Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09)

Adam Smith was raised in Washington, where his father worked as a ramp serviceman at SeaTac Airport and was active in the local Machinists’ Union. He attended law school and worked in both private and public practice. While in law school, he ran for the State Senate and became the youngest State Senator in the country at 25 years old. He was elected to Congress in 1996, defeating an incumbent Republican, and has since focused on strengthening the middle class by encouraging broad-based economic opportunity, expanding access to high-quality education and job-training opportunities, and improving transportation infrastructure. He serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he has been the highest-ranking Democrat since 2010. As Chair of the Armed Services Committee, he has been a leader in foreign policy and national security and is a longtime advocate for strengthening diplomacy and defense.