Meet Washington's Surprise Winner: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Scores Again

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a first-term Democrat from Washington's 3rd District, has pulled off another victory, defeating Republican Joe Kent in a closely watched race. Two years ago, she shocked everyone by winning a seat that hadn't been held by a Democrat in over a decade. This time, despite some dramatic events, like an arson attack on a ballot box, she managed to secure her spot again. She's not your typical politician. Perez runs an auto-repair shop with her husband, bringing a unique perspective to Congress. Her mixed policies show she's trying to appeal to both sides. She supports progressive ideas like abortion access and climate change action, but also pushes for securing the border and balancing the budget. Her opponent, Kent, had some strong opinions too. He's called for Biden's impeachment and is concerned about inflation and immigration. But Perez's diverse set of views seemed to resonate more with voters in this district. A major disagreement between them was about what to do with the old bridge over the Columbia River. Perez supports replacing it, while Kent wanted a new bridge and to keep the old one running.