Wikipedia

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

In this article, the surname is Gluesenkamp Perez, not Perez.

Kristina Marie Gluesenkamp Perez[a] (born June 4, 1988) is an American politician and businesswoman. A member of the Democratic Party, she has been the United States representative for Washington's 3rd congressional district since 2023. She serves as a co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byJaime Herrera Beutler
Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 24, 2023
Preceded byJim Costa
Personal details
Born
Kristina Marie Pérez[1]

(1988-06-04) June 4, 1988 (age 36)
Harris County, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDean Gluesenkamp
Children1
EducationReed College (BA)
WebsiteHouse website

Early life and career

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Gluesenkamp Perez was born on June 4, 1988.[2] Her father immigrated from Mexico,[3] while her mother's family has roots in Washington.[4] Her great-great-grandfather was a quarry foreman in the state,[5] and her grandfather, Herbert Gilmore, was a carpenter in Bellevue.[4] Her parents met at Western Washington University and then moved to Texas where Gluesenkamp Perez was raised.[5] Her father was a pastor at an evangelical church. One of four children, she grew up in a family where her mother home-schooled her children for their early education years.[4]

After high school, Gluesenkamp Perez initially attended Warren Wilson College and then transferred to Reed College in Portland, Oregon.[4] She worked in a cafe and at a manufacturing plant to pay for tuition.[4] Gluesenkamp Perez graduated from college in 2012 with a degree in economics. She met her husband, Dean Gluesenkamp, while working as a bike mechanic.[5] They opened an automobile repair shop and moved to rural Skamania County in Washington, where they built their own home.[6][7]

Gluesenkamp Perez entered politics in 2016 when she ran for Skamania County commissioner but lost,[8] receiving 32.8% of the vote in the primary and 46.3% in the general election.[9] She supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[10] In 2018, Gluesenkamp Perez ran for the position of Skamania County Public Utility District commissioner in 2018 but was unsuccessful.[11] From 2020 to 2022, she served on the Washington State Democratic Party executive committee.[12][13] Since 2018, prior to her election to Congress, she was a member of the Underwood Soil and Water District Conservation board of supervisors.[citation needed]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2022

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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington § District 3
 
Gluesenkamp Perez outside the United States Capitol before her congressional inauguration

In 2022, Gluesenkamp Perez ran for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Washington's 3rd congressional district. She advanced from Washington's nonpartisan blanket primary in which candidates from all parties are listed on the same primary ballot, and the top two finishers, regardless of party, move on to the general election.[12] Gluesenkamp Perez finished first in the primary with 31% of the vote, while Republican Joe Kent came in second, narrowly defeating the incumbent, Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler, by 0.5%. Another Republican, Heidi St. John, finished fourth with 16.0%, and the second Democratic candidate, Davy Ray, garnered 2.2%. Before the primary, Brent Hennrich, a Democrat who had led in two early polls, withdrew from the race and endorsed Gluesenkamp Perez.[14]

The general election's rating varied from "Lean R", according to The Cook Political Report, to "Solid R" in FiveThirtyEight's House of Representatives forecast.[15][16] FiveThirtyEight estimated that Gluesenkamp Perez had a 2% chance of winning the general election over Kent, and was expected to receive 43.6% of the popular vote. She led in one of two polls and was trailing in the other; both were within the margin of error.[17] Her subsequent narrow victory received widespread national attention, with The Seattle Times calling it "the most stunning political upset in the country this year",[3] and "a microcosm of the midterms".[18][19] Kent conceded on December 21, following a recount.[20][21]

2024

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See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington § District 3

In 2024, Gluesenkamp Perez defeated Kent in a rematch.[22] As both a freshman and a representative of a crossover district, the 3rd district received national interest from both sides, and so Gluesenkamp Perez was the only crossover freshman Democrat to be re-elected.

Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Political positions

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Gluesenkamp Perez holds a town hall in Stevenson

Gluesenkamp Perez campaigned as a moderate Democrat, supporting both abortion rights and Second Amendment rights. She emphasized her focus on small businesses, job training, local issues such as the timber industry, and expressed opposition to political extremism.[3][31] Following her election, she has taken a role as a co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition and has joined the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Her record has been criticized by pro-choice activists and student debt activists.[28]

Abortion

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Gluesenkamp Perez supports abortion access, citing her personal experience having a dilation and curettage procedure after a miscarriage.[32][33][34] KGW described her support for abortion rights as "a tenet of her campaign".[32] In January 2023, she voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would criminalize healthcare providers in failing to provide care for an infant born alive after an abortion attempt.[35]

Gun control

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Gluesenkamp Perez opposes an outright ban on assault weapons but supports raising the age required to purchase an assault weapon from 18 to 21.[36][32] She voted against a bill to repeal a pistol brace ban in 2023. The ban was ruled unconstitutional a year later.[37]

Immigration

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Gluesenkamp Perez supports the reinstatement of Title 42 expulsions and the Remain in Mexico policy to curtail illegal immigration.[38] In July 2024, she cast one of five Democratic votes to condemn the Biden administration's handling of the United States border.[39]

Inflation

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Gluesenkamp Perez blames inflation on companies outsourcing jobs, and states that is the top issue affecting voters in her district.[32] She has called for both increased usage of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the short term and a long-term increase in the number of jobs available in green industries.[40]

Infrastructure

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Gluesenkamp Perez speaking about the I-5 Bridge replacement project after helping secure $2.1 billion of funding

Gluesenkamp Perez has emphasized her role in securing $2.1 billion in federal funding to rebuild the Interstate Bridge, which carries Interstate 5 across the Columbia River.[41][42] Citing the economic losses experienced in her district from landslides, she co-sponsored the renewal of the National Landslide Preparedness Act in 2024.[43]

Military and veterans

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On July 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez voted to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act that included provisions to bar Pentagon spending for abortion and transgender surgeries.[44] She defended her vote by saying the Senate would "clean up" the bill.[45] In early 2024, Gluesenkamp Perez introduced the Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act that would expand transportation to veterans attempting to access medical care. In July, after a letter she had sent earlier received no response, she hand delivered a petition to the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting the reopening of a VA clinic in Lewis County. The prior clinic was closed in 2021 and replaced with a limited mobile care unit, requiring approximately 3,000 veterans in the county to travel out of the area to Olympia, Washington.[46]

Right-to-repair

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Gluesenkamp Perez visits Burton Mill Solutions

In May 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez helped introduce the REPAIR Act and the SMART Act, two bipartisan right-to-repair bills that seek to require auto manufacturers to share parts, tools, and data needed for repairs at lower costs.[47]

Student debt

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Gluesenkamp Perez voted against a student debt relief plan proposed by the White House in 2023. She was one of only two House Democrats to do so, along with Jared Golden of Maine.[48] At the time, she said that "expansions of student debt forgiveness need to be matched dollar-for-dollar with investments in career [and] technical education. I can't support the first without the other. The severe shortage of trades workers needs to be seen [and] treated as a national priority."[49][50]

Voting rights and electoral reform

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Gluesenkamp Perez believes that vote by mail is safe and has refuted unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud among mail-in ballots.[32] In July 2024, she was one of only five out of 198 Democrats who voted with the Republican majority to pass the SAVE Act (H.R.8281, Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), which would require those registering to vote to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship. [51]

In 2024, Gluesenkamp Perez, along with Jared Golden, proposed a bipartisan committee to consider electoral reforms, such as multi-member districts with proportional representation, increasing the number of members in the House of Representatives and establishing independent redistricting commissions.[52]

Personal life

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Gluesenkamp Perez with her son on the House floor

Gluesenkamp Perez lives near Stevenson, Washington, in Skamania County.[12] She is married to Dean Gluesenkamp, and has one child.[6][32] They also have a dog named Uma Furman.[53] Gluesenkamp Perez is a nondenominational Christian.[54][55]

Electoral history

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2022 Washington's 3rd congressional district blanket primary results[56][57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 68,190 31.0
Republican Joe Kent 50,097 22.8
Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler (incumbent) 49,001 22.3
Republican Heidi St. John 35,219 16.0
Republican Vicki Kraft 7,033 3.2
Democratic Davy Ray 4,870 2.2
Independent Chris Byrd 3,817 1.7
Republican Leslie French 1,100 0.5
American Solidarity Oliver Black 456 0.2
Write-in 142 0.1
Total votes 219,925 100.0
2022 Washington's 3rd congressional district election[58][59]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 160,323 50.14
Republican Joe Kent 157,690 49.31
Write-in 1,760 0.55
Total votes 319,773 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Pronounced /ˈɡluːzənkæmp/

References

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  1. ^ "Marie Gluesenkamp Perez - D-Washington, 3rd - Biography LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Brunner, Jim; Gutman, David (November 12, 2022). "Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defeats Republican Joe Kent in WA House race". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Perling, Anna. "Driving Change". Reed Magazine. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Vander Stoep, Isabel (September 20, 2022). "Get to know the candidates for the 3rd congressional district" (PDF). The Chronicle.
  6. ^ a b "Washington New Members 2023". The Hill. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Alumni Win Key Elections in 2022". Reed Magazine. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "After toppling Herrera-Beutler, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez says she's 'not here to be a party shill'". KGW. Retrieved November 12, 2022. 'You know I had a miscarriage in 2020, the last thing I want is state troopers showing up on my porch the next morning to make me prove what really happened; this is not the America we believe in.'
  9. ^ "Skamania County November 8, 2016 General Election". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Brunner, Jim (August 16, 2022). "In race for Herrera Beutler's seat, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez focuses on Democratic and Republican voters". The Seattle Times.
  11. ^ "Skamania County November 6, 2018 General Election". results.vote.wa.gov.
  12. ^ a b c "Marie Gluesenkamp Perez". The Columbian. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  13. ^ Ellenbecker, Lauren (March 19, 2022). "3rd Congressional candidate Perez: Those in Congress 'don't work for us'". The Columbian. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Brunner, Jim; Gutman, David (May 20, 2022). "Sen. Murray draws 17 challengers in WA state primary as filing deadline closes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  15. ^ "2022 House Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  16. ^ Silver, Nate (June 30, 2022). "2022 House Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  17. ^ Silver, Nate (June 30, 2022). "2022 House Forecast - Washington's 3rd District". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "How did Marie Gluesenkamp Perez pull off the upset of the year in Southwest WA?". The Seattle Times. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  19. ^ Goldberg, Michelle (November 15, 2022). "Opinion | Four Stark Lessons From a Democratic Upset". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Facing defeat, Joe Kent campaign looks to 'cure' challenged ballots". opb. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  21. ^ Ellenbecker, Lauren (December 21, 2022). "Kent concedes 3rd district race to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez". The Columbian.
  22. ^ Libby, Amy (November 7, 2024). "Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez wins second term in Congress in repeat of 2022". The Columbian.
  23. ^ "Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "Forestry Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  25. ^ "Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  26. ^ "Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  27. ^ Ferris, Sarah (May 24, 2023). "The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks, alongside a fresh "fishing states" leadership group" – via POLITICO.
  28. ^ a b Sammon, Alex (August 13, 2023). "With Democrats Like Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez, Who Needs Republicans?". Slate.
  29. ^ "Caucus Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. February 7, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "Members | Congressional Hispanic Caucus". chc.house.gov. April 21, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  31. ^ Brynelson, Troy (November 12, 2022). "Marie Gluesenkamp Perez flips SW Washington congressional district for Democrats". OPB.
  32. ^ a b c d e f Watson, Evan. "After toppling Herrera-Beutler, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez says she's 'not here to be a party shill'". KGW. Retrieved November 12, 2022. 'You know I had a miscarriage in 2020, the last thing I want is state troopers showing up on my porch the next morning to make me prove what really happened; this is not the America we believe in.'
  33. ^ Lauren Ellenbecker (October 7, 2022). "3rd District candidates Kent, Perez split on abortion rights". The Columbian. In 2020, Perez had a miscarriage that required her to receive an abortion, and without it, she could have died.
  34. ^ "Issues". Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for Congress. In February of 2020 I miscarried at 16 weeks, and was told my life was at risk without an immediate abortion, or dilation and evacuation.
  35. ^ "Washington, D.C., roll call report". The Columbian. January 15, 2023.
  36. ^ "Two races in Washington could tip scales in Congress". The Columbian. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  37. ^ Bumala, Matthew (June 26, 2023). "Opinion: CCRP chairman offers a recap of congresswoman's 'moderate' voting record". clarkcountytoday.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  38. ^ "Centrist Democrats want Biden and Congress to make border security a priority". Morning Edition. NPR. April 29, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  39. ^ Groves, Stephen (July 25, 2024). "House Republicans vote to rebuke Kamala Harris over administration's handling of border policy". Associated Press. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  40. ^ "Washington's 3rd Congressional District debate: Republican Joe Kent and Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez". OPB. October 27, 2022.
  41. ^ Karni, Annie (March 3, 2024). "Aging Bridge Is a Flashpoint in Competitive Washington State House Race". The New York Times. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  42. ^ "Feds approve new $1.5 billion grant for I-5 Bridge replacement". The Columbian. October 23, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  43. ^ The Chronicle staff (May 3, 2024). "House of Representatives approves extension to landslide protection system". The Chronicle. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  44. ^ Zoë Richards; Rebecca Kaplan; Rebecca Shabad (July 15, 2023). "House passes defense bill after GOP adopts abortion and transgender surgery amendments". www.nbcnews.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  45. ^ Karni, Annie (March 3, 2024). "Aging Bridge Is a Flashpoint in Competitive Washington State House Race". The New York Times. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  46. ^ Roland, Mitchell (July 17, 2024). "MGP hand delivers petition urging VA to reopen Lewis County clinic". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  47. ^ Donovan-Smith, Orion (May 12, 2023). "Backed by former auto shop owner, 'right-to-repair' bills pick up steam in Congress, statehouses | The Spokesman-Review". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  48. ^ Stratford, Michael (May 24, 2023). "House votes to repeal Biden's student debt relief plan | Politico". Politico. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  49. ^ Karni, Annie (July 22, 2023). "For One Democrat, the Price of Bucking Her Party Is a Flood of Bad Reviews". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  50. ^ @RepMGP (May 25, 2023). "Expansions of student debt forgiveness need to be matched dollar-for-dollar with investments in career & technical education. I can't support the first without the other. The severe shortage of trades workers needs to be seen & treated as a national priority. It's about respect" (Tweet). Retrieved September 5, 2023 – via Twitter.
  51. ^ "Full List of Democrats Who Voted For GOP Voter ID Bill". Newsweek. July 10, 2024.
  52. ^ "U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez proposes bipartisan electoral reform committee". The Daily Chronicle. November 20, 2024.
  53. ^ Brunner, Jim (November 3, 2024). "Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Joe Kent in a nationally watched rematch". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  54. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023. p. 11.
  55. ^ Karni, Annie (March 3, 2024). "Aging Bridge Is a Flashpoint in Competitive Washington State House Race". The New York Times. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  56. ^ "August 2, 2022 Primary Results – Congressional District 3 – U.S. Representative". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  57. ^ "2022 Primary Results Certification" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  58. ^ "Official Canvass of the Returns" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  59. ^ https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/amended-results-state-certification-cong-3.pdf
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 3rd congressional district
2023–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded byas Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Administration and Communications Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Communications
2023–present
Served alongside: Jared Golden (Administration), Mary Peltola (Policy) 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
374th 		Succeeded by
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