Washington's 9th Congressional District election, 2018

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Washington's 9th Congressional District
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Top-two primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: May 18, 2018
Primary: August 7, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent:
Adam Smith (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: No polling hours (vote-by-mail)
Voting in Washington
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
Washington's 9th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th
Washington elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018

Incumbent Rep. Adam Smith (D) defeated Sarah Smith (D) in the general election for Washington's 9th Congressional District on November 6, 2018. Washington's 9th Congressional District was one of 39 U.S. House districts where a Republican did not run in the 2018 general election.

Adam Smith was elected in 1996 and had held the 9th Congressional District seat for 11 terms. When the district was remapped in 2011, it became the state’s first majority-minority district, a shift the Seattle Times suggested could move the district to the left.[1]

Sarah Smith, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, challenged Adam Smith from the left, running with endorsements from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), The Stranger, and several progressive organizations.[2] Adam Smith was, at the time, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and ran with endorsements from both of Washington’s Senators, The Seattle Times, and several labor unions.[3]

Grey.png For more information about the top-two primary, click here.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Washington District 9

Incumbent D. Adam Smith defeated Sarah Smith in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 9 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of D. Adam Smith
D. Adam Smith (D)
 
67.9
 
163,345
Image of Sarah Smith
Sarah Smith (D)
 
32.1
 
77,222

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 240,567
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 9

Incumbent D. Adam Smith and Sarah Smith defeated Douglas Michael Basler in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 9 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of D. Adam Smith
D. Adam Smith (D)
 
48.4
 
71,035
✔
Image of Sarah Smith
Sarah Smith (D)
 
26.9
 
39,409
Image of Douglas Michael Basler
Douglas Michael Basler (R)
 
24.7
 
36,254

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 146,698
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Candidate profiles


Adam Smith, U.S. Representative
Adam Smith.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: Yes

Political office: U.S. House Washington District 9 (Assumed office:1997); Washington State Senate (1991-1997); City prosecutor, Seattle (1993-1995)

Biography: Smith was born in Washington, D.C. He earned his B.A. from Fordham University in 1987, and he earned his J.D. from the University of Washington in 1990.[4] His career experience includes working as an attorney, both in private practice, and as the city attorney for Seattle, Washington.[5] Before his election to the United States House of Representatives, Smith served as a member of the Washington State Senate from 1991 to 1996.[6] Smith was, at the time of the election, the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee. Smith is a founding member of the Medicare for All Caucus.[7]

Key messages
  • Smith pointed to his role as a founder of the Medicare for All Caucus as evidence of his progressive stance on healthcare. He also supported funding for community health centers, which he said save "$414 per patient for Medicaid and $297-$1,210 for Medicare."[8]
  • Adam Smith highlighted his arguments against increased military spending, and what he called military waste, as the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee. He also emphasized his work to add reforms to the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.) to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.[9][8]
  • Smith advocated for tuition free college and co-sponsored the College for All Act of 2017.[8]



Sarah Smith, Activist
Sarah Smith.png

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office:

Biography: Sarah Smith is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. She was recruited to run for a House seat by Brand New Congress, along with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D). Smith has experience as a foreclosure specialist, a paralegal, and a bodily insurance adjuster. In her career as an activist, she has focused on ending wars in the Middle East, saying, "Millennials like me have known more days that our nation's been at war than at peace."[10]

Key messages
  • Sarah Smith criticized Adam Smith's vote for the war in Iraq and vote against a 2017 defense spending bill that would have banned sales of certain munitions to Saudi Arabia in light of the conflict in Yemen. She also criticized his acceptance of campaign contributions from defense contractors and opposed what she called interventionist wars in the Middle East.[11][12]
  • Smith advocated for a $15 federal minimum wage tied to inflation and a federal jobs guarantee "that would provide anyone a job in the public sector."[12]
  • Sarah Smith called for cancelation of all student loan debt and tuition free college, and supported financing these changes with what she refers to as a tax on Wall Street speculation.[12]


Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.

Campaign finance

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
D. Adam Smith Democratic Party $1,415,994 $1,623,913 $191,777 As of December 31, 2018
Sarah Smith Democratic Party $125,641 $112,638 $13,002 As of November 26, 2018

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.


Race ratings

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[13]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[14][15][16]

Race ratings: Washington's 9th Congressional District election, 2018
Race trackerRace ratings
October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018October 9, 2018
The Cook Political ReportSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+21, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Washington's 9th Congressional District the 62nd most Democratic nationally.[17]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.87. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.87 points toward that party.[18]

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.


Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites.


Noteworthy general election endorsements
Endorsement Adam Smith (D) Sarah Smith (D)
Individuals
Patty Murray (D), United States Senator[19] ✔
Maria Cantwell (D), United States Senator[19] ✔
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)[20] ✔
Organizations
Our Revolution[20] ✔
Democratic Socialists of America (Seattle, Olympia chapters)[20] ✔
Justice Democrats[20] ✔
Washington State Progressive Caucus[20] ✔
Planned Parenthood Action Fund[19] ✔
National Organization for Women[19] ✔
Alliance for Gun Responsibility[19] ✔
Human Rights Campaign[19] ✔
Newspapers and editorials
The Seattle Times[19] ✔
The Stranger[20] ✔


Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Democratic Party Sarah Smith

Support

July 18, 2018: Digital campaign ad

Debates and forums

  • Adam Smith and Sarah Smith met for a debate hosted by KVRU and the Columbia City Business Association on October 18, 2018.[22] Click here for footage of the debate.

Campaign themes

These were the policy positions stated in interviews or listed on the candidates' websites, if available.

Democratic Party Adam Smith

Energy The United States must be committed to creating an energy policy that allows us to be independent from foreign sources, bring down costs for all Americans, and invest in new alternative energy technologies, all while fighting climate change.

In order to protect consumers from skyrocketing energy prices that are crippling many businesses in the Puget Sound region, we must implement policies that will make our energy sources more reliable and diverse.

Traditional fossil-fuel energy sources like natural gas, oil, and coal are in limited supply and must be used wisely. With that in mind, we must embrace the use of alternative, renewable energy sources and promote efficient use of our current sources. Wind and solar power, once thought to impractical on a mass-scale, have become increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels. We need to encourage greater research and development so that we can use these clean and renewable energy sources, as well as fuel cells, geothermal energy, and bio-fuels, to create a more self-sustainable America.

Not only will embracing new energy technology make our economy flourish and our environment cleaner, but it will also allow America to once again be a world leader in energy innovation. Instead of relying on oil imports from foreign sources we can develop and export the fuel cells, solar panels, smart grid infrastructure, and other innovative technologies that will continue to create good American jobs and help the rest of the world develop cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable sources of energy.

Adam’s work on Energy:

  • Consistently supported legislation to make renewable and alternative energies more affordable for consumers through tax credits and funding for research and development.
  • Introduced the High-Performance Buildings Act, which improves the energy costs and health of people living in affordable housing units.
  • Voted against the North American Energy and Infrastructure Act of 2015, which does not adequately invest in clean energy or address climate change.
  • Supported legislation that extended renewable energy tax credits beyond 2009.
  • Cosponsored legislation to develop stricter emissions standards for power plants.
  • Consistently supported legislation to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, making cars more fuel-efficient, and backed passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act, which revised and improved fuel economy standards for the first time in several decades.
  • Sponsored the Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011, which seeks to increase the DoD’s energy security by focusing investment and research in alternative energy technologies for military equipment and operations.
  • Supported responsible funding increases for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, which identifies and promotes energy efficient consumer products.

Education

A well-educated country yields endless rewards: a better workforce, a stronger economy, lower crime, and greater community engagement, just to name a few. It must be our goal to have the best public education system in the world, and I am proud to be a partner in those efforts.

We need an innovative approach to public education, one that focuses less on the process and more on the results. We must ensure American children are prepared for the increasingly competitive global economy and the challenges of the 21st century. I support freeing local schools from the unnecessary red tape and regulation that often accompanies federal funding.

We must strengthen our commitment to K-12 public education; I support increased funding for local schools and more efficient methods of sending federal dollars to local classrooms, so that the children who need the extra boost of federal funding receive it.

Higher education is just as important to the success of our nation. I am proud of the long tradition of first-rate higher education offered to Washingtonians, from the University of Washington, to Renton Technical College. We need to ensure that students have access to higher education, including financial aid through student loans and grants, and enough slots at public schools to accommodate their pursuits. While it is imperative that we continue to offer students financial aid and other resources to be able to pay for higher education in the short-term, my ultimate goal is College for All, so that working and middle-class families do not have to struggle to afford to send their child to college. This goal is achievable and sensible, and something that I continue to fight for in Congress.

Adam’s work on Education:

  • Co-sponsored H.R. 1880, the College for All Act of 2017.
  • Strongly supported the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which changed the disastrous policies of No Child Left Behind, to help more accurately reflect learning and performance.
  • Voted for legislation to increase student loans for college and to create the HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Education) Scholarship, which provided a $1,500 per year tax credit for each child enrolled in college.
  • Authored the Empowering Local Schools Act, which increased federal financial assistance to local schools with high numbers of children from low-income families.
  • Supported anti-bullying legislation and fought for language within the ESSA that guaranteed protection against bullying based on a child’s sexual identity, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, or ability.
  • Supported lowering interest rates on students loans to increase access to higher education.
  • Supported education savings accounts, which allow families to save money for their children’s college education tax-free.
  • Voted to expand training benefits for laid-off workers, and authored the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act to improve the retraining resources available to laid-off workers returning to school.

Gun Control

The United States government must protect its people from gun violence. In the past several years we have seen a steady increase in the amount of violent gun attacks that have left many Americans injured or killed. It is vividly clear that government must take action. There are too many guns in our country that are easily accessible. We must enact universal background checks for all firearms and ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. There is truly no place for military-style, high-capacity weapons in civilian life. Background checks are the first line of defense in keeping weapons out of the hands of individuals who should not have them. We must ensure that background checks are universal, in that they cover all forms of sales, and are fully completed before selling a weapon to an individual. Additionally, I support gun buy-back programs which have been successful in some cities in the United States and banning bump-stocks. Finally, we must improve mental health treatment and resources to ensure that those who may use a weapon to harm themselves or others, are prevented from doing so. We need to make certain that gun control policy is addressed quickly to prevent further tragedies.

Adam’s work on Gun Control:

  • Co-sponsored H.R. 5087, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018
  • Participated in the National Walkout and March for Our Lives to bring further attention to gun violence
  • Supports legislation that would prevent ammunition being sold online
  • Co-sponsored H.R. 4240, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2017
  • Supports legislation that would ensure a background check has been completed before a weapon is sold

Healthcare

The rising cost of healthcare and growing number of uninsured people is creating a crisis situation in Washington state and the United States. Spending for healthcare services continues to rise at an alarming rate. In 2001 healthcare spending was $1.4 trillion, and has since then more than doubled to $3.1 trillion in 2015. According to one report, between 2000 and 2008, the cumulative increase in health insurance premiums grew over three times as fast as wage increases, while healthcare spending is projected to grow at an average of 5.8% per year through 2024, an increase much higher than that of inflation or the cost of living.

Although many Americans have been able to obtain insurance through the Affordable Care Act, many still have reason to feel insecure about the quality of their health care and whether or not they will have insurance in the future. Nearly three out of four middle-income families are insured through their employer and many are concerned about being able to keep affordable care that meets their needs, should they lose their job.

I have consistently supported funding for community health centers. Community health centers reduce reliance on emergency rooms and provide preventative care for low-income and medically under-served individuals. Through these measures, it is estimated that health centers save our current health care system around $24 billion each year. Community health centers provide care to over 23 million people each year – 8 million of which are uninsured – saving $414 per patient for Medicaid and $297-$1,210 for Medicare.

We must make it a goal that every American has access to affordable, quality healthcare coverage. Through the establishment of Medicare for All, a universal system, Americans will have access to affordable and quality healthcare. Currently the uninsured must often forego preventative care and frequently seek medical attention through costly emergency services, thus increasing premiums for all. However, with the establishment of a universal system, no American will have to go without healthcare or worry about a medical bankruptcy.

Taking steps to cover all Americans with a universal system is our opportunity to drive down costs. Inefficiencies within the current Medicare system can also be reduced through improved payments for providers that reward quality rather than quantity. This will reward states like Washington for providing high-quality, low-cost care compared to other areas of the country that over-utilize unnecessary health services and drive up the cost of care nationally. Done the right way, we can incentivize these savings and healthy behaviors by implementing a public health insurance option.

Adam’s work on Healthcare:

  • Co-sponsored H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act of 2017.
  • Voted for the Affordable Care Act, and supports reforms to expand access to Medicare for All.
  • Opposes cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, all of which are vital to older Americans, persons with disabilities, and persons with limited means.
  • Introduced the MediFair Act, which will make Washington state’s Medicare reimbursement rates more fair and expand coverage for Medicare patients.
  • Supported measures to lower healthcare costs by creating a system of subsidies to fund community health centers and preventative care for low-income families.
  • Voted to support expansion and improvement of State Children’s Health Program (SCHIP), which provided health care coverage for 11 million children and extended coverage to 4 million uninsured children who were eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid.
  • Co-sponsored and supported passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
  • Consistently supported increases in funding for the National Institutes of Health.
  • Co-sponsored H.R. 771, the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act of 2017.

Housing

It is clear that we face significant housing issues. Prices continue to grow higher, forcing individuals out of their homes and communities, and sometimes on to the streets. We must put in place comprehensive housing policy that protects affordable housing options.


To begin, we must protect homeowners from predatory and irresponsible lending practices that may ultimately lead to the foreclosure of homes. Reigning in banks from implementing disastrous lending policies is critical to ensuring affordable housing.


Additionally, we must spend more on programs like Section 8 housing and other federal government programs and subsidies. These programs provide critical services in assisting people who are struggling financially. Individuals must also have access to a living $15/hr minimum wage, which would provide more people with the opportunity to work towards saving for a home or paying their rent..


As a region, the Pacific Northwest has been successful in fostering public-private partnerships. We must continue this tradition to provide access to funding for additional affordable housing units. One of the most common things I hear in the community is that non-profit organizations are not able to obtain funding to build more affordable housing units. Public and private groups must come together so that we can fund housing growth to keep families in their neighborhoods.


We must also help homeless individuals through ensuring that government programs to assist them are accessible and robust, including increased outreach to the homeless, rental assistance, and emergency relief grants. Many shelters and non-profit programs have already reached their capacity, and it is the government’s duty to remedy the problem.

Adam’s Work on Housing:

  • Co-sponsor of H.R. 915, the Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2017
  • Supports legislation that would provide additional funding for rental assistance and government subsidy programs
  • Supports legislation that would increase outreach and general assistance to the homeless

Immigration reform

Reforming our immigration system is long overdue. Our current laws, regulations, and enforcement do not recognize the importance of sound immigration policies to our economy and national security. We cannot afford to wait any longer to reform our immigration system in a comprehensive way.

Immigration is one of the great strengths of our nation. People from all over the world have come to our country because they see opportunity in America and a chance to build a better life for themselves and their families. The hard work and talent of immigrants have helped grow our economy and have strengthened our country for all Americans.

Legal immigration is not an obstacle to growth, but rather supplements our economic competitiveness and American jobs by attracting needed workers, high-skilled entrepreneurs, and investors. This can all be accomplished while keeping families together in a way that is consistent with American values. It is time to address our immigration laws to create a better system that allows families to stay together, businesses to thrive, and keeps our nation safe.

I continue to be disturbed by President Trump’s actions on immigration. There is no place for separating families or bans on immigration from specific countries and religions. I stand with DACA recipients and strongly believe that we must honor our country’s commitment to them. I will always stand against policies rooted in racism and nativism.

Adam’s work on Immigration Reform:

  • Introduced the Accountability in Immigration Detention Act, which would improve conditions in detention centers, and help ensure access to legal representation and translation services.
  • Original cosponsor of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which would open a legal pathway to citizenship for nearly 12 million undocumented people who lack legal status today, introduce a talent-based approach to immigration and visa programs, and make our borders more secure by adding up to 40,000 Border Patrol agents and upgrading border stations.
  • Supports legislation such as the DREAM Act, which would give students who were brought to the United States as children the chance to become citizens, either through pursuing a college education or serving in our Armed Forces.
  • Supports President Obama’s executive actions on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA), which would help keep families together and provide work permits to parents of American citizens who are seeking residence.
  • Signed discharge petition and joined Democratic leadership on the steps of the Capitol to try and force former House Speaker John Boehner to vote on immigration reform.
  • Wrote letters to President Obama and former Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, to provide greater deportation relief and give judges more judicial discretion.

LGBTQ+

All Americans, no matter who they are or whom they love, deserve full equality. I’m fighting in Congress to make this a reality. I support legislation that ensures LGBTQ+ folks are not being discriminated against in any form. People in the LGBTQ+ community must have complete and unobstructed access to healthcare, have the ability to shop in whatever stores they wish to, regardless of the owner’s personal beliefs, and have the freedom to use the restroom that matches their gender identity.

Additionally, I am appalled by the Trump Administration’s plan to ban transgender service members and recruits from serving in the military. As the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have been an outspoken leader in the fight to stop this policy. Service members and veterans should not be attacked for who they are by the country that they serve.

Particularly in the past few decades, we have seen significant, positive strides in the fight for the full equality for LGBTQ+ people, notably including marriage equality. I’m committed to continuing this important work and will always work in tandem with local LGBTQ+ advocates and organizations to understand how I can best advocate for our LGBTQ+ community in Congress.

Adam’s Work on LGBTQ+ Issues:

  • Co-sponsor of H.R. 2282, the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation as prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation
  • Longtime supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, even from my time in the State Senate in the 1990s
  • Strongly supported H.Res.405, which supported making June 26th LGBT Equality Day
  • Co-sponsored H.Res.332, which supports the ideals and goals of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia

National Security

Today, the actions of rogue states and groups that promote violent ideologies pose the most significant threat to our national security. In my role as the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have been working to ensure that our defense posture is capable of meeting the threats of today, as well as tomorrow. I am committed to crafting defense policies that safeguards our nation in a forward-thinking, effective manner.

While it is important to devote an adequate level of military resources to confront changing security threats posed by ISIS and more traditional state-based adversaries, we must also coordinate our military efforts with the strength of our diplomatic and civilian agencies. In the 21st century, the various components of the United States’ foreign policy must be part of a cooperative agenda such that our short-term security objectives are balanced by our long-term development goals.

It is also important that the men and women of our Armed forces receive the support and training they need to perform their missions. In my nearly two decades of experience on the House Armed Services Committee, I have been working diligently to ensure that our military personnel have the best equipment and resources to confront the threats they face today, and in the future. In a time when the Pentagon is looking for ways to reduce costs, we must carefully evaluate our policies to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and effectively, so that we might maintain a qualitative military advantage.

Adam’s work on National Security:

  • Committed to going after military waste and changing the AUMF to reduce the reach of the U.S. military in the world.
  • Believes that the United States is engaged in too many places throughout the world without Congressional approval, which is unacceptable.
  • We rely too much on the military in our national security and we must go after wasteful spending
  • Introduced and secured passage of The Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act, which expanded job opportunities for veterans.
  • Secured key funds for Puget Sound area defense projects, such as $1.6 million for critical trauma training for military medical personnel, $2 million to develop and test a new malaria vaccine for the military and critical funding for local schools serving the children of military families.
  • Supported record funding increases for the Department of Veterans Affairs and a provision to provide advanced appropriations for veterans healthcare to ensure a timely and predictable funding stream
  • Ranking Member of House Armed Services Committee, overseeing the:
    • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
    • Subcommittee on Military Personnel
    • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
    • Subcommittee on Readiness
    • Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
    • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
    • Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities

Criminal Justice Reform

The American criminal justice system is fundamentally broken, and I believe we must dramatically change the way we handle criminal justice in the United States. Time has shown that the well-meaning reforms of the past have failed, and are responsible for the disproportionately high levels of incarceration for non-violent offenses in communities of color. The effect has not been increased safety, but perpetuation of cycles of poverty and families being torn apart.

I believe the justice system must balance the need to protect the innocent and ensure that only the guilty are held responsible, but that we must also move from a retributive justice system to a rehabilitative one that reintegrates those who have served their time back into our community.

As a former prosecutor, I understand the immense and important job taken on by law enforcement officers, prosecutors, public defenders and defense attorneys, judges, and corrections officers. Each plays a vital role in our justice system, and in keeping our communities safe. However, each also has the added responsibility of ensuring the they are enforcing and protecting the rule of law equally and fairly.

We have an opportunity to make our justice system a model of fairness and justice, that is why I have supported legislation that would end racial profiling, eliminate over-prosecution of minor offenses, promote the effective use of Body Worn Cameras for law enforcement, limit federal mandatory minimum sentences for drug sentences, increase funding for civil legal aid, and help people re-enter society once they have served their time.

Criminal justice reform will not only make our justice system more fair and end the cycle over over-incarceration in communities of color, but it would also save taxpayers money.

Adam’s work on Criminal Justice Reform:

  • Co-sponsored the SAFE Justice Act, which would reduce over prosecution for minor offenses, create drug treatment, mental health, and veterans’ treatment courts at the federal level, and allow federal judges to bypass mandatory minimum sentences.
  • Supported President Obama’s Executive Action to “Ban the Box,” which would stop federal agencies and contractors from asking about an applicants’s criminal history, helping those who have served their time build a career.
  • Co-sponsored the End Racial Profiling Act, which would prohibit law enforcement from engaging in racial profiling, and would also allow people harmed by racial profiling to have the right to file a lawsuit.
  • Co-sponsored the CAMERA Act, which would provide federal grants to law enforcement agencies for the purchase and safe use of body worn cameras and video storage.
  • Co-sponsored H.R. 3227, the Justice is Not For Sale Act, which would end all private prison contracts at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • Served from 1993-1995 as a prosecutor for the City of Seattle, focusing on drunk driving and domestic violence cases.

CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. In order to avoid the most disastrous effects of our rapidly changing climate, we must move forward both quickly and decisively with strong, progressive environmental policies.

It is absolutely critical that we work to protect our air and water, our lush national parks, and to ensure environmental justice for all people. We must re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement, and firmly stand against dangerous environmental rollbacks, including fuel emission standards. In addition to opposing dangerous anti-environmental policies, we must also protect the viability of the Environmental Protection Agency.

We must also encourage the continued development of green technologies. Not only does green technology offer significant benefits to the environment, but provides for an economy of the future. I will continue to actively encourage the creation of jobs in renewable energy fields.

I will continue to work as an environmental advocate in the House, and to support policies that advance a progressive environmental agenda.

Adam’s work on Climate Change:

  • Worked with the Department of Defense to ensure that climate change would be recognized as a national threat
  • Supported legislation to protect Americans from pesticides and other chemicals
  • Sponsored the Mountains to Sound Greenway Act
  • Co-sponsored H.R. 2695, the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Act of 2017
  • Supported multiple pieces of legislation that would ensure the protection of clean air and water
  • Supported legislation to protect our national parks
  • Co-sponsored H.R. 1812, the CLIMATE Act

VETERANS It is our responsibility as a nation to provide our veterans and their families with the support and services that they need.

For our veterans and their families who have faithfully served our nation, I am dedicated to resolving the two most inequitable policies affecting these individuals: providing full concurrent receipt of retirement pay and disability benefits, and repealing the widow’s tax.

In addition, I am working to ensure that the VA remains capable of delivering quality healthcare that is capable of serving the unique needs of the veteran population. This includes ensuring that the VA is able to meet the demands of our newest veterans, those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Adam’s work on Veterans Issues:

  • Introduced and secured passage of the Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act, which expanded job opportunities for veterans.
  • Supported record funding increases for the Department of Veterans Affairs and a provision to provide advanced appropriations for veterans healthcare to ensure a timely and predictable funding stream.

SENIORS

I am a fervent supporter of measures that support our seniors. Programs like Social Security and Medicare are critical to many seniors, both in our 9th Congressional District and throughout the country. With millions of American seniors living off of these benefits, Congress must support legislation that protects these programs.

In Congress, I have a strong record of protecting the vitality of Social Security for the people who need it now, but also for our future generations. I have and will continue to consistently support measures to strengthen Social Security itself and the benefits it provides to its beneficiaries. Beneficiaries ultimately need increased benefits and more accurate cost of living adjustments. Medicare is another critical program that must be protected and preserved. I’m supportive of ensuring that Medicare is affordable for all seniors, particularly for those on fixed incomes. Congress must make certain that we increase our commitment to the program, including through measures such as ensuring access to rehabilitation services.

I also have the privilege of meeting regularly with many great seniors groups in our district, where I have the opportunity to learn more about how to best support seniors.

Our seniors deserve to live a dignified life, and I will continue fighting for that.

Adam’s work on Seniors Issues:

  • Supported strengthening protections for Social Security beneficiaries
  • Co-sponsor of H.R. 807, the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services of 2017
  • Co-sponsor of H.R. 1902, the Social Security 2100 Act
  • Supported expanding Social Security benefits

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

I am a strong proponent of campaign finance reform. Corporations are not people, and should not be treated as such. We must overturn the disastrous Citizens United ruling. Particularly in the wake of the Citizens United ruling, I have been an advocate of working towards the public funding of our elections and have personally chosen to not accept any money for my campaign from fossil fuel companies. Public funding of campaigns would allow for a much more just and equitable system for not only candidates, but more importantly, for the American people.

Not only do we need more accountability when it comes to finances and donors, but American elections would also benefit from requiring that all ads, including those aired online, are properly regulated and defined.

We must stop major lobbies and corporations from having gross amounts of power in our election system. Through an equitable campaign finance reform plan, our nation will benefit.

Adam’s work on Campaign Finance Reform:

  • Co-sponsored constitutional amendments to overturn Citizens United
  • Joined the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge

[23]

Democratic Party Sarah Smith

Smith's website stated the following:


Foreign Policy We have spent our entire lives at war. I was 13 years old when we went to war in Afghanistan and to Iraq for the second time. I'm about to be 30 and there's still no end in sight. Millennials like me have known more days that our nation's been at war than at peace. The military-industrial complex in our country is horrifyingly bloated, and our continued military interventionism has destabilized entire regions of the world. We spend more on our military than the next 8 countries combined, yet necessary social safety nets for everyday Americans are slashed every day. I believe that we must immediately enact the following solutions:

We must prioritize diplomacy over war. Our interventionist wars in the Middle East have cost thousands of servicemen and trillions of dollars, as well as the deaths of millions of civilians in the attacked countries, to little benefit in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. This must end. End the Presidential Authorization for Use of Military Force that my opponent, Adam Smith, voted in. This will require all military action to be debated in Congress and include clearly defined goals and exit periods. War is serious, and we must follow a path that protects us from warmongers in office.

Close Guantanamo Bay, limit the National Security Agency's reach into American lives, abolish the unconstitutional use of torture, and remember the values of personal freedom that makes America truly exceptional. Expand our global influence by promoting fair trade that protects workers rights, addressing global climate change, providing humanitarian relief and economic assistance alongside the United Nations, defending the rule of law, and promoting human rights.

The War on Terror The invasion in Iraq was one of the worst foreign policy blunders in modern U.S. history. After ten years, 1.3 million Iraqi, Afghani, and Pakistani lives, as well as 6000 Americans, have been lost. This war has cost us $9.4 million per day. Let's spend that money taking care of our veterans, not endangering them.

Peace with Iran I support the agreement between the U.S., Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia regulating Iran’s nuclear weapons program, because it has the best chance of limiting Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon while avoiding another war in the region.

Israel-Palestine Conflict I agree with the UN resolution demanding an end to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli government must also end the blockade of Gaza, and cease developing settlements on Palestinian land. Both sides must negotiate in good faith regarding all other outstanding issues that stand in the way of a durable and lasting peace in the region. In the meantime, all sides must strictly adhere to the tenets of international humanitarian law in order to avoid escalating the conflict yet again.

Co-sponsor HR 4391 -- the Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act and fight to extend the protections to all Palestinians. This bill prohibits U.S. assistance to Israel from being used to support the military detention, interrogation, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children in violation of international humanitarian law or the use against Palestinian children of: (1) torture, inhumane, or degrading treatment; (2) physical violence or psychological abuse; (3) incommunicado or administrative detention; (4) solitary confinement; (5) denial of parental or legal access during interrogations; or (6) force or coercion to obtain a confession. Read more…

Disability Rights Nearly one-in-five Americans have a disability. Disability may occur at any stage of life, to anyone, and how our government and elected leadership respond to the issues facing people with disabilities and their families – from housing and transportation, to autonomy, to employment and education and access to services – shapes the fabric of our society. Despite the progress that has been made over the past two decades, we unfortunately still live in a world where people with disabilities have fewer work opportunities and where the civil rights of people with disabilities are not always protected and respected. I will fight for the following rights to protect the rights of people with disabilities:

  • Cosponsor and work with the Progressive and Justice Democrat caucuses to pass TIME act. While that Fair Labor Standards Act created better wages and working conditions for most Americans, it contained a provision that excluded people with disabilities from its protections, especially the minimum wage. Nearly 80 years later, the law still contains that provision, known as Section 14(c). The Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act, or TIME Act, will phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) over a three year period.
  • Protect and expand the Social Security Disability Insurance Program (SSDI)
  • SSDI is vitally important to more than 11 million Americans, including more than one million veterans and nearly two million children. The average disability benefit is about $1,200 a month. For many people, that is their entire income.
  • Increase employment and educational opportunities for persons with disabilities - In the year 2018, it is unacceptable that over 80 percent of adults with disabilities are unemployed. We must fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and vocational education programs. We also need to expand funding for Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), which aim to provide “one-stop shopping” for information on long-term services and support.
  • Fight for the U.S. ratification of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Puerto Rico Recent treatment of Puerto Rico by the Congress has made it clear that Puerto Rico is essentially a U.S. colony. Puerto Ricans live under harsh austerity measures imposed on them by a Congress in which they have no representation. This is unacceptable in a democratic society. I will push for the following policies to change this:

  • Give Puerto Rico the same Chapter 9 bankruptcy protections that exist for municipalities in the United States. Puerto Rico should be able to restructure its debt in a rational way that protects its people without harming ordinary investors and pension funds in the United States.
  • Reverse austerity measures that have harmed children, senior citizens, and the most vulnerable people in Puerto Rico.
  • Create new jobs and make Puerto Rican businesses more competitive in the global economy by enacting a federal jobs program.
  • A Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico, helping the island not only recover from Hurricane Maria, but thrive with modern infrastructure and renewable energy systems.
  • A community-led, sustainable, and just recovery - including protections for Puerto Rico’s public education system from kindergarten to college and trade school.
  • An immediate waiver and full review of the Jones Act, which hamstrings the Puerto Rican economy with restrictions that other American communities do not have to face.
  • Cancellation of Puerto Rico’s Wall Street debt: this debt has been accrued by vulture funds using irresponsible and unjust behavior reminiscent of the 2008 financial crisis.
  • Condemnation of the PROMESA Act, which handed over the island to “La Junta,” a corporate governance board installed with the support of my opponent and his private equity donors.
  • Fight for a referendum in which the Puerto Rican people would be able to decide on whether to become a state, an independent country, or to reform the current Commonwealth agreement. This is an issue that should be decided by the Puerto Rican people.
  • Move aggressively towards energy efficiency and sustainable energy production. Puerto Rico is blessed with abundant solar and wind resources, and has great potential to expand biomass and geothermal energy.

Affordable Housing More than seven million households lack access to adequate affordable housing, and many face a daily choice between housing, food, and healthcare. Millions of Americans remain underwater with mortgage payments and millions more can’t get a loan to buy a house.

Housing is a human right. In the richest country in the history of the world, we can end the injustices that leave many Americans without a roof over their heads. I will fight to make housing affordable for all Americans by pushing for the following policies:

  • Build 10 million public homes over the next 10 years.
  • Pass tenants bill of rights.
  • Support local measures to control rent.
  • Expand the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund to at least $5 billion a year in order to construct, preserve, and rehabilitate at least 3.5 million affordable housing rental units over the next decade. Not only will this help address the affordable housing crisis, it will also create millions of good paying jobs in the process.
  • Raise the Minimum Wage and tie it to inflation, starting at $15 an hour.
  • Reinvigorate Federal Housing Programs that build affordable housing for families, for the elderly and for the disabled.
  • Defend Fair Housing. Republicans have tried over and over again to defund efforts to affirmatively promote fair housing. We must push back, defend and strengthen our commitments to these programs, and make sure we never again tacitly condone housing discrimination.
  • Demand more from Affordable Housing Developers. Housing that is built with government subsidies should remain affordable much longer than the 10, 15 or 20 years typically required by federal housing programs.
  • Repair Public Housing. We need sufficient funding for public housing operating and capital costs, and we need to reduce the unacceptable backlog of public housing capital needs.
  • Protect Rental Assistance. We need to provide full funding to all existing project-based rental assistance contracts.
  • Expand the Housing Choice Initiative. We must increase funding for the housing choice voucher program to target families who need support the most and provide greater economic stability to the more than 3 million households struggling to remain in safe, secure and affordable housing today.
  • Support First Time Home-buyers. We should expand the Department of Housing and Urban Development and USDA Rural Development assistance programs for first time home-ownership, particularly through down payment assistance, loan guarantees and direct loans.
  • Expand Pre-Purchase Housing Counseling. Study after study shows that people who receive counseling before buying a home are more likely to succeed at home-ownership. Housing counseling is a good investment in families and communities.
  • Implement Credit Score Reform. The credit scores of millions of families have been ruined because of foreclosures or other financial hardships from the economic meltdown. If we want to rebuild the lost wealth of working families, we need real credit score reform to make the banking and credit industries work for borrowers and not just lenders.
  • Prevent Predatory Lending. We need to work toward requiring that all mortgage costs are clear, risks are visible, and nothing is buried in fine print. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must make sure that consumers have the information they need to make good financial decisions.
  • Protect Homeowner Mortgage Interest Benefits. We need to support tax policies that promote home-ownership, and oppose any reform that would negatively impact middle and low-income homeowners. We need to close the second home & yacht loophole, as there is simply no compelling public interest in subsidizing second homes and yachts. We also need to expand homeowner mortgage interest benefits to the 19 million otherwise eligible homeowners who do not itemize their taxes.
  • Reinvigorate HARP that was designed to assist homeowners who are current on their mortgage payments but owe more than their home is worth, by allowing them to refinance their underwater mortgages at lower interest rates. While the average homeowner saves about $2,500 per year, many people who theoretically qualify don't benefit because of various application barriers and inadequate outreach.
  • Expand Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling. We need to expand National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling programs to help underwater homeowners. The best solution is to keep homeowners in their homes.

Women’s Rights We are not going back to the days when women did not have the right to control their own bodies and economic futures. Despite major advances in civil and political rights, our country still has a long way to go in addressing the issue of gender inequality. Many of the achievements that have been made for women’s rights in the 20th century have been under attack by the Republican party — denying women control over their own bodies, preventing access to vital medical and social services, and blocking equal pay for equal work. I will fight everyday to ensure women’s rights are advanced, not regressed by pushing for the following:

  • Fight for pay equity for women by cosponsoring Paycheck Fairness Act.
  • Expand and protect the reproductive rights of women. Expand funding for Planned Parenthood, the Title X family planning program, and other initiatives that protect women’s health, access to contraception, and the availability of a safe and legal abortion.
  • Make quality childcare and pre-k available to all Americans by enacting a new Child Development Act. It is unacceptable that the cost of a quality childcare program is out of reach for millions of Americans.
  • Increase the minimum wage and tie it to inflation, starting at $15 an hour. Increasing the minimum wage would significantly boost the wages of more than 15 million women and help close the gender wage gap.
  • Raise the tipped minimum wage to $15 an hour. The federal tipped minimum wage of just $2.13 an hour hasn’t been raised since 1991. More than two-thirds of tipped workers are women. Increasing the tipped minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023 would lift millions of women out of poverty and significantly reduce the gender pay gap.
  • Provide at least 12 weeks of paid family leave, 2 weeks of family vacation, and one week of paid sick days to American workers.
  • Expand the WIC program for pregnant women, mothers and infants so that every low-income mother and her children receive the nutrition they need to live healthy lives.
  • Make healthcare a right. Today, women have much higher healthcare expenses than men and pay a greater portion of their healthcare costs out of their own pockets. Women make up two-thirds of the low-wage workforce and only about 23 percent of low-wage jobs provide health insurance. It is time for a Medicare for All single-payer healthcare system.
  • Expand social security. Fight to expand Social Security benefits by an average of $65 a month; increase cost-of-living-adjustments to keep up with rising medical and prescription drug costs; and expand the minimum Social Security benefit to lift seniors out of poverty. Women will benefit the most by expanding Social Security. More than twice as many elderly women lived in poverty than men in 2013. Without Social Security, nearly half of all elderly women would be living in poverty.

AIDS/HIV

Today, 1.2 million Americans living with HIV is the crisis of access to affordable drugs. One of the great moral issues of our day is that people with HIV and AIDS are suffering and, in some cases, dying in America because they can’t afford to pay the outrageous prices being charged for the medicine they need to live. I will fight for the following policies to right this wrong:

  • Universal Healthcare. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. To truly ensure every American has access to quality, affordable health care, we need to fight for a Medicare-for-all, single payer system. Until that happens, we must make sure insurance companies and providers are not discriminating against those with HIV/AIDS, including when it comes to drug coverage.
  • Expand the substance use and mental health services for people living with HIV/AIDS and at risk for HIV. We need to build on the implementation of President Obama’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy by significantly expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services by protecting and expanding community health centers, which provide key behavioral health and substance abuse services to more than 1.3 million patients. We must also support access to mental health services at community mental health centers.
  • Expanding the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. We need to fight to expand the highly successful Ryan White HIV/AIDS program which provides *HIV-related services for those who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources. It was unacceptable that at the height of the Wall Street crash, many states had long waiting lists for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Especially when so many people were losing their jobs and their life savings, people should not have had to wait for the life-saving treatment they needed.
  • Expand civil rights protections to all LGBTQIA+ individuals and those living with HIV/AIDS. In the year 2016, it is unacceptable that a person could be fired or denied housing in many states based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or health status.
  • Expanding the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and ending the AIDS epidemic. We need to fight to end the AIDS epidemic by doubling the number of people on HIV treatment worldwide by 2020. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been an incredibly successful program, currently supporting antiretroviral treatment for more than 9.5 million people. But that is only a fraction of those worldwide who need treatment. More than 22 million people with HIV/AIDS do not have access to the medicine and support services they need.
  • Stopping bad trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership that would substantially increase prices for HIV/AIDS drugs. A major reason why the fight against the disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is important is because it would significantly increase prices for HIV/AIDS drugs for some of the most desperate people in the world. At a time when prescription drug prices are skyrocketing, the TPP would make a bad situation even worse by granting new monopoly rights to big pharmaceutical companies to deny access to lower cost generic drugs to millions of people.

LGBTQIA+ Equality

In many states, it is still legal to fire someone based on their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. The United States has made remarkable progress on LGBTQ+ issues in a relatively short amount of time. But there is still much work to be done. Sadly, today there are many places where it is legal to deny someone housing for being gay or trans. That is unacceptable and must change.

  • Pass Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Protections. Currently, anti-LGBTQ discrimination is legal on a federal level, and its impacts are devastating. LGBTQ people can be denied healthcare, housing, and basic services, leading to disproportionate rates of illness, homelessness, and violence. Congress must pass comprehensive anti-discrimination protections to ensure that all Americans have equal access in all areas of life, regardless of gender or sexuality.
  • Protect the privacy of transgender Americans. Even within the LGBTQ community, transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC) Americans face disproportionate rates of discrimination. Reported homicides of transgender Americans are at an all-time high, with an estimated over 100 transgender Americans being murdered in 2016 based on FBI data. The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, which was conducted prior to the Trump presidency, found that transgender Americans face “pervasive mistreatment and violence,” “severe economic hardship and instability,” and “serious psychological distress” as a result of anti-transgender discrimination. Given these dangers, we must do everything in our promote to protect the privacy of transgender Americans and ensure that all Americans are respected in their gender. Here are some steps we can take:
  • De-gender documentation. Currently, it is difficult and in some states impossible for transgender Americans to change their gender marker(s) on official documentation. When possible, the process is only manageable if one has enough time to learn about the convoluted legal process, access to medical professionals, and can safely be out to the world. The costly and invasive process requires notarized affidavits from medical professionals, and in some states, mandatory gender affirmation surgery, which not all people want. With disproportionately high rates of homelessness, poverty, and healthcare discrimination in the transgender community, the process bars the majority of transgender people from actually being able to change their gender marker(s). The simple solution is to de-gender documentation so that gender markers are optional and the privacy of all Americans is protected.
  • De-gender public facilities. Much of the anti-transgender hysteria plaguing our nation has revolved around public facilities, with anti-transgender legislators using bathrooms in particular to demonize and attack transgender Americans. Regardless of which bathroom transgender and gender non-conforming people use, they are at risk of violence and discrimination. For non-binary Americans, there is no appropriate choice for gendered facilities. This essentially bars transgender Americans to go out and freely participate in the public life. The simple solution is to de-gender public facilities.
  • Provide mandatory training for public officials and employees. LGBTQ Americans face discrimination not only from in everyday encounters, but also interactions with the very public officials and employees meant to serve them. LGBTQ Americans endure rampant healthcare discrimination, which can lead to the denial of basic and necessary medical services. LGBTQ Americans also endure rampant discrimination in education, depriving them of yet another basic right. The lack of adequate protections promotes a vicious cycle which pushes LGBTQ members from education and health care, and subjects them to sub-par educational and healthcare access. Consequently, this perpetuates further poverty, mental illness, and social stigmatization in the LGBTQ community, which is totally unacceptable. We must combat this through mandatory training and inclusivity for all public officials and employees.
  • Develop and implement LGBTQ-inclusive public education. Anti-LGBTQ school bullying is at an unprecedented high. According to a 2017 RTI *International study, not only has anti-LGBTQ school bullying “not improved since the 1990’s,” “some forms of victimization, particularly those affecting youth, appear to be worsening.” Anti-LGBTQ school bullying can increase the likelihood of suicide fourfold, and LGBTQ students are up to three times more likely than their peers to be physically threatened or assaulted at school and 91% more likely to be bullied or harassed. An overwhelming 81% of transgender youth, 72% of lesbian youth, and 66% of bisexual and gay youth experience sexual harassment in school. It goes to follow that a majority of LGBTQ students feel safe simply being in school. This is an epidemic. No student should be prevented from having a good education simply because of their sexuality and/or gender identity. Lives are at stake here. We need to reform our public education system to ensure that LGBTQ students feel affirmed in their identities and can safely receive a good education.

Providing resources to LGBTQ students. Schools should be prepared to support LGBTQ students by maintaining LGBTQ clubs such as GSAs and offering LGBTQ-specific school counseling.

  • LGBTQ-inclusive classes. LGBTQ history and identities should be included in classes so that students are aware and accepting of LGBTQ identity.
  • According to a GLSEN survey, only 12% of millennials learned about healthy same-gender relationships in school. Not providing LGBTQ students information about their identities robs them of the opportunity to know and accept themselves, which would help them stay healthy and happy, as confirmed by GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey. We must mandate gender-inclusive language and education in classes and events.
  • Community training. Students and administrators alike will, as Teaching Tolerance advises, guarantee that “all school community members [have] a thorough understanding of the part they play in making their school an environment that welcomes all students.”
  • De-gender dress codes. Gendered dress codes are restrictive and oppressive for transgender and GNC youth. Students of all identities should be able to express their gender as they see fit.
  • Designate gender neutral facilities. As Teaching Tolerance writes: “Binary (women/men or boy/girl) restrooms aren’t inclusive and can be unsafe spaces for transgender and intersex students.” Therefore, we should provide gender neutral facilities where students of all genders can feel valid and safe.
  • Guarantee transgender-affirming healthcare. Currently, transgender affirmation procedures are considered cosmetic, which is belittling and makes the necessary procedures needlessly expensive. Healthcare providers should cover gender affirmation procedures as reconstructive, as allowing transgender people who want to transition medically to do so improves their mental health and productivity. As a study published in the *Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity found, “social, psychological, and medical gender affirmation were significant predictors of lower depression and higher self-esteem.” Gender affirmation can help curb suicidal ideation, which is incredibly important given that over 40% of transgender Americans attempt suicide, according to a Williams Institute survey. Essential medical procedures are not “cosmetic,” and transgender Americans deserve to be affirmed by their healthcare system.
  • Ban “conversion therapy.” Also known as “reparative therapy” and “ex-gay therapy,” this is a dangerous and debunked religious practice designed to rid LGBTQ people of their true gender identity and/or sexuality. The practice is deeply harmful, causing mental illness, substance abuse, and even suicide. Yet almost 700,000 LGBTQ adults and 20,000 children ages 13 to 17 are victims of “conversion therapy,” as it is entirely legal on the federal level. We must ban “conversion therapy” and instead affirm the identites of LGBTQ Americans.
  • End “gay panic” murder excuse. Known as the “gay panic” or “transgender panic” defense, defendants in LGBTQ murder cases in the United *States can legally claim that they were driven to violence because of the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of LGBTQ people. Homophobia and transphobia are not excuses for violence and it is outrageous that “gay panic” and trans panic” defenses are still legal on the federal level. We must ban it.
  • Ban intersex mutilation. As the Human Rights Watch detailed: “Intersex people in the United States are subjected to medical practices that can inflict irreversible physical and psychological harm on them starting in infancy, harms that can last throughout their lives. Many of these procedures are done with the stated aim of making it easier for children to grow up ‘normal’ and integrate more easily into society by helping them conform to a particular sex assignment. The results are often catastrophic, the supposed benefits are largely unproven, and there are generally no urgent health considerations at stake. Procedures that could be delayed until intersex children are old enough to decide whether they want them are instead performed on infants who then have to live with the consequences for a lifetime.”

Indigenous People’s Rights

One in four Native Americans is living in poverty and the high school graduation rate is 67 percent, the lowest of any racial group. The second leading cause of death for Native Americans between the ages of 15–24 is suicide. One in three Native women will be raped in her lifetime; most of the offenders are non-Native. Most federal programs for tribal nations are underfunded, which has led to inadequate housing, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. I will fight for the following policies to support Native Tribes:

  • Support Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Jurisdiction: Tribes must have the ability to prosecute non-Native people who commit crimes on tribal land, and have greater jurisdiction over prosecuting all crimes, including family disputes. We need to encourage the continual development of the U.S. *Department of Justice Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information to provide tribes with access to national crime information systems for both civil and criminal purposes.
  • Uphold the Trust Responsibility: We must honor the treaties and federal statutes that are the foundation of the trust relationship. We need to maintain a White House Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs to ensure that tribal issues are consistently addressed and coordinated throughout the federal government.
  • Improve Housing: I will fight for increased local control over the administration and operation of tribal housing programs and for full funding of the Indian Housing Block Grant Program.
  • Strengthen Education: In order to create economic opportunities, we must invest in education from early childhood through higher education. We must fight to fully fund the Bureau of Indian Education and strengthen self-determination to enable culturally tailored learning unique to each tribal nation and help to retain qualified teachers for Native youth. We should build upon the integrated work of the Generation Indigenous Initiative to ensure that every Native American child can reach their full potential. We should fight for plans that allow students to refinance federal debt, lower interest rates, triple federal work-study jobs, and provide for free tuition at all public colleges and universities.
  • Improve Healthcare: Healthcare is a human right. We should support a Medicare-for-all system that would complement the healthcare provided by the Indian Health Service. We need to work to fully fund the Indian Health Service, strengthen regional management and recruitment of committed IHS health care personnel, demand audits of IHS operations, and ensure that Native Americans have adequate, safe, and affordable access to primary care providers, including oral health and mental health practitioners as well as substance abuse treatment options.
  • Restore Tribal Lands: All tribes must have the right to protect and restore their lands. I support streamlining the land-trust transfer process and will work to reverse the Carcieri Supreme Court decision that resulted in an unjust two-tier system of tribes.
  • Advance Economic Development: I believe we should invest in upgrading our roads and bridges, drinking water and wastewater, freight and passenger rail, and electric, telecommunications and broadband networks, creating millions of good-paying jobs across the country. Such investment will help address the “digital divide,” where lack of internet access means that Native American communities are at risk of falling even further behind in their ability to access employment, educational, and assorted opportunities made available by modern information technology. Lastly, all federal grants open to state and local governments will also be open to tribes.
  • Protect Sacred Places and Native American Cultures: Native Americans must be empowered to maintain and pass on traditional religious beliefs, languages and social practices without fear of discrimination or suppression. Native children are the future of tribal nations; the Indian Child *Welfare Act is critical to survival and must be enforced with the original intent of the law. Furthermore, tribal cultures, sacred places, religious practices, and landscapes must be federally protected.
  • Expand Consultation: Examine the Executive Order 13175 “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments” to ensure that consultation means more than mere listening sessions. Moreover, all voices — tribal leadership and grassroots alike — must be heard. Expand the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference that brings tribal leaders, cabinet members and the White House together to find solutions to common problems.
  • Promote Voting Rights: stand with Native Americans to fight for Indian voting rights, and defend the enfranchisement of minority communities across the country.
  • Fight Racism: end the scourge of bias and discrimination against Native peoples in federally funded institutions. Eliminate offensive public school mascots that reflect outdated stereotypes and perpetuate racism against Native Americans.

Caring for Our Veterans

Caring for Our Veterans

As a nation, we have a moral obligation to provide the best quality care to those who have put their lives on the line to defend us. Reports of unacceptable wait times at many VA medical facilities mean that not all veterans have access to timely health care. We have an obligation to take care of the women and men who were sent to fight our wars overseas. I will fight every day for the following policies to take care of our veterans:​

  • Stop sending our troops to fight unnecessary and interventionist wars in the Middle East, which lack both congressional sanction and a basis in international law.
  • Fully fund and expand the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) so that every veteran gets the care that he or she deserves.
  • Substantially improve the processing of Veterans’ claims for compensation.
  • Expand the VA’s Caregivers Program.
  • Expand mental health service for Veterans.
  • Make comprehensive dental care available to all veterans at the VA.

Prescription Drug Prices

In 2015, nearly one in five Americans between the ages of 19 and 64 – 35 million people – did not get their prescriptions filled because they did not have enough money. In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, Americans should not have to live in fear that they will go bankrupt or die because they cannot afford to take the medication they need. I will push for the following policies as your Representative:

  • Require Medicare to use its bargaining power to negotiate with the prescription drug companies for better prices, which would substantially reduce prices seniors and people with disabilities pay for drugs, as well as saving Medicare between $230 billion to $541 billion dollars over the next decade. 83 percent of Americans support allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies for better prices.
  • Allow individuals, pharmacists, and wholesalers to import prescription drugs from licensed Canadian pharmacies.
  • Prohibit the United States from agreeing to provisions in international trade deals that would raise drug prices or extend the monopoly period when a brand name drug company has no generic competition.
  • Suspend the government’s authority to destroy packages of imported drugs at the border until new legislation is passed ensuring that Americans can import safe and affordable drugs from Canada.
  • Require generic drug companies to pay an additional rebate to Medicaid if their drug prices rise faster than inflation. Nearly 10 percent of generic drugs more than doubled in price last year. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this policy will save the federal government $1 billion over 10 years.
  • Restore Medicare prescription drug discounts for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Pharmaceutical companies got a huge victory ten years ago, when prescription drug coverage for low-income seniors and people with disabilities was moved from Medicaid to Medicare. *Because Medicaid gets a much better price for prescription drugs than private Medicare Part D plans, this policy change meant that drug companies would gain even larger profits on the backs of low-income seniors at the taxpayers’ expense.
  • Prohibit anti-competitive “pay for delay” deals between brand and generic drug makers. Brand name drug companies sometimes try to delay their competition by paying generic drug makers to stay off the market, and then keep prices higher in the absence of competitors. According to the Federal Trade Commission, these deals cost taxpayers at least $3.5 billion in higher drug costs every year.
  • Terminate exclusivity—a government-awarded monopoly period—from drug companies convicted of fraud. Today, nearly every major pharmaceutical company has been convicted of either civil or criminal fraud for violations such as off-label promotion, kickbacks, anti-monopoly practices, or Medicare fraud. Even though the Justice Department has won suits requiring companies to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines, the prescription drug companies simply treat those fines as the cost of doing business.
  • Require drug companies to publicly report any information that affects drug pricing.

Racial Justice

Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Jessica Hernandez, Tamir Rice, Jonathan Ferrell, Oscar Grant, Antonio Zambrano-Montes, Samuel DuBose, Anastacio Hernandez-Rojas, and Botham Shem Jean. We know their names.

Each of them died unarmed at the hands of police officers or in police custody. The chants are growing louder. My platform for racial justice is informed by the policies put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Movement for Black Lives, and Campaign Zero. If elected, I will use my position to demand justice for communities of color. I will fight for the following policies for racial justice as your Representative: ​

Ending Violence against Black and Brown Communities

  • Demilitarize our police forces so they don’t look and act like invading armies. Invest in community policing. Only when we get officers into the communities, working within neighborhoods before trouble arises, do we develop the relationships necessary to make our communities safer together. Among other things, that means increasing civilian oversight of police departments.
  • Create a police culture that allows for good officers to report the actions of bad officers without fear of retaliation and allows for a department to follow through on such reports.
  • Demand police forces that reflect the diversity of our communities, including in the training academies and leadership.
  • Federally fund and require body cameras for law enforcement officers to ensure that they’re held accountable for their actions.
  • Require police departments and states to collect data on all shootings and deaths that take place while in police custody, and to make that data public.
  • Require Police officers to be trained to de-escalate confrontations and to humanely interact with people who have mental illnesses.
  • Make federal resources available to crack down on the illegal activities of hate groups.

Ending Political Disenfranchisement

  • Pass legislation to restore voting rights after one has served their sentence.
  • Restore the “pre-clearance” formula under the Voting Rights Act, which extended protections to minority voters in states and counties where they were clearly needed. Expand the Act’s scope so that every American, regardless of skin color or national origin, is able to vote freely.
  • Make Election Day a federal holiday to increase voters’ ability to participate.
  • Make early voting an option for voters who work or study and need the flexibility to vote on evenings or weekends.
  • Make no-fault absentee ballots an option for all Americans.
  • Automatically register every American to vote when they turn 18 or move to a new state. The burden of registering voters should be on the state, not the individual voter.
  • End discriminatory laws and the purging of minority-community names from voting rolls.
  • Ensure that there are sufficient polling places and poll workers to prevent long lines from forming at the polls anywhere.

Ending For-Profit Policing

  • Ban for-profit prisons, which create an over-incentive to arrest, jail and detain non-violent offenders in order to keep prison beds full.
  • End the failed “War on Drugs” and eliminate mandatory minimums which result in sentencing disparities between black and white people.
  • Federally legalize Marijuana.
  • Allow people in states which legalize marijuana to be able to fully participate in the banking system and not be subject to federal prosecution for using pot.
  • Invest in drug courts and physical/mental health interventions for people with substance abuse problems, so that they do not end up in prison but rather treatment facilities.
  • Boost investments in education and job training programs to help former inmates rebuild their lives.
  • Investigate local governments that are using implicit or explicit quotas for arrests or stops.
  • Stop local governments that are relying on fines, fees or asset forfeitures as a steady source of revenue.
  • Require police departments to investigate all allegations of wrongdoing, especially those involving the use of force, and prosecute aggressively when necessary. If departments are unwilling or unable to conduct such investigations, the Department of Justice must step in and handle it for them.

Ending Economic Violence

  • Fight to make public universities tuition free, paid for with a tax on Wall Street speculators.
  • Invest $5.5 billion to create 1 million jobs for disadvantaged young Americans who face high unemployment rates, and further fund job-training opportunities for hundreds of thousands of young adults. This policy would be paid for by ending the loophole allowing Wall Street hedge fund managers to pay a lower tax rate than nurses or truck drivers.
  • Increase the minimum wage to a livable wage of $15 an hour, which will increase the wages of about half of African-Americans and nearly 60 percent of Latinos.
  • Invest $4.6 trillion over the next 10 years to put more than 13 million Americans to work rebuilding our crumbling cities, roads, bridges, public transportation systems, airports, drinking water systems and other infrastructure needs. This policy is paid for by eliminating offshore corporate tax loopholes.
  • Pass federal legislation to ensure pay equity for women.
  • Prevent employers from discriminating against applicants based on criminal history, which leads to extremely high unemployment rates among rehabilitated felons.
  • Promote policies to give the formerly incarcerated an opportunity for education, including expanding the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program and other reentry programs.
  • Ensure access to quality affordable childcare for working families, especially for parents who work non-traditional hours.
  • Fundamentally re-write our trade policies and rebuild factories that were closed as a result of bad trade deals.

Ending Environmental Violence

  • Protect low-income and minority communities, who are hit worst by the effects of climate change, while also protecting existing energy-sector workers as they transition into clean energy and other jobs.
  • Require equal enforcement of environmental, civil rights and public health laws across communities.
  • Address the inadequate environmental cleanup efforts of ‘Superfund’ hazardous waste sites in communities of color.
  • Stop the unequal exposure of people of color to harmful chemicals, pesticides and other toxins in homes, schools, neighborhoods and workplaces, and challenge faulty assumptions in calculating, assessing and managing risks, discriminatory zoning and land-use practices and exclusionary policies.
  • Require federal agencies to develop and implement plans to achieve climate and environmental justice and provide targeted action where the needs are greatest.
  • Require environmental analysis for factory pollution permits to consider the disparate and cumulative environmental burden borne by the hosting communities.
  • Mandate states to evaluate and report progress made on addressing climate and environmental injustice.
  • Promote cleaner manufacturing processes, renewable energy systems and safe product designs that end pollution and the use of toxic chemicals while providing safe jobs and other economic benefits for people of color.

Medicare for All

Medicare for All is, morally and financially, the right thing to do. In the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, we can afford to provide our people with healthcare. We know that the single-payer healthcare systems used in nearly every developed nation on Earth improve health outcomes, reduce administrative burden, and cost less per capita than the system we use now, while providing healthcare to everyone.

It was illegal to profit from healthcare in America before Nixon signed into law the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, which allowed the over-privatization that has created massive inequity in quality of care. Not every problem we face has an easy fix; this one does!

  • From my first day in office, I will co-sponsor the current incarnation of a Medicare for All bill (H.R. 676) to ensure no American ever has to worry about healthcare again.
  • I will fight for Medicare’s power to negotiate for lowered drug prices on behalf of American workers.
  • I will fight to import urgently needed drugs from Canada at lower costs than they would be available in the U.S., where the price of medication for rare diseases has skyrocketed due to pharmaceutical price-gouging.

Climate Change

The debate is over, and the scientific jury is in: global climate change is real, it is caused mainly by emissions released from burning fossil fuels and it poses a catastrophic threat to the long-term longevity of our planet. If we do nothing, the planet will heat up five to ten degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century. That would cause enough sea level rise from melting glaciers to put cities like New York and Miami underwater – along with more frequent asthma attacks, higher food prices, insufficient drinking water and more infectious diseases.The worst part is this: people who live in low-income and minority communities will bear the most severe consequences of society’s addiction to fossil fuels.

Switch to 100% renewable energy by 2035 and create millions of jobs while doing it. Invest in clean, sustainable energy sources powered by the sun, wind and Earth’s heat. End the huge subsidies that benefit fossil fuel companies. Create a national environmental and climate justice plan that recognizes the heightened public health risks faced by low-income and minority communities. Build electric vehicle charging stations. In a country where nearly 30 percent of carbon pollution emissions come from the transportation sector, it is imperative that we end our dependence on gasoline. Build high-speed passenger and cargo rail. Our nation’s rail system is largely obsolete, even though our energy-efficient railroads move more freight than ever, and Amtrak’s ridership has never been higher. We must invest in our rail transportation, and not cut corners, to make sure accidents like the one near DuPont never happen again. Update and modernize the energy grid. Some of our grid infrastructure has not been updated since it was first built in the 1920s and 1930s. Technology development in clean energy resources and electric grid improvements have enabled “smart” technologies, programs and policies to create a safer, more sustainable energy system. Ban Arctic oil drilling. Ban offshore drilling. Stop dirty pipeline projects like the Keystone XL. Stop exports of liquefied natural gas and crude oil. Ban fracking for natural gas. Ban mountaintop removal coal mining and invest in Appalachian communities. Close the loopholes that allow the chemical, oil and gas industries to pollute our air and water. Protect public lands by promoting natural resource conservation and habitat preservation. Invest in solar energy and put money back in the pockets of consumers. I will introduce/co-sponsor the house version of the Low Income Solar Act to increase low-income families’ access to solar energy by making it more affordable for people who own their own home and incentivize access to community solar projects. Invest in making all American homes more energy efficient. For every dollar invested in energy efficiency technologies, like weatherization and efficient light bulbs, energy customers can enjoy up to four dollars in savings.

Social Security

Before Social Security was signed into law, nearly half of senior citizens lived in poverty. Today, the elderly poverty rate is 10 percent.Social Security is the most successful government program in our nation’s history. Through good times and bad, Social Security has paid every nickel owed to every eligible American – on time and without delay. As corporations destroyed the retirement dreams of millions over the past 30 years by eliminating defined benefit pension plans, Social Security was paying full benefits. As millions of Americans lost their life savings after Wall Street’s recklessness crashed the economy in 2008, Social Security was paying full benefits. My platform aims to fight for all of us who have been disadvantaged or have left the work force. There’s a lot of work to do but we can start by enacting the following legislative policies today:

Lift the contribution cap so that everyone who makes over $250,000 a year pays the same percentage of their income into Social Security as the middle class and working families, rather than less.This would not only extend the solvency of Social Security for the next 50 years, but also bring in enough revenue to expand benefits by an average of $65 a month; increase cost-of-living-adjustments, and lift more seniors out of poverty by increasing the minimum benefits paid to low-income seniors. Expand Social Security to make sure that everyone in this country can retire with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Unions

The decline of the American middle class mirrors almost exactly the decline of American labor union membership. In the 1950s and 1960s, the middle class was the strongest it’s ever been, and so were unions. They gave workers bargaining power to get a fair share of the economy’s gains — and unions helped improve wages and working conditions for everyone. But as union membership has weakened, from more than a third of all private-sector workers in unions in the 1950s to less than 7 percent today, the bargaining power of average workers has all but disappeared.

If elected, I will fight for the following policies to strengthen Labor Unions:

End forced arbitration. Make it easier to form a union, with a simple majority of workers voting in favor. Right now, long delays and procedural hurdles give employers plenty of time to whip up campaigns against unions, threatening location close-downs or worker firings. Enforce penalties on companies that violate labor laws by firing workers who try to organize a union or intimidating others. These moves are illegal, but nowadays are only penalized by forcing employers to repay some wages to the fired workers, a punishment so light that many employers treat it as just a cost of doing business. I will vote to increase penalties in order to shut down this illegal behavior. Enact a federal law that repeals the Taft-Hartley Act. This laws allow workers to get all the benefits of their local union without paying union dues, which is a back-door attack meant to defund unions. If no one pays their dues, unions have no way to provide any union benefits — to anyone. And that means lower wages.

Corruption

Our democracy has been reduced to an auction of our politicians because of legally protected bribery. According to a Princeton study public policy in our country has no correlation with public opinion, and that’s no accident; the ability of corporations and wealthy donors to influence our politicians by giving them money is protected by judicial review as Constitutional. This must change if we are to make progress on any issue important to everyday Americans. I will sign on to the American Anti-Corruption Act, if elected.

Key provisions of the American Anti-Corruption Act:

Stop Political Bribery Make it illegal for politicians to take money from lobbyists. Ban lobbyist bundling. Close the “revolving door” by stopping elected representatives and senior staff from selling off their government power for high-paying lobbying jobs. Prevent politicians from fundraising during working hours. End Secret Money​ Immediately disclose political donations online​. Stop donors from hiding behind secret-money groups. Fix Our Broken Elections End gerrymandering by creating independent, fully transparent redistricting commissions that follow strict guidelines to ensure accurate representation for all voters, regardless of political party. Let all voters participate in open primaries, so that independents aren’t shut out of the political process. Let voters rank their top candidates, avoiding the “spoiler" effect that hurts third party candidates. Institute automatic voter registration nationwide. Vote at home via mail-in voting, or at the polls. Encourage states to award their Electoral College votes to whoever wins the most votes across the country. Establish publicly financed elections. Enforce the Rules​ Enforce the Supreme Court’s mandate by fixing the rules aimed at preventing and punishing super PAC coordination.​ Prevent lobbyists from skirting the rules by strengthening the definition of lobbying and penalizing lobbyists who fail to register. Strengthen anti-corruption enforcement by overhauling the broken Federal Election Commission and giving prosecutors the tools they need to combat corruption.

Federal Jobs Guarantee

According to a study by Harvard and Princeton economists, 94% of net jobs created since 2005 were either temporary or contract-based, not conventional 9-to–5 positions. Today, one in five American adults and children live in or near poverty, and less than half of homeless people are able to find employment. Meanwhile, decades of trickle-down economics and bank bailouts have done nothing to protect American workers against steadily increasing joblessness.

In Congress, I will propose a Federal Jobs Program that would provide anyone a job in the public sector, a plan similar to the Works Progress Administration which helped end the Great Depression. Every job offered under this Program will pay living wage and include adequate benefits. I will co-sponsor a new Child Development Act, which will provide high quality public childcare for all Americans, while also creating good jobs in the public sector. I will fight for an aggressive transition to green energy. This will create jobs in green manufacturing, as well as helping us meet our carbon emission targets under the Paris Agreement. I will co-sponsor the House version of the Rebuild America Act, which will create more than 13 million public sector jobs by investing in our crumbling infrastructure.

Fighting Gun Violence

Ban bump stocks and eliminate hellfire switches from all federal firearms permits. Required and affordable safety training and continued education for all licensed firearm owners. Empowering judicial removal of firearms possession rights from convicted domestic violence offenders. (Due to a strong correlation between past domestic violence and mass shootings) Mandatory background checks including at gun shows. Full federal funding to modernize and optimize existing background check systems, and make them compatible across all 50 states. Getting corporate money out of politics, including that of the NRA. Banning high capacity magazines. Demilitarize our police forces at all levels. Require de-escalation training for all law enforcement professionals.

A Living Wage

According to the Social Security Administration, 67.3% of wage earners made less than or equal to $46,640.94. The current federal minimum wage is starvation pay and must become a living wage. If elected, I will fight for the policies below:

Tie the Federal Minimum Wage to Inflation, assessed district-by-district according to living costs, at a baseline of $15 per hour. Co-sponsor and fight for the Paycheck Fairness Act. This act works to eliminate the wage gap by: Making wages more transparent. Requiring that employers prove that wage discrepancies are tied to legitimate business qualifications and not gender. Prohibiting companies from taking retaliatory action against employees who raise concerns about gender-based wage discrimination.

Income Inequality

Income inequality in the US is now at the level of the gilded age. My platform attacks the economic injustices which fuel it. Federal Jobs Guarantee: A pool of unemployed workers that are ready to work for lower wages and worse benefits is a deterrent that most corporations use. A federal jobs guarantee creates a nationalized competitor in the marketplace that will create good-paying union jobs by rebuilding our infrastructure, provide quality public childcare, and establish community clinics to help care for the disenfranchised in society. I believe that a necessary pre-requisite to this is to establish federally guaranteed and free education in colleges and universities to ensure that our workforce remains highly educated and highly skilled. Demanding that the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share in taxes. Stop corporations from shifting their profits and jobs overseas to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. Create a progressive estate tax on Americans who inherit more than $3.5 million, and enact a tax on Wall Street speculators who caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs, homes, and life savings. Increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to a living wage, tied to inflation. In 2018, no one who works 40 hours a week should be living in poverty. Putting at least 13 million Americans to work by investing $4.6 trillion over ten years towards rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, railways, airports, public transit systems, ports, dams, wastewater plants, and other infrastructure needs. Reversing trade policies like NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China that have driven down wages and caused the loss of millions of jobs. Creating 1 million jobs for disadvantaged young Americans by investing $5.5 billion in a youth jobs program. Fighting for pay equity by signing the Paycheck Fairness Act into law.It is an outrage that women earn just 78 cents for every dollar a man earns. Making tuition free at public colleges and universities throughout America. Everyone in this country who studies hard should be able to go to college regardless of income. Expanding Social Security by lifting the cap on taxable income above $250,000. At a time when the senior poverty rate is going up, we have got to make sure that every American can retire with dignity and respect. Guaranteeing healthcare as a right of citizenship by enacting a Medicare for all single-payer healthcare system. It’s time for the U.S. to join every major industrialized country on earth and provide universal healthcare to all. Requiring employers to provide at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave; two weeks of paid vacation; and 7 paid sick days per year. Enacting a universal childcare and prekindergarten program. I will propose a 21st century Child Development Act, to provide for the education of our children and ensure working mothers have the time that they need to survive. Making it easier for workers to join unions by fighting for the Employee Free Choice Act. Breaking up the huge financial institutions whose recklessness and fraudulent behavior during the subprime mortgage crisis crashed the American economy in 2008. 3 out of the 4 largest financial institutions in the country are at least 80 percent bigger today than they were before the bailout, and it’s time to ensure that our tax dollars never have to bail out a bank that’s “too big to fail” again.

Immigration

Abolish ICE and establish a Department of Citizenship, Refugees, and Immigration Services under the department of labor. Protect DACA and offer a path to citizenship for all immigrants. Provide whistleblower visas for immigrants to report labor violations. Dismantle inhumane deportation and private detention centers. Protect sanctuary cities.

Workers’ Rights Injured workers have experienced in the last several years a massive effort to limit workers compensation benefits. This has directly harmed hardworking people and their families. We must pass a Workers’ Bill of Rights that includes the following rights for injured workers:

The right to select their own physician or, at a minimum, to be able to switch to a doctor of their choice after 30 days of treatment. The right to a prompt hearing on any dispute within 90 days of a request. Additionally, in emergency medical or financial situations there must be a right to a hearing within 30 days to issue provisional orders on such emergency matters. The right to have considered in their disability their loss of earning capacity along with any physical or mental impairment. The right to an independent vocational assessment and to vocational rehabilitation if they are unable to return to their current trade. Vocational rehabilitation benefits shall be at the same rate as temporary disability benefits. The right to an impairment rating and disability determination which assesses chronic pain and depression along with any physical impairment. The claim must be compensated if work-related activities contribute to, result in, or aggravate pain, limitation, or impairment. If unable to return to substantial gainful work, they shall be entitled to permanent total disability benefits for as long as the disability continues. The right to a non-party independent medical exam, paid by the insurer if there is a question concerning the treatment or opinions of the treating provider. The right to a second opinion, paid by the insurer, with a doctor of their choice, if surgery is being recommended. Any surgery can be declined without adverse consequences. The physician treating them shall have the presumptive right to order any diagnostic tests or evaluations. The presumption can only be overcome by clear and convincing evidence which must be furnished within 20 days of any denial. The right to all legal entitlements for their disability without offsets. The right to realistic cost of living increases in benefits, and to have those benefits pass to their dependents upon their death. The right as the ultimate consumer of medical services to be informed of the doctors education, experience and contractual arrangements with insurers when treatment commences. Additionally, the state shall monitor all doctors and maintain a record of complaints by injured workers concerning doctors which can lead to removal of the doctor from the ability to treat such workers for numerous or major complaints. The right to privacy of their medical records. [24]

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U.S. House election without a Republican candidate

See also: U.S. House elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate, 2018

Washington's 9th Congressional District was one of 38 U.S. House districts where a Republican did not run in 2018. There were three districts where a Democrat did not run.

For more on U.S. House seats with only one major party candidate, visit these pages:

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Five of 39 Washington counties—12.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Clallam County, Washington 2.76% 0.38% 3.30%
Cowlitz County, Washington 13.32% 4.44% 11.15%
Grays Harbor County, Washington 6.99% 14.11% 14.56%
Mason County, Washington 5.81% 7.09% 8.66%
Pacific County, Washington 6.74% 11.52% 14.07%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Washington with 52.5 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 36.8 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Washington cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 73.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Washington supported Democratic candidates for president more often than Republican candidates, 53.3 to 43.3 percent. The state favored Democrats in every election between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Washington. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[25][26]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 34 out of 49 state House districts in Washington with an average margin of victory of 25.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 30 out of 49 state House districts in Washington with an average margin of victory of 32.1 points.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 15 out of 49 state House districts in Washington with an average margin of victory of 13.9 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 19 out of 49 state House districts in Washington with an average margin of victory of 14.9 points.


District history

2016

See also: Washington's 9th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Adam Smith (D) defeated Doug Basler (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Smith and Basler defeated Jesse Wineberry (D), Daniel Smith (D), and Jeary Flener (independent) in the top-two primary on August 2, 2016.[27][28]

U.S. House, Washington District 9 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Smith Incumbent 72.9% 205,165
     Republican Doug Basler 27.1% 76,317
Total Votes 281,482
Source: Washington Secretary of State


U.S. House, Washington District 9 Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Smith Incumbent 56.3% 67,100
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDoug Basler 23.4% 27,848
     Democratic Jesse Wineberry 14.8% 17,613
     Democratic Daniel Smith 3.3% 3,935
     Independent Jeary Flener 2.3% 2,733
Total Votes 119,229
Source: Washington Secretary of State

2014

See also: Washington's 9th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 9th Congressional District of Washington held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Adam Smith (D) defeated Doug Basler (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, Washington District 9 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Smith Incumbent 70.8% 118,132
     Republican Doug Basler 29.2% 48,662
Total Votes 166,794
Source: Washington Secretary of State

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Washington heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

  • Democrats controlled both chambers of the Washington State Legislature. They had a 50-48 majority in the state House and a 26-23 majority in the state Senate.

Trifecta status

  • Washington was a Democratic trifecta, meaning that the Democrats controlled the office of the governor, the state House, and the state Senate.

2018 elections

See also: Washington elections, 2018

Washington held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for Washington
 WashingtonU.S.
Total population:7,160,290316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):66,4563,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:77.8%73.6%
Black/African American:3.6%12.6%
Asian:7.7%5.1%
Native American:1.3%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.6%0.2%
Two or more:5.2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:12%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:90.4%86.7%
College graduation rate:32.9%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$61,062$53,889
Persons below poverty level:14.4%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Washington.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, Washington's three largest cities were Seattle (pop. est. 724,745), Spokane (pop. est. 217,108), and Tacoma (pop. est. 213,418).[29][30]

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Washington from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Washington Secretary of State.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Washington every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Washington 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 54.3% Republican Party Donald Trump 38.1% 16.2%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 51.2% Republican Party Mitt Romney 41.2% 10.0%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 57.6% Republican Party John McCain 40.5% 17.1%
2004 Democratic Party John Kerry 52.8% Republican Party George W. Bush 45.6% 7.2%
2000 Democratic Party Al Gore 50.2% Republican Party George W. Bush 44.6% 5.8%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Washington from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Washington 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Democratic Party Patty Murray 59.0% Republican Party Chris Vance 40.1% 18.9%
2012 Democratic Party Maria Cantwell 60.4% Republican Party Michael Baumgartner 39.5% 20.9%
2010 Democratic Party Patty Murray 52.4% Republican Party Dino Rossi 47.6% 4.8%
2006 Democratic Party Maria Cantwell 56.9% Republican Party Michael McGavick 39.9% 17.0%
2004 Democratic Party Patty Murray 55.0% Republican Party George R. Nethercutt, Jr. 44.7% 10.3%
2000 Democratic Party Maria Cantwell 48.7% Republican Party Slade Gorton 48.6% 0.1%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Washington.

Election results (Governor), Washington 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Democratic Party Jay Inslee 54.4% Republican Party Bill Bryant 45.6% 8.8%
2012 Democratic Party Jay Inslee 51.5% Republican Party Rob McKenna 48.6% 0.9%
2008 Democratic Party Christine Gregoire 53.2% Republican Party Dino Rossi 46.8% 6.4%
2004 Democratic Party Christine Gregoire 48.9% Republican Party Dino Rossi 48.9% 0.0%
2000 Democratic Party Gary Locke 58.4% Republican Party John Carlson 39.7% 7.1%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Washington in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Washington 2000-2016
Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
2016 Republican Party 4 40% Democratic Party 6 60% D+2
2014 Republican Party 4 40% Democratic Party 6 60% D+2
2012 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.5% D+1
2010 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.5% D+1
2008 Republican Party 3 33.3% Democratic Party 6 66.7% D+2
2006 Republican Party 3 33.3% Democratic Party 6 66.7% D+2
2004 Republican Party 3 33.3% Democratic Party 6 66.7% D+2
2002 Republican Party 3 33.3% Democratic Party 6 66.7% D+2
2000 Republican Party 3 33.3% Democratic Party 6 66.7% D+2

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Washington Party Control: 1992-2024
Eighteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Senate R D D D D R R D D D D R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R[31] D D D D D D D
House D D D R R R R S S S D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Seattle Times, "Remap forces seismic shift on Rep. Smith, 9th District," Jan 18, 2012
  2. ↑ Vote Sarah Smith, "Endorsements, accessed July 17, 2018
  3. ↑ Elect Adam Smith, "Endorsements," accessed July 17, 2018
  4. ↑ Congressman Adam Smith, "Biography," accessed June 5, 2025
  5. ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "SMITH, Adam, (1965 - )," accessed June 5, 2025
  6. ↑ The National Journal, "Adam Smith," accessed July, 2013
  7. ↑ "The Stranger, "The Stranger Interviews Congressman Adam Smith, Who Says His Dem-Socialist Challenger Is Totally Wrong About Him," August 21, 2018
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named adamissues
  9. ↑ Elect Adam Smith, "News," July 31, 2018
  10. ↑ Vote Sarah Smith, "Issues," accessed August 24, 2018
  11. ↑ Seattle Weekly, "Can Sarah Smith Be Seattle’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?" July 11, 2018
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sarahissues
  13. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  14. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  15. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  16. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  17. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  18. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 Adam Smith for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed July 17, 2018
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 Sarah Smith for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed July 17, 2018
  21. ↑ Adam Smith for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed July 17, 2018
  22. ↑ The Stranger, "Adam Smith and Sarah Smith Spar in a Weirdly Volatile and Kinda Infuriating Candidate Forum," October 19, 2018
  23. ↑ Elect Adam Smith, "Issues," accessed September 28, 2018
  24. ↑ Sarah Smith for Congress, "Issues," accessed September 28, 2018
  25. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  26. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  27. ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Unofficial List of Candidates in Ballot Order," accessed May 23, 2016
  28. ↑ Politico, "Washington House Primaries Results," August 2, 2016
  29. ↑ Washington Demographics, "Washington Cities by Population," accessed December 11, 2017
  30. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts Washington," accessed December 11, 2017
  31. ↑ Democrats gained full control of the state Senate after a special election on November 7, 2017.
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