The Washington State Labor Council Endorses Strikebreaker
Long Nguyen
On May 16, the Washington State Labor Council approved its 2026 election endorsements. They had delegates from the Committee on Political Education hold a convention to vote on these endorsements. Adam Smith is on the list of endorsements for WA Congressional District 9.
The Labor Council is the largest labor organization in Washington, representing more than 650 local unions and 600,000 union members statewide. One of the 650 local unions affiliated with the Labor Council is the Boeing union, IAM District Lodge 751. This is my union. I condemn the endorsement of Adam Smith.
Adam Smith has been in this office for 29 years. In that time, he has led the Democrats in the creation of ICE, the funding of ICE, and voting for every war. AIPAC has donated over $500,000 to him!
Smith is also a union buster. In 2022, Smith voted to break a railroad strike. In 2024, Adam Smith’s 9th biggest donor was union-busting law firm Baker Donelson, which brags on its website about successfully busting unions of steelworkers and electricians in Alabama and Arkansas. Baker Donelson has given Smith more than $50,000.
The Labor Council is shooting itself in the foot by endorsing this monster. They are betraying union members by endorsing Democrats like Adam Smith.
Kshama Sawant is running for the same seat against Adam Smith. Kshama is running as an independent socialist. She has a record of leading the movement to win the $15 minimum wage in Seattle. This minimum wage has since increased to $21.30, which is the highest minimum wage in the nation. When Democrats on city council attempted to dismantle that minimum wage and lower it, Kshama and her organization Workers Strike Back led the fight to defend this historic victory.
Kshama winning would create a political earthquake and crack the door wide open for other independent socialists to run. It would give workers actual representation that the billionaire Democratic and Republican parties never will. Workers would have their interests represented when Kshama fights for free healthcare for all, to shut down ICE, for an end to the wars, and to build a workers’ party.
It is shameful that the Labor Council endorses Adam Smith over Kshama Sawant. The rank and file should revolt against this decision. Delegate heads should roll for this.