A Democratic congressional candidate in Washington state is facing internal party backlash after remarks about LGBTQ+ rights surfaced during an endorsement interview.
Melissa Chaudhry, a progressive Democrat challenging longtime Rep. Adam Smith in the state's 9th Congressional District, said she omitted LGBTQ+ issues from her campaign website because, in her words, "a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately."
The comments, made during a local endorsement process, prompted the Washington State Stonewall Democrats to urge party organizations to reconsider their support for her candidacy.
The group's chair said the remarks are disqualifying because they show a deliberate choice to conceal her position on civil rights while seeking Democratic endorsements.
He argued that any candidate running as a Democrat should openly stand with the LGBTQ+ community, and that concealment raises serious concerns about honesty and party values.
The organization specifically called on several local Democratic groups that had endorsed Chaudhry to rescind their support, citing transparency and trust as foundational to the endorsement process.
The controversy widened after reports that Chaudhry indicated she planned to run as a Democrat but switch to the Green Party if elected, asking that the information remain private during the endorsement process.
That disclosure prompted further concern among local party leaders, with at least one district Democratic organization discussing bylaw changes because current rules prevent rescinding an endorsement.
A Seattle political commentator said the dispute reveals tensions within the Democratic coalition when competing priorities among marginalized groups collide.
Chaudhry pushed back against the criticism on social media, stating she has supported full equality for LGBTQ+ people her entire life and noting close personal ties to the community.
She accused media outlets of misrepresenting her remarks and said the endorsement interview environment was hostile, contributing to how she responded.
Rep. Adam Smith, who has held the seat since 1997, faces multiple challengers in the Democratic primary, including Chaudhry.
