KATU Exclusive: Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez says "Biden is going to lose to Trump"

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A Washington Democratic Congresswoman says she believes President Biden will lose to former President Donald Trump in November.

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3) tells KATU News that she thinks the President’s performance in last week's debate will cost him the election.

“About 50 million Americans tuned in and watched that debate. I was one of them for about five very painful minutes. We all saw what we saw, you can’t undo that, and the truth I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump. I know that’s difficult, but I think the damage has been done by that debate.”

She stopped short of calling on the President to drop out of the race, saying the Democrats have to accept the results of the primary elections.

“A core tenet of democracy is that you accept the results of an election and the reality is that primary voting has already happened to a degree that Biden is the nominee," Gluesenkamp Perez said.

Gluesenkamp Perez flipped a traditionally red seat in 2022 when she beat Republican Joe Kent to replace outgoing representative Jaime Herrera Beutler.

In an email to KATU on Tuesday night, Kent, who is running again this year for the seat, said Gluesenkamp Perez is attempting to distance herself from the president even after voting for his policies.

"The inflation driving Bidenomics and open borders are a direct result of Democrat policies, supported by Perez, that are harming people in our district every day," he wrote. "Perez will try to distance herself from Biden and hide behind insults. I will hold her accountable for her voting record."

You can see the full interview with Gluesenkamp Perez this Sunday at 9 a.m. on Your Voice, Your Vote.