Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat representing Washington's 3rd Congressional District, is encountering renewed attention concerning her activities during her college years and early adulthood as she seeks to retain her seat. Gluesenkamp Perez, who won in a district that leans Republican, built her political identity around a pragmatic, blue-collar image, presenting herself as a small-business owner focused on everyday issues.
As her reelection campaign intensifies, details from her time at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, where she graduated in 2012, have resurfaced. Archival student records and past reporting indicate her involvement in student government, including chairing the finance committee. According to Willamette Week, student senate records from that period show she helped allocate funding for events such as a "Fetish Ball" described as featuring a DJ and a "dark room," as well as latex fetish galas and campus rituals associated with Reed's Fetish Club. The club reportedly offered sessions on topics including "BDSM 201" and instruction on bondage techniques.
Gluesenkamp Perez also supported funding for the annual "Renn Fayre," a campus festival known for its unconventional traditions, which have included students participating in nude events. Reports from 2012 also noted the circulation of a guide to various substances among Reed students, and events like an "LSD giveaway" and "Nitrogen Day," which was linked to nitrous oxide use.
Further allegations have emerged from individuals who claim to have known Gluesenkamp Perez after college. On a podcast episode, Isaac Eger alleged that Gluesenkamp Perez resisted paying rent when staying with friends, offering spoiled food, including what he described as "four feet of rotten avocados," as payment. Eger also characterized her as a "Portland dumpster diver" and claimed she once decapitated a chicken.
During her time on the Washington Democrats Executive Committee, Gluesenkamp Perez supported a platform advocating for the decriminalization of sex work and narcotics. However, she later drew criticism from progressives for voting in favor of a Department of Homeland Security funding package that included substantial funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Gluesenkamp Perez defended her vote, stating that the department was vital to her community and she could not "in good conscience vote to shut it down."
This stance positioned her as an independent figure but also left her vulnerable to criticism from various political factions. A Reed alumni profile once described her as a "thoughtful, creative student" with a "reputation for being down for anything."
Gluesenkamp Perez is currently engaged in a competitive reelection race against Republican state senate minority leader John Braun. She captured national attention in 2022 by winning Washington's 3rd Congressional District, which had previously leaned Republican.
Gluesenkamp Perez has not publicly addressed the recent allegations and has not responded to requests for comment.
