Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s Democrat Challenger Sees Fundraising Surge After ICE Funding Vote

Southwest Washington’s infamous moderate Democrat U.S. House Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez recently voted with the Republican caucus and just six other Democrats to give ICE $10 billion. The controversial vote has earned her nationwide, negative attention and apparently has given her Democratic challenger, Brent Hennrich, a boost! According to a press release, Henrich’s campaign raised $50,000 in the last 10 days of January alone, doubling the total for the entire previous quarter of fundraising. 

"Many are very understandably upset with our current representative's voting record,” Hennrich said in a statement. “I aim to continue being a strong and unapologetic voice for Democrat values, and progressive policy as the path forward." 

A $50,000 bump for a candidate without institutional backing is nothing to turn your nose up at. But still, it’s small in the scope of the race. It cost almost $12 million for Gluesenkamp Perez to narrowly retain her seat in 2024. She’s in for an even tougher (and potentially more expensive) battle this time as she faces a much more normal Republican in State Sen. John Braun, who may win over moderates that did not jive with Gluesenkamp’s previous far-right opponent Joe Kent.

The recent backlash reinforces a strategic problem for Gluesenkamp Perez in her 2026 bid for re-election. While many justify her alliance with Republicans as necessary to survive in the purple terrain of Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, her mounting history of bad votes also risks alienating Democratic voters. And it won’t save her from attacks from her normie Republican challenger.

In other words, the strategy may produce the worst possible outcome: demobilizing Democrats while failing to neutralize Republican opposition.