The midterm election is less than 3 weeks away. This year all voters in Washington will vote on their members of Congress, with each of the state’s 10 U.S. House Seats on the ballot.
We’re reviewing congressional races in the 3rd, 4th and 5th Districts in the state – including one that is one of the closest in the nation. Longtime Washington State Standard political reporter, Jerry Cornfield says all seats have varied political significance.
In the southwestern portion of the state, is the 3rd Congressional District. The race with the most attention, money and national implications.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkemp Perez, a Democrat who often sides with Republicans, is clawing to keep her seat against Republican state senator and businessman, John Braun.
“When I last looked Republicans held a four-seat advantage over Democrats in the U.S. House. There's less than two dozen races around the country that are even considered competitive. This is one of them. So, the winner of this race will help determine who's going to have the majority in the U.S. House next year,” Cornfield said.
Cornfield says if this seat flipped, it would be a huge boost for Republicans.
“Washington state is heavily Democratic in its congressional delegation. So, if Senator John Braun, the Republican, is able to take the seat back, as Republicans did hold it for more than a decade prior to a Democrat Marie Glusenkemp-Perez winning, it would be a big win for the party. They've been suffering losses in the state legislative races and the congressional races, and this is one that will be a good barometer of just where is the Republican Party, at least in the southwest part of the state,” Cornfield said.
In the central part of Washington, including Yakima and the Tri-Cities, voters are weighing the open seat for District 4. Republican congressman Dan Newhouse is not seeking re-election. The race is between Republican Amanda McKinney, and Democrat John Duresky.
“Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County commissioner, is running with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. And she is all-in after a recent debate, with the Trump MAGA agenda and is 100% in line with him. John Duresky has got a long history in the community... but he's not as well-funded. The Democrats are not lined up to push him through, but there is a “blue wave” that's on the East Coast, and it's making its way to the West Coast. And this is one of those races where you just wonder, are Democrats and the Independents ready to walk away and do something they haven't done in a long time, and that's elect a Democrat to this district,” Cornfield said.
The 5th Congressional district includes Spokane, the largest city in eastern Washington. This is the other seat in Washington currently held by a Republican, Michael Baumgartner, but in this case, he’s running for re-election.
“Michael Baumgartner is in his first term, and he too has the support of President Donald Trump. Carmela Conroy, the Democrat, ran against him. You know, they fought against each other two years ago on the ballot. So, it is a kind of a rematch of sorts. On paper, again, like the 4th Congressional District it looks pretty one-sided for the Republican. However, just in recent weeks, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said, ‘we think that blue wave is going to wash ashore in that district, and we can bring Carmela Conroy over to a victory and turn it from red to blue.’ I think that's a long shot,” Cornfield said.
While the 7 other races all feature a Democrat and Republican, analysts expect them all to stay in Democratic control.
