Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez: A Voice for Working-Class Voters

It’s not always enjoyable to proclaim, “I told you so.” For two years, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat hailing from a predominantly rural and conservative district in Washington State, has been vocal in her critique of her party’s tendency to overlook the concerns of working-class voters.

This message seems to have resonated deeply with constituents and may have played a significant role in her surprising success in the recent election. Despite the presence of President-elect Donald J. Trump leading the ticket and winning her district for the third consecutive time, Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez appears poised to defeat her opponent, the far-right Republican and former Green Beret Joe Kent, by an even larger margin than before.

On Thursday night, she confidently declared victory in a statement following a local newspaper’s announcement that the election had been called in her favor, even though The Associated Press had yet to officially confirm the results.

Preliminary results indicate that she outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris by a notable seven percentage points in some of the most conservative counties within her district, including the rural timber county of Wahkiakum.

At just 36 years old, Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez—who owns an auto shop now operated by her husband—has established herself as a distinctive figure within her party. She often diverges from party lines on significant votes, a stance that has drawn the ire of progressive factions within her party. For instance, she made headlines when she voted with Republicans to repeal President Biden’s student loan forgiveness initiative, arguing that it offered little support for her constituents, many of whom do not hold college degrees.