In a stunning display of political survival that left absolutely no one in a pundit studio surprised, Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has secured one of two spots in Washington state's gloriously chaotic all-party primary. She will face Republican state senator John Braun in November, in what promises to be a nail-biter that could decide the fate of the House of Representatives, and by extension, the sanity of every cable news anchor.

The two-term Democrat, who has made a career out of publicly disagreeing with her own party, managed to fend off not just the GOP's preferred candidate, Braun, but also progressive Democrat Brent Hennrich, who argued that Gluesenkamp Perez had drifted so far left she was practically a Republican. Or maybe he argued she drifted too far right - honestly, with this many ideological pivots, it's hard to keep track.

Under Washington's delightfully democratic primary system, the top two finishers advance regardless of party, which means that even a candidate with the political profile of a moderate Republican can win a Democratic primary. Gluesenkamp Perez, who co-owns an auto repair shop and has broken with her party on issues like immigration, transgender rights, and Trump's Save Act, has built a coalition of moderates, independents, and Republicans who apparently believe that a Democrat who votes like a Republican is the best way to keep a Democratic seat.

Her progressive critics are not amused, arguing that she's sided with the president and Republicans one too many times. Her supporters, meanwhile, point out that she's representing a district that Trump won by about three points in 2024, and that ideological purity is a luxury not everyone can afford. In 2024, Gluesenkamp Perez ran seven points ahead of Kamala Harris, which either says something about her appeal or something about Harris's, depending on your political persuasion.

Democrats are hoping that Trump's dismal approval ratings, combined with economic frustration and the US-Israel war on Iran, will propel them to a House majority. But if Gluesenkamp Perez's path to re-election involves alienating half her party, they might want to reconsider their strategy. Then again, in a district that loves Trump, maybe the only way to win is to be the Democrat who isn't one.