Political future of Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3)?

[Eastern Washington Democrat]

As one of the most refreshing/interesting candidates the Democratic Party has had in years, what might her political trajectory be? The fact that she won reelection by an increased margin while Trump was on the ballot and focuses deliberately on local issues makes me think she can hold her district for a while, though I'd be delighted if she became a Senator. Her political instincts represent perhaps the most compelling vision for the future of the Democratic Party that I've seen post-election (local-focused, collaborative, curious about constituent lives/solving their problems, non-condescending, etc).

[Talleyrand]

I would love to see her win Murray's seat in 2028 if it opens up.

[ProgressiveModerate]

President

[Vosem]

Should be OK in a Republican midterm for 2026; her seat is moving left (it didn't actually vote for Trump by that much) and she does seem locally popular, though it's always a little hard to tell with multiple-time winners who've just beaten the same candidate over and over if it's more about them or their opponent (Mike Garcia was a titan until he had to fight someone who wasn't Christy Smith, and Mary Peltola was very impressive until she faced not-Sarah Palin; maybe MGP will fall when she has to run against not-Joe Kent).

In the longer run, I don't know that she can survive an actual good Republican cycle, and I don't know that she has the best base to try to fight a statewide Democratic primary.

I would love to see her win Murray's seat in 2028 if it opens up.

Would she really be able to make Top Two, as opposed to a Democrat closer to Seattle's political culture? (And is Murray even that likely to retire? Though I guess, having reached PPT, I don't know that there's much else for her to shoot for. I feel like DelBene and Jayapal and Strickland are all more logical statewide candidates than MGP, though, and that's just from the House delegation!)

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Republican after she inevitably loses a primary for higher office against a Democrat to her left.

Also I gotta find it kinda hilarious that the co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition of all people is being heralded as future of the party. Time really is a flat circle.

[Eastern Washington Democrat]

Should be OK in a Republican midterm for 2026; her seat is moving left (it didn't actually vote for Trump by that much) and she does seem locally popular, though it's always a little hard to tell with multiple-time winners who've just beaten the same candidate over and over if it's more about them or their opponent (Mike Garcia was a titan until he had to fight someone who wasn't Christy Smith, and Mary Peltola was very impressive until she faced not-Sarah Palin; maybe MGP will fall when she has to run against not-Joe Kent).

In the longer run, I don't know that she can survive an actual good Republican cycle, and I don't know that she has the best base to try to fight a statewide Democratic primary.

I would love to see her win Murray's seat in 2028 if it opens up.

Would she really be able to make Top Two, as opposed to a Democrat closer to Seattle's political culture? (And is Murray even that likely to retire? Though I guess, having reached PPT, I don't know that there's much else for her to shoot for. I feel like DelBene and Jayapal and Strickland are all more logical statewide candidates than MGP, though, and that's just from the House delegation!)

I could see Gluesenkamp Perez winning a Democratic primary for either Cantwell or Murray's seat by catering to reasonable Republicans throughout the state and focusing on rural grassroots support.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

Should be OK in a Republican midterm for 2026; her seat is moving left (it didn't actually vote for Trump by that much) and she does seem locally popular, though it's always a little hard to tell with multiple-time winners who've just beaten the same candidate over and over if it's more about them or their opponent (Mike Garcia was a titan until he had to fight someone who wasn't Christy Smith, and Mary Peltola was very impressive until she faced not-Sarah Palin; maybe MGP will fall when she has to run against not-Joe Kent).

In the longer run, I don't know that she can survive an actual good Republican cycle, and I don't know that she has the best base to try to fight a statewide Democratic primary.

I would love to see her win Murray's seat in 2028 if it opens up.

Would she really be able to make Top Two, as opposed to a Democrat closer to Seattle's political culture? (And is Murray even that likely to retire? Though I guess, having reached PPT, I don't know that there's much else for her to shoot for. I feel like DelBene and Jayapal and Strickland are all more logical statewide candidates than MGP, though, and that's just from the House delegation!)

I could see Gluesenkamp Perez winning a Democratic primary for either Cantwell or Murray's seat by catering to reasonable Republicans throughout the state and focusing on rural grassroots support.

Why wouldn't those Republicans just vote for a Republican?

[Vosem]

Should be OK in a Republican midterm for 2026; her seat is moving left (it didn't actually vote for Trump by that much) and she does seem locally popular, though it's always a little hard to tell with multiple-time winners who've just beaten the same candidate over and over if it's more about them or their opponent (Mike Garcia was a titan until he had to fight someone who wasn't Christy Smith, and Mary Peltola was very impressive until she faced not-Sarah Palin; maybe MGP will fall when she has to run against not-Joe Kent).

In the longer run, I don't know that she can survive an actual good Republican cycle, and I don't know that she has the best base to try to fight a statewide Democratic primary.

I would love to see her win Murray's seat in 2028 if it opens up.

Would she really be able to make Top Two, as opposed to a Democrat closer to Seattle's political culture? (And is Murray even that likely to retire? Though I guess, having reached PPT, I don't know that there's much else for her to shoot for. I feel like DelBene and Jayapal and Strickland are all more logical statewide candidates than MGP, though, and that's just from the House delegation!)

I could see Gluesenkamp Perez winning a Democratic primary for either Cantwell or Murray's seat by catering to reasonable Republicans throughout the state and focusing on rural grassroots support.

Why wouldn't those Republicans just vote for a Republican?

Yeah, Washington is a place where the Republican party remains quite alive (Reichert ran a pretty credible gubernatorial campaign in 2024, after all; the GOP only lost the state Senate in 2018 and still routinely comes within single-digits for a few statewide positions every cycle), and it lacks the tradition of conservative voters picking the least bad Democrat that some Northeastern states have.

I don't think MGP would be doomed by any means -- being a swing district incumbent nowadays means that you're a strong fundraiser almost by default -- just that the geography of a primary would be against her. (I wonder if she pulls an Inslee; he was initially elected to a competitive, conservative outstate House seat, then ran statewide and got annihilated in a Democratic primary, then moved to King County and returned to the House from there, and then ran for Governor again and made it).

[Eastern Washington Democrat]

Should be OK in a Republican midterm for 2026; her seat is moving left (it didn't actually vote for Trump by that much) and she does seem locally popular, though it's always a little hard to tell with multiple-time winners who've just beaten the same candidate over and over if it's more about them or their opponent (Mike Garcia was a titan until he had to fight someone who wasn't Christy Smith, and Mary Peltola was very impressive until she faced not-Sarah Palin; maybe MGP will fall when she has to run against not-Joe Kent).

In the longer run, I don't know that she can survive an actual good Republican cycle, and I don't know that she has the best base to try to fight a statewide Democratic primary.

I would love to see her win Murray's seat in 2028 if it opens up.

Would she really be able to make Top Two, as opposed to a Democrat closer to Seattle's political culture? (And is Murray even that likely to retire? Though I guess, having reached PPT, I don't know that there's much else for her to shoot for. I feel like DelBene and Jayapal and Strickland are all more logical statewide candidates than MGP, though, and that's just from the House delegation!)

I could see Gluesenkamp Perez winning a Democratic primary for either Cantwell or Murray's seat by catering to reasonable Republicans throughout the state and focusing on rural grassroots support.

Why wouldn't those Republicans just vote for a Republican?

Yeah, Washington is a place where the Republican party remains quite alive (Reichert ran a pretty credible gubernatorial campaign in 2024, after all; the GOP only lost the state Senate in 2018 and still routinely comes within single-digits for a few statewide positions every cycle), and it lacks the tradition of conservative voters picking the least bad Democrat that some Northeastern states have.

I don't think MGP would be doomed by any means -- being a swing district incumbent nowadays means that you're a strong fundraiser almost by default -- just that the geography of a primary would be against her. (I wonder if she pulls an Inslee; he was initially elected to a competitive, conservative outstate House seat, then ran statewide and got annihilated in a Democratic primary, then moved to King County and returned to the House from there, and then ran for Governor again and made it).

Inslee moved to Kitsap, not King County, and I highly doubt MGP would carpetbag like that - her entire brand is focused on local issues and rebuilding rural/forgotten places (many of which exist east of the Cascades, particularly in Northeast Washington) - such a move would implode her positive image.

[MargieCat]

I think she goes down in a wave, eventually.

Maybe she ends up in some lower statewide office like Lieutenant Governor or Commissioner of Public Lands at some point.

[Steve from Lambeth]

One of the astuter Democrats; probably has enough in her to defeat almost anything the GOP could throw at WA-03 at this point. Not ruling out a wildcard 2028 Presidential run given how congested all the statewide lanes of office are, but would also not be surprised if she just tried to get a promotion later on in her career.

[David Hume]

Should be OK in a Republican midterm for 2026; her seat is moving left (it didn't actually vote for Trump by that much) and she does seem locally popular, though it's always a little hard to tell with multiple-time winners who've just beaten the same candidate over and over if it's more about them or their opponent (Mike Garcia was a titan until he had to fight someone who wasn't Christy Smith, and Mary Peltola was very impressive until she faced not-Sarah Palin; maybe MGP will fall when she has to run against not-Joe Kent).

In the longer run, I don't know that she can survive an actual good Republican cycle, and I don't know that she has the best base to try to fight a statewide Democratic primary.

I would love to see her win Murray's seat in 2028 if it opens up.

Would she really be able to make Top Two, as opposed to a Democrat closer to Seattle's political culture? (And is Murray even that likely to retire? Though I guess, having reached PPT, I don't know that there's much else for her to shoot for. I feel like DelBene and Jayapal and Strickland are all more logical statewide candidates than MGP, though, and that's just from the House delegation!)

I could see Gluesenkamp Perez winning a Democratic primary for either Cantwell or Murray's seat by catering to reasonable Republicans throughout the state and focusing on rural grassroots support.

Why wouldn't those Republicans just vote for a Republican?

R can't win a senate seat in WA in the foreseeable future. She's the best R can hope for in WA. If I were in WA, I would actively campaign for her.

[CheapDollarEra?]

Her seat includes a suburb from Portland...
She should just stay there.
Washington dems don't need her to win Senate seats.

[GAinDC]

I love her and think she has a very bright future

[New World Man]

A long career in the house.

[here2view]

She wins in 2026. I think she holds on in 2028 as she already won during a presidential cycle. 2030 depends on what party is in power after 2028.

[Fuzzy Bear Stands With S019 And Israel]

Patty Murray is 4th in line for the Presidency until January 3rd, 2025.

She's President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the most senior sitting Democrat.  That's kind of amazing; I remember her first campaign when her ads had a voice saying to her:  "You're just a Mom in Tennis Shoes!" as a put-down in an election that saw a number of Female Senators elected.

Glusenkamp Perez is nothing special.  She'll stay in Congress until she retires or is defeated.

[Progressive Pessimist]

She wins in 2026. I think she holds on in 2028 as she already won during a presidential cycle. 2030 depends on what party is in power after 2028.

Not to mention that Washington seems to be the most MAGA-resistant state.

[EastOfEden]

Probably a long career in the House, maybe a statewide run at some point. Underrated possibility: VP pick for a D presidential candidate.