Gluesenkamp Perez wins competitive Washington race

Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez secured a third term in Washington's 3rd Congressional District, projected by CBS News. The victory comes as Democrats anticipate taking control of the House of Representatives in January, following a series of strong wins nationwide. Perez defeated Republican state Senator John Braun in the rural southwestern district, which President Trump had won in the past three elections.

Braun, who serves as the top Republican in the Washington state Senate, was considered a more moderate candidate compared to Perez's previous opponent, far-right conservative Joe Kent. Kent later became President Trump's counterterrorism chief before resigning in protest over the Iran war. Despite Perez's past clashes with Democratic colleagues over party-line votes, she emerged victorious in a crucial race for the party's hopes of regaining the House majority.