Former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant has announced her run for Congress in Washington’s 9th District, setting up a potential 2026 showdown with long-time Democratic incumbent Rep. Adam Smith. Sawant, a self-described socialist, said her campaign will focus on opposing U.S. military aid to Israel and advocating for Medicare for All.
Sawant, 51, represented Seattle on the city council from 2014 to 2023, where she became known for pushing renter protections and taxes on large corporations. She declined to seek reelection last year, instead launching a labor movement initiative called Workers Strike Back. At a press conference in Seattle, Sawant accused both major political parties of catering to billionaires and labeled them “warmongering.”
She sharply criticized Rep. Smith, saying he has “blood all over his hands” due to his support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Sawant has been a vocal critic of the Democratic Party’s foreign policy and campaigned alongside Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein in 2024.
The 9th Congressional District includes parts of Bellevue, Southeast Seattle, Mercer Island, and South King County. Sawant confirmed she resides within the district.
Rep. Smith, 59, is the most senior member of Washington’s House delegation and serves as the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. A member of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition, Smith has supported Israel’s right to respond to Hamas while criticizing the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
Smith has also been outspoken against what he calls “radical identity politics” from the far-left, blaming them for damaging the Democratic Party’s reputation on issues like crime and homelessness. He easily won reelection in 2024 with over 70% of the vote, defeating progressive challenger Melissa Chaudhry. Both Chaudhry and perennial candidates Janis Clark and Mark Greene have filed to run again in 2026.
Sawant’s campaign signals a continued push from the left to challenge establishment Democrats in deep-blue districts, especially on issues of foreign policy and economic justice.
