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Good morning, Northwest.
Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez and John Braun are poised to face off for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District in the fall midterm election.
OPB’s Erik Neumann analyzes results from yesterday’s primary and what they portend for November to start today’s newsletter.
In other news, thick wildfire smoke has worsened air quality across Oregon.
Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.
— Bradley W. Parks
Top story
Washington Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, left, will face Republican state Sen. John Braun, right, in the November general election.
Left image: Jenny Kane/AP; Right image: Jenny Kane for OPB
Primary sets stage for WA-3 toss-up between incumbent Democrat and Trump-backed Republican
In one of the most closely watched U.S. House races in the country, an incumbent Democrat representing Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District will face a well-known Republican state leader come November.
It’s expected to be an unpredictable matchup that could help determine which party controls Congress.
Early returns showed just a sliver of daylight between two-term U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state Sen. John Braun as voters’ top choices in a race that could be crucial for Republican efforts to hold onto a razor-thin Republican majority.
The district is one of only 18 in the country that political experts say is a tossup. (Erik Neumann)
3 things to know
A runner wears a mask at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 4, 2026.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
- Early returns last night in Washington’s primary election show two incumbent Clark County councilors likely advancing to the November general election. (Elena Neale-Sacks)
- As firefighters continue working to contain wildfires that are burning more than 2 million acres in Oregon, most of the state will be blanketed with smoky air through at least tonight. (Holly Bartholomew)
- Officials told residents in eastern Clackamas County to prepare to evacuate in case the Grasshopper Fire near Mount Hood moves west. (Troy Brynelson)
Northwest headlines
FILE - A cow walks in front of a data center in Umatilla, Ore., on April 3, 2026.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
- Initiative seeking to hire police with Portland climate funds fails to qualify for the November ballot (Monica Samayoa)
- Oregonians are extremely skeptical of data centers, new polling suggests (Dirk VanderHart)
- Oregon GOP leaders want constitutional hunting, fishing protections in response to ballot measure (Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
- Ohio State and Oregon football are 1-2 in preseason coaches poll (AP)
- Pac-12, Mountain West conferences finalize settlement over `poaching’ and exit fees (John Marshall, AP)
Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation
“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):
- Classical guitarist and composer kicks off 2 months of concert performances at Oregon state parks
One more look
A crowd starts gathering at the Victor Tavern in Eastlake for "Pitch-A-Friend," an event in which presenters give PowerPoint presentations on what makes their friend a great catch.
Monica Nickelsburg / KUOW
Seattle’s booming matchmaking industry tries to solve the ‘relationship recession’
Dating app fatigue is prompting people to explore using matchmakers. It’s one of the world’s oldest professions but is becoming the hot new thing.
Matchmakers see Seattle as a market with a lot of opportunity. It has a high concentration of well-paid professionals, and a reputation for being full of chilly introverts.
It’s also, increasingly, a city of singles. (Monica Nickelsburg, KUOW)
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