Millions in outside money pour into WA's swing district race

Anumita Kaur, The Seattle Times on Oct 29, 2026

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Millions of dollars are flowing into the tight congressional race for Southwest Washington's swing 3rd Congressional District, bolstering campaigns to reelect U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez or flip the seat for state Sen. John Braun. Much of that money comes from outside Washington, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

About half of the donors who have contributed more than $200 to either candidate's campaign are from Washington state; the rest are from elsewhere in the country, federal filings show as of mid-October. Meanwhile, outside groups have poured more than $18 million into the district to influence voters through advertisements, texts, phone calls, emails and other outreach.

The vast influx of funds from beyond the state underscore the race's national stakes. The 3rd District has produced a string of close congressional contests in recent years and is one of few races nationwide that may help determine which party controls the U.S. House. Although both candidates have crafted campaigns that largely hinge on local issues, their bids are also fueled by national interests seeking to shape the balance of power in Congress.

It's certainly not unusual for some campaigns, and one of the reasons for that is because congressional elections across the country have become so nationalized. National considerations factor into local outcomes in a more pronounced way in recent election cycles," said Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor and campaign finance expert at Northeastern University.

"Donors nationally look toward candidates across the country to maximize their chances to attain majority status in Washington, D.C.," Panagopoulos added. To attain their preferred congressional majority, he added, donors cast a wide net.

Gluesenkamp Perez, the Democratic incumbent, has raised roughly $9.5 million and spent about $9.3 million as of mid-October, according to federal filings. About $4.7 million came from Washington state-based donors who gave more than $200..

Braun has raised roughly $3.3 million — including about $1.5 million from Washington state-based donors who gave more than $200, according to federal filings. He has spent about $2.6 million as of mid-October.

Donations below $200 aren't itemized on the FEC website. Braun's campaign said when accounting for lower dollar contributions, its portion of in-state donors is higher than what is currently reflected in federal filings.

Campaign contributions and spending by the candidates themselves account for only a slim slice of dollars being spent in the district. Outside groups, a major force in congressional elections nationwide, have spent nearly $20 million in the 3rd District, federal filings show as of Wednesday, with much of that money coming from outside Washington.

No Going Back, a political action committee aligned with Trump’s MAGA Inc., has spent nearly $6 million in the district opposing Gluesenkamp Perez and supporting Braun. About $1.2 million of that spending occurred just within the last two weeks, according to federal filings.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, which is dedicated to electing Republicans to the U.S. House, has spent just over $6 million opposing the incumbent. America PAC, backed by billionaire Elon Musk, who previously spearheaded Trump's efforts to slash the federal government, has spent about $586,000 supporting Braun.

Meanwhile, the House Majority PAC, which focuses on electing Democrats, has spent roughly $5.4 million opposing Braun. Together For Working People, a Washington state-based PAC funded by labor groups and liberal donors, has spent about $212,000 in favor of Gluesenkamp Perez.

As the days dwindle before the Nov. 3 midterm, outside groups could pour even more money into the district in a final push to reach undecided or apathetic voters.

The most recent outside spending reported on the Federal Election Commission website as of Wednesday showed a $49,500 expenditure on Oct. 26 by the Congressional Leadership Fund for a "media production against the incumbent."

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