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

(1988-06-04) June 4, 1988 (age 35)
Harris County, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDean Gluesenkamp
Children1
EducationReed College (BA)
WebsiteHouse website

Kristina Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (born June 4, 1988), also known by her initials MGP, is an American politician and businesswoman. A member of the Democratic Party, she has been the U.S. representative for Washington's 3rd congressional district since 2023.

Early life and career

Gluesenkamp Perez was born on June 4, 1988.[1] Her father immigrated from Mexico.[2] She graduated from Reed College in 2012[3] with a degree in economics.[2] She and her husband own an automobile repair shop in Portland, Oregon.[4] During the COVID-19 pandemic, her repair shop received $63,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds. After Gluesenkamp Perez's election, the repair shop was review bombed by individuals unhappy with her decision to vote with Republicans on a bill repealing President Biden's student loan relief plan.[5]

In 2016, Gluesenkamp Perez lost a race for Skamania County Commissioner.[6] She received 32.79% of the vote in the August 2 primary election, finishing second behind Republican[7] Richard Mahar. In the general election on November 8, she lost to Mahar with 46.3% of the vote.[8] Gluesenkamp Perez has served on the Washington State Democratic Party executive committee since 2020.[9] She has been a member of the Underwood Soil and Water District Conservation board of supervisors since 2018.[10]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington § District 3
Campaign logo

Gluesenkamp Perez advanced from a nonpartisan blanket primary, which was implemented in Washington state starting in the 2008 election.[9] In this format, all candidates of all parties are listed on the same primary ballot, and the two who get the most votes advance to the general election. In the primary, she finished first out of all candidates with 31.0% of the vote.[11] Republican Joe Kent finished in second place and also advanced to the general election, beating the incumbent representative, Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler, by .5%. Republican Heidi St. John finished fourth, with 16.0% of the vote. The other Democrat in the race, Davy Ray, received 2.2%. In the lead-up to the primary, Democrat Brent Hennrich, who had led in two early polls by the Trafalgar Group, withdrew from the race and endorsed Gluesenkamp Perez.[12]

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.[13][14] 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, but both were within the margin of error.[15] Her subsequent victory received widespread national attention, with The Seattle Times calling it "the most stunning political upset in the country this year,"[2] and as "a microcosm of the midterms".[16][17] Kent conceded on December 21, following a recount.[18][19]

Committee assignments

Gluesenkamp Perez outside the United States Capitol on the day of her inauguration

Caucus memberships

Political positions

In the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Gluesenkamp Perez supported Bernie Sanders.[25] In 2022, she campaigned as a self-described moderate Democrat, a "supporter of both abortion rights and Second Amendment rights". She "emphasized support for small businesses, job training and local concerns, like the timber industry" and opposition to political extremism.[2][26] Gluesenkamp Perez supports abortion rights, citing her personal experience of a miscarriage.[6] KGW described her support for abortion rights as "a tenet of her campaign".[6]

Gluesenkamp Perez has also said that inflation, which she blames on companies outsourcing jobs, is the top issue affecting voters in her district.[6] 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.[27]

Gluesenkamp Perez believes that vote by mail is safe and has refuted unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud among mail-in ballots.[6] She has condemned the January 6 United States Capitol attack and criticized Kent for not doing so.[28]

Gluesenkamp Perez opposes a ban on assault weapons, but has expressed interest in raising the age required to purchase an assault weapon from 18 to 21.[4][6] She has also called for increased hiring of police to handle a surge in property crime.[27]

In 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would have criminalized failing to provide care for an infant born alive after an abortion attempt.[29]

In April 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez was among 50 Democrats that voted in favor H.Con.Res. 30, which would remove American troops from Somalia.[30][31]

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.[32]

In May 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez voted to block President Biden's student debt relief plan in addition to requiring borrowers to make retroactive student loan payments. She was one of only two House Democrats to vote with the Republicans in doing so, along with Jared Golden of Maine.[33]

On July 14, 2023, in opposition of campaign promises to support abortion rights, Gluesenkemp Perez voted along with the majority of House Republicans to pass the annual Defense Policy Bill that includes provisions to bar Pentagon spending for abortion and transgender surgeries.[34]

Personal life

Gluesenkamp Perez with her child on the House floor

Gluesenkamp Perez lives near Stevenson, Washington, in Skamania County.[9] Married to Dean Gluesenkamp, she has one child.[1][6] Gluesenkamp Perez is nondenominational.[35]

Gluesenkamp Perez failed for more than six months to pay 2022 property taxes on her Portland auto repair shop. She then paid them after being contacted about it by The Oregonian.[36]

Electoral history

2022 Washington's 3rd congressional district blanket primary results[11]
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[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 160,314 50.14
Republican Joe Kent 157,685 49.31
Write-in 1,760 0.55
Total votes 319,759 100.0

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Washington New Members 2023". The Hill. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d 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.
  3. ^ "Alumni Win Key Elections in 2022". Reed Magazine. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Two races in Washington could tip scales in Congress". The Columbian. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "After toppling Herrera-Beutler, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez says she's 'not here to be a party shill'". KGW. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "Skamania County August 2, 2016 Primary". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "Skamania County November 8, 2016 General Election". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "Marie Gluesenkamp Perez". The Columbian. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  10. ^ "3rd Congressional District". The Columbian. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "August 2, 2022 Primary Results – Congressional District 3 – U.S. Representative". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "2022 House Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  14. ^ Silver, Nate (June 30, 2022). "2022 House Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  15. ^ Silver, Nate (June 30, 2022). "2022 House Forecast - Washington's 3rd District". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ Goldberg, Michelle (November 15, 2022). "Opinion | Four Stark Lessons From a Democratic Upset". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "Facing defeat, Joe Kent campaign looks to 'cure' challenged ballots". opb. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  19. ^ Ellenbecker, Lauren (December 21, 2022). "Kent concedes 3rd district race to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez". The Columbian.
  20. ^ "Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Forestry Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Subcommittee". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Brunner, Jim (August 16, 2022). "In race for Herrera Beutler's seat, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez focuses on Democratic and Republican voters". The Seattle Times.
  26. ^ "Marie Gluesenkamp Perez flips SW Washington congressional district for Democrats". OPB. November 12, 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Washington's 3rd Congressional District debate: Republican Joe Kent and Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez". OPB. October 27, 2022.
  28. ^ "Questions for candidates: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  29. ^ "Washington, D.C., roll call report".
  30. ^ "House rejects Gaetz resolution to remove US troops from Somalia". April 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "H.Con.Res. 30: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #201 -- Apr 27, 2023".
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ Stratford, Michael (May 24, 2023). "House votes to repeal Biden's student debt relief plan | Politico". Politico. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023. p. 11.
  36. ^ "Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez failed to pay property taxes on her NE Portland auto repair shop".
  37. ^ "November 8, 2022 General Election Results - CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3". Secretary of State of Washington. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byJaime Herrera Beutler Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Washington's 3rd congressional district 2023–present Incumbent Party political offices Preceded byJared Goldenas 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 byRobert Garcia United States representatives by seniority 385th Succeeded byDan Goldman
Washington's current delegation to the United States Congress
Current members of the United States House of Representatives
Washington's delegation(s) to the 118th–present United States Congress (ordered by seniority)
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