PORTLAND, Ore. — One of the most closely-watched and consequential national races is southwest Washington's third congressional district, a rematch between incumbent democrat Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and republican Joe Kent. The results of the race could determine control of the House, where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority. Both parties are pouring millions into the race.
Representative Gluesenkamp Perez is hoping her voting record over the past two years shows bipartisanship and that she's fought for the interests of people in southwest Washington. But Kent says her record shows an endorsement of wasteful government spending and too little action on immigration and the economy.
"The number one driver of this inflation is out of control spending in Washington D.C.," Kent said.
Gluesenkamp Perez said she's spent the last two years encouraging more education in the trades and bringing federal money to southwest Washington.
On foreign policy, the two both agree on assisting Israel, they sparred on how the U.S. should be involved.
"I think that it's critical that we support the only liberal democracy in the Middle East and ensure that our reputation is upheld," Gluesenkamp Perez said. "That is our national interest." She broke with other Democrats this year to support aid to Israel.
Kent argued that while the U.S. should support Israel, it should be done from a distance.
"U.S. boots should not be on the ground inside Israel," he said. "The THAAD missile system can be operated from Jordan where our troops aren't under direct attack, or it can be operated offshore in the Mediterranean. Putting boots on the ground is essentially an act of war because what happens when an Iranian ballistic missile hits them, or one of the proxy groups hits them? Then next thing you know, we're at war that no one voted for."
When it comes to abortion, Gluesenkamp Perez said the decision belongs with families and their health care providers, while Kent said he supports the U.S. Supreme Court turning the issue over to the states, a shift from his position in 2022, when he favored a national abortion ban.
"Getting out and talking to people, I realize that people don't share my exact view," Kent said. "I think the Supreme Court saying that, 'Hey, this is a divisive issue, we're gonna take it out of the federal government's purview, we're gonna put it back down at the states,' I think that's actually the right call."
Kent told KGW now that he'll never support a national abortion ban.
As for the next president, Kent declined to say whether he still believes Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, as he did in 2022, saying that there are bigger issues to deal with now.
Gluesenkamp Perez said she would not be endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president, and when pressed, would not say who she is voting for — just that it wouldn't be Donald Trump.
"It's not the role of a federally elected member to tell people how to vote," she said.
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