LONGVIEW — U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, and Republican challenger Joe Kent of Yacolt sparred over abortion, border security and foreign aid during a debate Wednesday night.
The debate at Lower Columbia College in Longview was the first between the candidates ahead of the general election. The Cowlitz Civil Dialogue Project organized the event.
At times, the audience grew raucous. Both candidates received boos and cheers throughout, prompting the moderators to halt the debate multiple times. One audience member was removed from the auditorium after he continuously interrupted an answer from Perez.
At one point, Kent drew laughter when he brought up the southern border when Perez asked him about table-saw regulations. Later, Perez drew boos and jeering when she referred to Kent as violent.
Kent and Perez also discussed the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project, the fentanyl crisis, the national debt, gun violence and more.
The well-attended event drew a large media presence. The race has garnered national attention because the seat could decide control of the U.S. House.
Abortion
First, the moderators asked Perez how she plans to represent her constituents who support abortion rights, and if there were any restrictions on abortion that she would consider.
“The idea that we’re going to have a federal regulation that accounts for all of that difficulty and nuance is just not reality,” she responded. “That’s why I support a woman’s right to access health care, full stop.”
She added that federal regulations are often written by “staffer bros with ties” who “don’t know what it’s like to be pregnant.”
Kent was asked to clarify his position on abortion. Does he support a federal ban?
“I 100 percent support the Supreme Court’s decision to return the divisive issue of abortion back down to the state level. I would not support a federal abortion ban,” he said. “I support full access to IVF and contraception.”
He added that he wants to focus on bringing down the costs of raising children by making items, such as baby formula and diapers, tax-free and by expanding child tax deductions for working families.
“I want to make it much easier and much less costly to give birth,” he said.
Immigration
Perez argued that she “took on the Biden administration” for its “failed policies to secure the southern border.”
Perez supported the End the Border Catastrophe Act, which would have reimplemented the “Remain in Mexico” policy. She co-signed a letter to Biden urging him to reinstate the policy.
In mid-February, Perez co-sponsored the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act, which would have tied foreign aid to immigration legislation.
Kent criticized Perez for voting against Republican-backed immigration legislation such as House Resolution 2, also known as the Secure the Border Act of 2023. He argued that Perez’s stance on the border is “a little performance.”
He routinely circled back to securing the southern border when asked about a variety of topics, arguing that it is the most critical issue facing the United States.
“The only place that we should be looking for a fight right now is on our southern border,” he said. “Our country is actually being invaded.”
He noted that he has visited the southern border twice.
“It’s very, very important to see the actual carnage that’s being inflicted upon our nation and how it reflects here,” he said.
Foreign aid
The candidates also sparred over the heightened conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Kent, a Green Beret veteran and Gold Star husband, argued that the federal government should focus on domestic issues before sending more money overseas.
“My No. 1 priority, before we start talking about defending other countries’ borders, is to defend our nation’s borders,” he said.
In Ukraine, his goal is “to get both sides to stop the killing” and to “get to the negotiating table so that we don’t blindly march off into World War III.”
Meanwhile, Perez underscored the importance of supporting America’s allies.
“It’s critical that we’re supporting our allies, that we’re standing up to despotism,” she said. “The way that we’re going to advance security over the next 20 years is not by pulling out support for the only liberal democracy in the Middle East but ensuring that women have a liberal democracy in the Middle East.”
The candidates will meet four more times before the Nov. 5 election, including Monday in a debate hosted by KATU News and on Oct. 14 hosted by KOIN 6 News.
