From Seatac to Congress
Adam Smith was adopted as an infant and raised in SeaTac. His dad was a ramp serviceman at Sea-Tac Airport and was a proud and active member in his Machinists’ Union. The financial stability and benefits offered by union work took care of his family. Adam and his brothers attended Bow Lake Elementary, Chinook Middle School, and Tyee High School.
Working His Way Up
Adam attended Western Washington University, then transferred to Fordham University earning a degree in Political Science while working nights loading UPS trucks. Soon after, he graduated from the University of Washington School of Law and served as a Seattle City prosecutor, lawyer, and judge pro tempore, focusing on domestic violence and DUI cases.
Hometown leadership
At 25, Adam ran a door-to-door campaign to unseat a Republican incumbent in his hometown of SeaTac—a race many considered a longshot. He won, becoming the youngest state senator in the nation and later chaired the Law and Justice Committee in Olympia.
Delivering for Washington
After securing re-election to the state Senate despite a national Republican Wave in 1994, Adam ran for Washington’s newly created 9th Congressional District in 1996, defeating the Republican incumbent, Randy Tate, in one of the nation’s most competitive races. Adam has spent his career fighting for South King County and the greater Seattle region.
Effective Leadership
In Congress, Adam has built a reputation for principled, effective leadership. As the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, he’s fought for service members and veterans, cracked down on wasteful Pentagon spending, and passed bipartisan legislation to build affordable housing. He has invested in mental & behavioral health treatment, pushed for a clean energy future, and to expand economic opportunity for all.
Family and Community
Adam and his wife Sara live in Bellevue. Their daughter Kendall is a UW graduate, and their son Jack graduated from WSU. Adam has coached youth soccer, and Sara has twice served as PTA President.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives write and vote on federal laws, including the federal budget. Each represents one district and serves a two-year term. Tax bills must start in the House, only the House can impeach federal officials, and members oversee federal agencies through their committees.