Now one week out from election day, the Washington State congressional delegation has finally been set. After days of counting votes, the races in Washington’s 3rd and 4th Districts have officially been called for the incumbents. In the Southwest Washington’s 3rd District, incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defeated Joe Kent to win re-election to a second term in the House. In the 4th District, located in Central Washington, Dan Newhouse defeated a Trump-backed challenger to secure his sixth term.
Gluesenkamp Perez, considered by many to be the most vulnerable Democrat in the country during this election cycle, was officially declared the victor late last week, holding a 15,000-vote lead over Kent. In a statement celebrating her victory, Gluesenkamp Perez thanked her supporters and told her constituents that her priorities in the next Congress will include lowering costs, securing the Southern border, ending the influx of fentanyl into communities, protecting reproductive rights, and demanding fiscal discipline.
Late on Monday night, the race in the 4th Congressional District was finally called for Dan Newhouse, who held a 12,500-vote lead over fellow Republican Jerrod Sessler. In a statement released shortly after his victory was declared, Newhouse said that he was “incredibly honored to have the support from the people of Central Washington,” and that his victory proved that “the people want a results-driven leader who understands the unique challenges facing Central Washington.” Newhouse received more votes than Sessler in six of the eight counties that make up the 4th District.
With these two races having finally been called, Washington State’s congressional delegation is set for the 119th Congress. Every incumbent who sought re-election in the state will be heading back to D.C. for another term, while the two retiring members of the delegation, Representatives McMorris-Rodgers and Kilmer, will be replaced by Michael Baumgartner and Emily Randall, respectively.