Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez won a rematch with GOP challenger Joe Kent in Washington state, The Associated Press projected Saturday.
Gluesenkamp Perez’ Washington seat was a top target for Republicans, who hoped to win back the seat she flipped in 2022. Then-Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler received enormous backlash for voting to impeach then-President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, which resulted in her loss in the 2022 primary. Kent ran to the right, and voters reacted by flipping the district blue in the general election.
But Kent also had a history of controversial statements on issues like abortion, the 2020 election and Jan. 6. He, in turn, attacked Gluesenkamp Perez on the border and federal spending — working hard to link her to President Joe Biden’s less popular policies.