On Tuesday, pro-impeachment GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) conceded defeat in Washington's top-two primary, a crushing loss for the House GOP's thinning moderate ranks. Democratic auto repair shop owner Marie Gluesenkamp Perez finished first in the all-party vote with 31%, and late-counted ballots helped militantly pro-Trump former Green Beret Joe Kent inch past Herrera Beutler for second place, 22.8% to 22.3%.
"I'm proud that I always told the truth and stuck to my principles," Herrera Beutler declared in her concession statement, a nod to her actions after January 6. She didn't offer any support for Kent, who ran with endorsements from Donald Trump, Rep. Matt Gaetz and Michael Flynn and has bashed Kevin McCarthy as part of the "establishment." And Kent's far-right politics could put this Trump +4 suburban Portland seat in play in November.
Herrera Beutler's loss, combined with Rep. Liz Cheney's likely defeat in Wyoming next week and California Rep. David Valadao's vulnerability in November, means it's possible only one of ten pro-impeachment Republicans — Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) will remain in Congress come January 2023. In
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