Melissa Chaudhry, a progressive Democrat running to unseat longtime Rep. Adam Smith in Washington's 9th Congressional District, is facing internal party backlash after reportedly omitting LGBTQ+ rights from her campaign website to avoid alienating Muslim voters.

According to an endorsement interview with The Stranger, Chaudhry explained her omission by stating, "because a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately."

This revelation prompted swift criticism from LGBTQ+ activists and Democratic organizations. The Washington State Stonewall Democrats, led by chair Andrew Ashiofu, urged groups to reconsider and potentially rescind their endorsements of Chaudhry. Ashiofu told Fox News Digital, "Her comments are disqualifying because they reveal a deliberate choice to hide her positions on LGBTQ+ rights while actively seeking Democratic endorsements."

He added, "When a candidate admits to hiding key civil-rights positions or tailoring their message to avoid acknowledging LGBTQ+ people, that undermines the integrity of every organization that endorsed her in good faith."

Chaudhry defended her record by noting her personal connections to the LGBTQ+ community, stating that her only sibling is LGBTQIA+, she helped found her high school's Gay Straight Alliance "back when we had to keep the meeting location secret for our own safety," and that one of her closest friends is "a disabled lesbian woman raising her family against immense stigma."

Seattle Red first reported that Democratic organizations were reconsidering their endorsements following these comments. Party members emphasized that "transparency and trust are foundational to the Democratic endorsement process," and that candidates should be "bold enough to stand with our community."

Sources