Adam is from Washington. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Fordham University and his law degree from the University Of Washington.

Ballotpedia, Adam Smith

Adam previously worked as the city prosecutor of Seattle, Washington and as a lawyer at Cromwell, Mendoza, and Belur. He also worked as a pro tem judge.

Adam Smith is a US representative in Congressional District 9. He was first elected in 1996 and is serving his 14th term. He previously served as state senator in Washington State Senator District 33. He is the chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

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Adam Smith Gov, Issues

Supports unions and co-sponsored H.R. 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.

Supports unions and as state representative, co-sponsored House Resolution (H.R.) 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.

Opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for insufficient protections for workers, the environment, and human rights, and voted against the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the TPP in 2015.

Sponsored the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015, which provides job training, extended unemployment benefits, financial assistance, and health insurance to industry workers who have lost their jobs due to international trade.

Supports increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund investments in green energy, education, health care, child care, sustainable infrastructure, and affordable housing.

- Supports increasing the minimum wage.
- Supports unions and as state representative, co-sponsored House Resolution (H.R.) 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.
- Opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for insufficient protections for workers, the environment, and human rights, and voted against the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the TPP in 2015.
- Sponsored the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015, which provides job training, extended unemployment benefits, financial assistance, and health insurance to industry workers who have lost their jobs due to international trade.
- Supports increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund investments in green energy, education, health care, child care, sustainable infrastructure, and affordable housing.

Economy

Supports transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal power.

Believes climate change is a national threat and worked with the Department of Defense to address it.

Supports developing and exporting innovative energy technologies like fuel cells and solar panels to create American jobs and promote global sustainability.

Opposed the Trump-era cuts to clean water standards.

Opposed President Trump-era cuts to clean water standards.

Supports the Green Climate Fund, believing it provides essential resources for resilient, low-emission development globally.

Advocates for reducing health and environmental impacts of aviation noise and emissions, particularly in low-income and minority communities near airports.

- Supports transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal power.
- Believes climate change is a national threat and worked with the Department of Defense to address it.
- Supports developing and exporting innovative energy technologies like fuel cells and solar panels to create American jobs and promote global sustainability.
- Opposed President Trump-era cuts to clean water standards.
- Supports the Green Climate Fund, believing it provides essential resources for resilient, low-emission development globally.
- Advocates for reducing health and environmental impacts of aviation noise and emissions, particularly in low-income and minority communities near airports.

Energy & the Environment

Supports abortion access and co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act to safeguard reproductive care.

Supports abortion access and as state representative, co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act to safeguard reproductive care.

Supports expanding and improving the State Children’s Health Program (SCHIP).

As a state representative, introduced the MediFair Act to make Washington state’s Medicare reimbursement rates more equitable and expand coverage for Medicare patients.

Supports measures to lower healthcare costs by creating subsidies to fund community health centers and preventative care for low-income families.

Supports stem cell research and co-sponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

- Supports abortion access and as state representative, co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act to safeguard reproductive care.
- Supports expanding and improving the State Children’s Health Program (SCHIP).
- As a state representative, introduced the MediFair Act to make Washington state’s Medicare reimbursement rates more equitable and expand coverage for Medicare patients.
- Supports measures to lower healthcare costs by creating subsidies to fund community health centers and preventative care for low-income families.
- Supports stem cell research and co-sponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

Healthcare

Supports the Voting Rights Act and opposes the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate Section Four, limiting federal oversight on voter ID laws and district redrawing, potentially disenfranchising minorities.

Said, "No one should be above the law, not even the President."

Opposed the Supreme Court's Trump v. United States regarding presidential immunity and said, "No one should be above the law, not even the President."

- Supports the Voting Rights Act and opposes the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate Section Four, limiting federal oversight on voter ID laws and district redrawing, potentially disenfranchising minorities.
- Opposed the Supreme Court's Trump v. United States regarding presidential immunity and said, "No one should be above the law, not even the President."

Voting & Elections

Supports gun control and banning "assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines."

Supports universal background checks for all gun sales, gun buy-back programs, and banning bump-stocks.

Supports legislation that would prevent ammunition being sold online.

Believes in improving mental health treatment and resources to prevent gun violence and self-harm.

Supports protecting citizens' rights and freedoms, condemning discrimination, hate, and violence.

- Supports gun control and banning "assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines."
- Supports universal background checks for all gun sales, gun buy-back programs, and banning bump-stocks.
- Supports legislation that would prevent ammunition being sold online.
- Believes in improving mental health treatment and resources to prevent gun violence and self-harm.
- Supports protecting citizens' rights and freedoms, condemning discrimination, hate, and violence.

Public Safety

Supports reducing federal oversight in local schools.

Supports lowering interest rates on student loans to increase access to higher education.

Supports education savings accounts, which allow families to save money for their children’s college education tax-free.

Supports access to higher education and financial aid through loans and grants, and aims for a "College for All" initiative to ease costs for working and middle-class families.

- Supports reducing federal oversight in local schools.
- Supports lowering interest rates on student loans to increase access to higher education.
- Supports education savings accounts, which allow families to save money for their children’s college education tax-free.
- Supports access to higher education and financial aid through loans and grants, and aims for a "College for All" initiative to ease costs for working and middle-class families.

Education

Supports DACA and opposes family separation and immigration bans based on country or religion.

Supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and opposes family separation and immigration bans based on country or religion.

Supports ending the use of private detention facilities in the U.S. immigration system.

As a state representative, cosponsored the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which would create a legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented people, implement a talent-based immigration approach, and enhance border security by adding more Border Patrol agents and upgrading border stations.

As a state representative, co-sponsored the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which would create a legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented people, implement a talent-based immigration approach, and enhance border security by adding more Border Patrol agents and upgrading border stations.

Supports increased funding for the VA, access to quality benefits, and job opportunities for veterans.

- Supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and opposes family separation and immigration bans based on country or religion.
- Supports ending the use of private detention facilities in the U.S. immigration system.
- As a state representative, co-sponsored the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which would create a legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented people, implement a talent-based immigration approach, and enhance border security by adding more Border Patrol agents and upgrading border stations.
- Supports increased funding for the VA, access to quality benefits, and job opportunities for veterans.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Melissa earned her bachelor's degree in history and economics from Evergreen State College. She is married. 

Melissa previously worked as a fundraising lead for Essentials First, a grants coordinator for ecoTHRIVE Housing, and as a equity ambassador for the Nonprofit Association of Washington. 

Melissa Chaudhry's campaign for US representative is her first run for public office.

Supports the rights of unions to collectively bargain.

Believes that taxing "those who’ve achieved immense wealth is a fair and necessary component of creating opportunity and justice for future generations."

Wants to ensure economic growth is based on sustainable sources of energy and fair working conditions and business structures.

- Supports the rights of unions to collectively bargain.
- Believes that taxing "those who’ve achieved immense wealth is a fair and necessary component of creating opportunity and justice for future generations."
- Wants to ensure economic growth is based on sustainable sources of energy and fair working conditions and business structures.

Supports regulation of industries that "can, and do, cause social and environmental harm."

Supports drawing down carbon into soil through regenerative farming.

Supports purifying water systems through ocean farming of kelp and shellfish.

- Supports regulation of industries that "can, and do, cause social and environmental harm."
- Supports drawing down carbon into soil through regenerative farming.
- Supports purifying water systems through ocean farming of kelp and shellfish.

Supports streamlining authorization for immigrant healthcare providers.

Supports Whole Washington, which aims to implement a statewide, publicly funded, single-payer healthcare system, known as Washington Health Trust, which would provide comprehensive healthcare to all residents of the state.

- Supports streamlining authorization for immigrant healthcare providers.
- Supports Whole Washington, which aims to implement a statewide, publicly funded, single-payer healthcare system, known as Washington Health Trust, which would provide comprehensive healthcare to all residents of the state.
- Supports abortion access.

As of June 7, 2025, Melissa Chaudhry’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports public-supported programs such as food banks.

Supports police anti-bias and de-escalation training.

Supports recruiting immigrant, BIPOC, and multilingual police officers.

Supports investing in crisis response teams trained to respond to mental health emergencies without the use of force.

Supports prosecuting theft, assault, sexual harassment, and other criminal activity that "corrodes the social fabric, increases fear, and decreases motivation towards work and prosperity."

Supports investing in post-incarceration rehabilitation programs, including job training, housing, and living stipends.

Wants to ensure hygiene supplies and culturally meaningful foods are accessible through public support programs.

- Supports public-supported programs such as food banks.
- Supports police anti-bias and de-escalation training.
- Supports recruiting immigrant, BIPOC, and multilingual police officers.
- Supports investing in crisis response teams trained to respond to mental health emergencies without the use of force.
- Supports prosecuting theft, assault, sexual harassment, and other criminal activity that "corrodes the social fabric, increases fear, and decreases motivation towards work and prosperity."
- Supports investing in post-incarceration rehabilitation programs, including job training, housing, and living stipends.
- Wants to ensure hygiene supplies and culturally meaningful foods are accessible through public support programs.

Supports universal and affordable early childcare.

Believes schools should not be dependent on local property taxes for their budgets.

Supports extended library hours to provide free, safe, educational places for children and adults.

Supports free and tuition-supported higher education, including basic financial (and housing, and food) support for students in need.

Supports English-learning programs for immigrant and refugee families, which facilitate job opportunities, education, legal access, social integration, and more.

Supports options for alternative education programs, including language-, religion-, and culture-specific schools; nature-based preschools and education programs; and homeschooling or community-schooling.

Supports vocational training as an alternative to college.

- Supports universal and affordable early childcare.
- Believes schools should not be dependent on local property taxes for their budgets.
- Supports extended library hours to provide free, safe, educational places for children and adults.
- Supports free and tuition-supported higher education, including basic financial (and housing, and food) support for students in need.
- Supports English-learning programs for immigrant and refugee families, which facilitate job opportunities, education, legal access, social integration, and more.
- Supports options for alternative education programs, including language-, religion-, and culture-specific schools; nature-based preschools and education programs; and homeschooling or community-schooling.
- Supports vocational training as an alternative to college.

Advocates foreign policy centered on peace and diplomacy

Supports drawing down the U.S. military presence abroad.

Supports offering public subsidy of legal fees for immigration paperwork, based on need.

Supports providing bridge services - language access, stipends, etc. - for newcomers who want to start small businesses, get trained in high-demand jobs, or pursue other education.

Supports calling for a ceasefire and a permanent resolution to the Israel/Palestine conflict.

- Advocates foreign policy centered on peace and diplomacy
- Supports drawing down the U.S. military presence abroad.
- Supports offering public subsidy of legal fees for immigration paperwork, based on need.
- Supports providing bridge services - language access, stipends, etc. - for newcomers who want to start small businesses, get trained in high-demand jobs, or pursue other education.
- Supports calling for a ceasefire and a permanent resolution to the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Melissa Chaudhry

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Washington currently has 10 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Washington for at least seven years before their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.