Who's running in Washington's 9th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Adam Smith currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Defence policy and procurement, and the state's two major military installations.
Housing affordability, which he says is what constituents raise with him.
Federally funded parental leave, which he has legislated on.
Addressing crime, drug abuse and homelessness in south King County.
Diplomacy including the Iran nuclear deal and continued UNRWA funding.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 9th District since January 1997; re-elected in 2024 with 65.4%.
Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee since 2011; chaired it from 2019 to 2023.
Supported the Iran nuclear deal and continued United States funding for UNRWA, both positions AIPAC opposed.
Took 47.1% in the August 4, 2026 top-two primary against four opponents, two of them running to his left.
AIPAC endorsed him but suspended fundraising on his behalf.
Arguments in favor
The Washington State Labor Council, the operating engineers' Local 302, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and J Street endorsed him, and his position as the ranking Democrat on Armed Services gives the district direct leverage over the state's military installations and defence employers.
— Endorsements from the unions and organisations named; his committee position
He answers the donor charge with his own record: "I've never been shy about taking positions or voting against the interests of people who donate to me," citing his support for the Iran nuclear deal and continued UNRWA funding, both opposed by AIPAC. He took nearly half the primary vote against two challengers from his left.
— Adam Smith, quoted by KUOW; August 2026 primary results
Arguments against
Melissa Chaudhry, who ran against him for a second time, argues his major donors are AIPAC and defence contractors including General Atomics, and that those contributions shape the votes he casts as the Democrats' senior member on Armed Services.
— Melissa Chaudhry, 2026 primary, reported by KUOW
Kshama Sawant ran against him as an independent on an arms embargo against Israel, housing and socialism, and took 17.3% — more than any Democrat has taken against him in a primary — with backing from the Green Party of Washington, Track AIPAC and the journalist Chris Hedges.
— Kshama Sawant campaign, 2026; August 2026 primary results
What we couldn’t verify
Smith and his two left challengers took a combined 76.9% of the primary vote; the challengers' 29.8% is the measure of dissatisfaction within the district's Democratic electorate, but they did not advance.
AIPAC endorsed Smith but suspended fundraising for him; the reason was not established from the sources found.
No verified 2026 campaign website could be found: the domain matching his campaign name returns a server error and the site under his own name belongs to an unrelated British think tank.
No criticism of Smith by name from Doug Basler or from the National Republican Congressional Committee could be found.
Affordability — "we must restore an economy where hard work leads somewhere."
Household costs: housing, groceries and taxes.
Public safety, balancing compassion with accountability.
Making it possible to start a business, buy a home or learn a trade in the district.
Common-sense governance and accountability in Congress.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Founder and president of EZTVSpots.com; former corporate trainer at Car Toys; background in retail sales and management.
Twice elected a precinct committee officer.
Republican candidate for this district in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022, losing each time; sat out 2024.
Advanced from the August 4, 2026 top-two primary with 21.8%.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He consolidated the district's Republican vote at 21.8% in a five-candidate open primary — ahead of both Democrats running against the incumbent from the left individually — and has been twice elected a precinct committee officer.
— August 2026 top-two primary results; his record as a precinct committee officer
Arguments against
This is his sixth general election against Adam Smith and he has lost the previous five, in a district every forecaster rates safe or solid Democratic and that Smith has held since 1997.
— His 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022 results; forecaster ratings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Basler by name could be found — not from Adam Smith or his campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not in south King County news coverage; the Associated Press and local wire coverage of his advancement is purely factual. No published case for him beyond his own campaign site and voters'-pamphlet statement was found either. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
This is his sixth general election against Adam Smith; he has lost the previous five, and forecasters rate the seat safe or solid Democratic.
No fundraising figures, party committee endorsements or elected-official endorsements were found. His campaign site does not name the incumbent.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Washington uses a top-two primary. In the August 4, 2026 primary, Democratic incumbent Adam Smith took 47.1% and Republican Doug Basler 21.8%; independent Kshama Sawant, the former Seattle city councillor, took 17.3% and Democrat Melissa Chaudhry 12.5%. Smith and Basler appear on the November ballot — their sixth contest against one another. The district covers southern and eastern Seattle, southern Bellevue and most of Renton, Kent, Auburn and Federal Way. Forecasters rate it safe or solid Democratic.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Washington ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Washington Secretary of State.