-leaning seat in a midterm environment.

Background

Washington's 3rd Congressional District covers the southwest corner of the state, including Clark and Cowlitz counties. It has voted for Trump in all three of his presidential runs, yet Gluesenkamp Perez, a moderate Democrat with a small-business background, has won twice, first in 2022 against a Trump-backed challenger and again in 2024. The race is now seen as a bellwether for national political trends.

Key Perspectives

Gluesenkamp Perez campaign: Argues the incumbent is being targeted by an overwhelming amount of Republican outside spending, which her campaign calls deceptive. She points to her local business roots and her ability to win in a conservative district. Braun campaign (via actions): Emphasizes the district's Republican lean and ties to Trump, with support from national Republican leaders like Speaker Johnson. The campaign has not publicly responded to criticism of outside spending. National party committees: Both sides treat the race as a must-win for controlling the House, funneling millions into ads and outreach.

What to Watch

Whether recent polling remains deadlocked as Election Day approaches.
The impact of Speaker Johnson's rally on Republican turnout.
Any late shifts in outside spending, particularly new ad reservations in the final weeks.

Sources

Spending tops $20M in Washington state’s hottest congressional race · Washington State Standard

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Not in the sourcesOutside spending in the race tops $20 million.Washington State Standard: “Candidates in Washington state’s most closely watched congressional race have spent more than $10 million entering the final weeks of the campaign. Meanwhile, outside forces are shelling out nearly twice as much”
Partly supportedTotal spending in the race has surged past $20 million.Washington State Standard: “Spending tops $20M in Washington state’s hottest congressional race.”
SupportedThe race could help determine which party controls the U.S. House in 2027.Washington State Standard: “the two parties are competing hard in close races, and recent polling shows the two candidates deadlocked”
SupportedOutside groups have committed more than $15 million to the contest.Washington State Standard: “Collectively they have committed in excess of $15 million on advertising, mailers, text messages, phone calls and direct outreach”
SupportedGluesenkamp Perez has raised $8.8 million and began October with roughly $640,000; Braun has raised $3.2 million and began October with $1.1 million.Washington State Standard: “Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who is pursuing a third term, has raised $8.8 million and began October with roughly $640,000 on hand”
Partly supportedMuch of the outside spending is being spent on television ads ahead of the Nov. 3 election.Washington State Standard: “Though much of that sum has been spent, groups on both sides of this electoral battle are reserving air time for television ads leading up to the Nov. 3 election.”
SupportedRecent polling shows the candidates deadlocked.Washington State Standard: “recent polling shows the two candidates deadlocked”
SupportedHouse Speaker Mike Johnson is scheduled to join Braun at a campaign rally in Washington on Wednesday.Washington State Standard: “House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Lousiana, will be in Washington on Wednesday to join Braun at a campaign rally.”
SupportedGowen said Republican groups, including Trump’s own super PAC, spent more than $10 million on deceptive negative ads, more than double what groups supporting Democrats spent.Washington State Standard: ““The level of outside spending in this race has been obscene,” said Tim Gowen, Gluesenkamp Perez’s campaign manager. “Republican groups, including Trump’s own super PAC, have spent more than $10 million on deceptive negative ads — more than double what groups supporting Democrats have spent.””
SupportedGluesenkamp Perez has been the target of about $11 million in direct opposition spending.Washington State Standard: “As of early October, Gluesenkamp Perez has been the target of around $11 million in direct opposition spending based on a review of federal election records.”
Partly supportedA Braun campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.Washington State Standard: “A Braun campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”