U.S. House, Washington 3rd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Washington's 3rd Congressional District?
John Braun has the strongest record in Washington's 3rd Congressional District. John Braun scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez at 68, as of October 6, 2026. John Braun's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's highest marks are relevant experience and coalition building. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
John Braun
70 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 90
- Performance
- 63
Democratic · incumbent
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
68 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 60
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
John Braun
- On the record2026-09-12
Accepted the two televised general election debates with Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez, on KOIN Oct. 7 and KATU Oct. 13, 2026.
Sources: Clark County Today, Sept. 12, 2026, The Chronicle (Centralia), Sept. 14, 2026
- Credit2022-03-24
Was prime sponsor of SB 5790, strengthening community support services for people with developmental disabilities, cosponsored by members of both parties and signed March 24, 2022.
Source: Washington State Legislature, SB 5790 (2021 to 2022)
- Credit2020-12
Was elected leader of the Washington Senate Republican caucus in December 2020.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Braun
- Credit2020
Served 31 years in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Braun
- Credit2015-07-06
Was prime sponsor of SB 5954, the College Affordability Program, which reduced public college tuition and was signed into law July 6, 2015.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
- On the record2026-09
Twice in September 2026 voted with Republicans, with Rep. Jared Golden, to pass procedural rules all other Democrats opposed; House Democratic leaders called it a significant breach of trust.
- On the record2026-09-14
Accepted both televised general election debates with John Braun, on KOIN Oct. 7 and KATU Oct. 13, 2026.
- On the record2025-03
Voted to censure fellow Democrat Rep. Al Green over his protest during President Trump's March 2025 address, and was one of four Democrats to vote for the SAVE Act in April 2025.
Source: OPB, April 25, 2025
- Credit2025-04-24
Held an open in-person town hall in Vancouver on April 24, 2025, her 15th town hall, and took questions from a critical crowd.
Source: OPB, April 25, 2025
- Credit2023
Ranked 12th of 436 House members on the Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index for 2023.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
John Braun. A 2026 candidate financial disclosure is on file with the House Clerk (filed May 14, 2026) and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through Aug. 18, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or Public Disclosure Commission finding naming him found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076473, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Her 2025 annual disclosure was filed May 15, 2026 (amended Sept. 16, 2026). The House Clerk index lists no periodic transaction reports for her. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076749, House Committee on Ethics site search for Gluesenkamp, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
John Braun. No public record found.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. In September 2026 she and one other Democrat twice voted with Republicans to pass procedural rules every other Democrat opposed; Democratic leaders called it a breach of trust. In 2025 she voted to censure Democratic Rep. Al Green.
Sources: The Chronicle (Seattle Times), Sept. 17, 2026, OPB, April 25, 2025
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
John Braun. Accepted the two televised general election debates, on KOIN Oct. 7 and KATU Oct. 13, 2026.
Sources: The Chronicle (Centralia), Sept. 14, 2026, Clark County Today, Sept. 12, 2026
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Accepted both televised general election debates (KOIN Oct. 7, KATU Oct. 13, 2026) and holds open in-person town halls; an April 2025 Vancouver event was her 15th.
Sources: The Chronicle (Centralia), Sept. 14, 2026, OPB, April 25, 2025
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
John Braun. Served 31 years in the Navy and Navy Reserve and has been a state senator since 2013 and Senate Republican leader since 2020. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Braun
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Has served in the House since January 2023 and co-owned an auto repair shop before that. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: GovTrack, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, House Committee on Ethics site search for Gluesenkamp
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
John Braun. Served 31 years in the Navy and Navy Reserve and has held sworn office as a state senator since January 2013. No misuse-of-office finding or recorded act on certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Braun
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Has held sworn office in the House since January 2023, after the January 2021 electoral count. No misuse-of-office finding found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
John Braun. State senator for the 20th District since 2013 (four terms) and Senate Republican leader since 2020; a retired Navy captain; president of Braun Northwest since 2006.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Braun, Washington State Legislature, member page
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. In the U.S. House since January 2023, now completing her second term; earlier co-owned an auto repair shop.
Sources: GovTrack, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Campaign site, About
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
John Braun. Elected Senate Republican leader in 2020 and sits on the Ways and Means Committee. Was prime sponsor of the 2015 College Affordability Program law, and publishes specific federal proposals on the border, fentanyl and sea lion control.
Sources: Washington State Legislature, member page, Senate Republican Caucus, Sen. Braun, Washington State Legislature, SB 5954 (2015), Campaign site, Issues
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Serves on the Appropriations Committee and its agriculture and financial services subcommittees, and publishes issue positions.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Campaign site, Issues
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
John Braun. Publishes a legislative e-newsletter and a campaign issues page, and accepted two televised debates. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Senate Republican Caucus, Sen. Braun, Campaign site, Issues, The Chronicle (Centralia), Sept. 14, 2026, Ballotpedia, John Braun
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Offers a newsletter, publishes campaign issue pages, holds in-person town halls and accepted two televised debates. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, OPB, April 25, 2025, The Chronicle (Centralia), Sept. 14, 2026, Ballotpedia, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
John Braun. Has lived in Lewis County since his family moved there in the 1980s and lives near Centralia. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 68 percent of itemized individual contributions from Washington.
Sources: Campaign site, About, Senate Republican Caucus, About, The Chronicle (Centralia), Sept. 14, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Lives in rural Skamania County in a home she and her husband built. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 36 percent of contributions reported by state from Washington.
Sources: Campaign site, About, The Chronicle (Centralia), Sept. 14, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
John Braun. President of Braun Northwest, an emergency vehicle manufacturer in Chehalis, since 2006; his campaign puts its workforce at 350. FEC reports on file through Aug. 18, 2026, with no administrative fine.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Braun, Campaign site, About, FEC administrative fines search
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
John Braun. Prime sponsor of SB 5954 (2015), which cut public college tuition and was signed July 6, 2015, and SB 5790 (2022), on services for people with developmental disabilities, signed March 24, 2022.
Sources: Washington State Legislature, SB 5954 (2015), Washington State Legislature, SB 5790 (2021 to 2022)
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.446 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.522, meeting expectations. Her one enacted sponsored bill names a post office.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
John Braun. No public record found.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Missed 29 of 1,917 roll call votes, 1.5 percent, from January 2023 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
John Braun. No public record found.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Keeps district offices in Vancouver and Kelso, holds mobile office hours and reports 3,010 constituent cases closed and $10.38 million recovered as of January 2026.
Source: Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
John Braun. His SB 5790 (2022) carried Democratic and Republican cosponsors and was signed into law.
Source: Washington State Legislature, SB 5790 (2021 to 2022)
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 1.65187 in the latest posted House scores (2023), ranked 12 of 436, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
John Braun. No public record found.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Washington's 3rd Congressional District?
John Braun has the strongest record in Washington's 3rd Congressional District. John Braun scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez at 68, as of October 6, 2026. John Braun's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's highest marks are relevant experience and coalition building. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Washington's 3rd Congressional District in 2026?
John Braun (Republican), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is John Braun a good candidate for Congress?
John Braun scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 90 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Marie Gluesenkamp Perez a good candidate for Congress?
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 60 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Washington race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Washington 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.