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Gluesenkamp Pérez: On Housing, Fishing, and Showing Up
For Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez, Politics Means Showing Up — and Listening
In an era where political figures often seem distant from the people they represent, Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez is choosing a different path – one that puts boots on the ground, ears to the concerns of everyday people, and her message directly into the hands of voters.
On a crisp October day in Grays River – a Washington lumber town with fewer than 300 residents – Gluesenkamp Pérez stood in a century-old Grange hall beneath a framed portrait of George Washington. She wasn’t there for a photo op. She was there to talk – and to listen. This visit was just one stop on her 23-event “Freedom to Fix $#*%” RV tour in the final stretch before Election Day. And it marked the first time in over 50 years that a sitting member of Congress had attended that local forum.
Wearing a tan work jacket and cowboy boots, Gluesenkamp Pérez looked less like a polished politician and more like someone’s neighbor. And that’s entirely the point.
Representing the Real Washington
Gluesenkamp Pérez represents Washington’s 3rd District – a sprawling, mostly rural region where nearly half the land is covered in forests and many voters feel disconnected from the national political conversation. Yet, it’s precisely here – in the timber towns, fishing villages, and agricultural heartlands – that she’s found her strongest support.
A Blue Dog Democrat from Skamania County, Gluesenkamp Pérez brings authenticity and a working-class background to the House of Representatives. Alongside her husband, she co-owns an auto repair shop. Her priorities? Trades education, vocational pathways, rural economic development, and giving a voice to the parts of America often left out of the political narrative.
In her words and her actions, Gluesenkamp Pérez has demonstrated that she’s not interested in political theater — she’s focused on the practical, the possible, and the personal.
“She Listens to People”
Her success hasn’t gone unnoticed. In a district that favored Donald Trump in 2020, Gluesenkamp Pérez managed to defeat Trump-backed Republican Joe Kent not once, but twice – first in a stunning upset in 2022, and again by nearly four points in 2024. And she did it while staying true to her district’s values.
David Nierenberg, a former top Republican donor who now supports Gluesenkamp Pérez, believes her secret is simple: she listens.
“She doesn’t pontificate,” Nierenberg said. “She focuses on issues that affect the quality of life here in her district, and she’s willing to disagree with both parties when it’s right.”
It’s that “thoughtful independence” that sets her apart – on issues ranging from student debt to agriculture to voting rights. She even supported the controversial SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections – a move that drew criticism from some Democrats, but resonated deeply with her district.
Winning Support Across the Aisle
Gluesenkamp Pérez has earned trust where it’s not easily given. Just ask Maureen Harkcom, a lifelong Republican and former president of the Lewis County Farm Bureau. Harkcom has met with Gluesenkamp Pérez over a dozen times, supports her strongly, and was even invited by the congresswoman to attend the White House Congressional Ball to represent Southwest Washington’s agricultural industry.
“I tend to vote Republican most of the time,” Harkcom said.”But I’m very pleased with what she has done for us, for our district.”
That sentiment isn’t rare. In a time when rural voters are often written off by national Democrats, Gluesenkamp Pérez has shown what’s possible when you take the time to meet people where they are – not just politically, but literally.
Building a Better Kind of Representation Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez
In a district where independents and swing voters hold significant sway, Gluesenkamp Pérez’s commitment to local-first, people-focused politics has proven to be a winning formula.
“People are going to respond to who they think is going to help them,” said her campaign manager, Tim Gowen. “And that’s who they vote for.”
Whether it’s introducing bipartisan legislation, fighting for local jobs, or standing up for the timber and fishing industries, Gluesenkamp Pérez brings a level of genuine connection and authentic representation that is often missing in modern politics.
As political strategist and voters alike look for clues on how to bridge America’s deepening divides, they might want to take a closer look at what’s happening in Washington’s 3rd District – and the congresswoman who’s making headlines simply by doing the hard, human work of listening, showing up, and getting things done.