In one of the country's most competitive districts, a Democrat tries to keep her seat

In a highly competitive Washington congressional race, the incumbent Democrat has angered part of her party base and the Trump-backed Republican challenger faces backlash against the party in power.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3302x2201+0+0/resize/3302x2201!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fac%2Fce%2F2b3781534d7a9fcf11a636f331eb%2Fgettyimages-2286067692.jpg' alt='In this file photo, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) listens at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on July 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking reelection in one of the most competitive seats in the country.'/><p>In a highly competitive Washington congressional race, the incumbent Democrat has angered part of her party base and the Trump-backed Republican challenger faces backlash against the party in power.  </p><p>(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5968691' />