Which Seattle Mayor Candidates Support War Hawk Rep. Adam Smith?

Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza came up at the Rainier Ave Radio forum Wednesday night in a quiet, but telling way. Candidates for Mayor faced the question: If Congress Member Adam Smith ran for re-election, would you endorse him? Their answers, which varied, are not a direct rubber stamp on Smith’s anti-woke media tour, or his propensity for cheering on U.S.-backed genocide, or the fact that he’s bought and paid for by AIPAC. But that’s certainly how an anti-war audience would hear those answers.

Both incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell and his business-friendly challenger Joe Mallahan said they would endorse Smith.

“I already have, so yes,” Harrell said in reference to previous cycles.

“I would,” Mallahan said. “He’s a strong Democratic leader.”

Candidates to the incumbents left, including Katie Wilson, Joe Molloy, and Thaddeus Whelan said “I would not.”

Walen added, “Free Palestine.”

One challenger, Ry Armstrong, seemed to hedge.

“I would be open to a conversation, but right now I would not,” Armstrong said.

Attendees from another recent candidate forum may have expected a stronger response from Armstrong. At Queer Out The Vote last week, Armstrong said that the Trump Administration would likely target them because of their “views on Gaza and freeing Palestine.” The crowd erupted into applause and Armstrong went on, “The genocide has to stop and I think for some reason we don’t want to talk that…”

The Burner asked Armstrong to square these two responses. They said that they would “have to work with all our members of congress to ensure Seattle is in the best possible situation it can be.” Smith, Armstrong clarified, is a current member of congress.

“I would welcome a dialogue about how we can address the genocide in Gaza, hopefully moving him to a place where he’s willing to stand up against atrocities,” Armstrong wrote in a text to The Burner. “At this time knowing what I know about his thoughts on the conflict, I would be a no endorsement - I’m hopeful that sometimes in conversation minds can be changed.

As a followup, candidates had to weigh in on Smith’s challenger, socialist firebrand and former Seattle City Council Member Kshama Sawant. She’s running with three demands at the forefront: End genocide in Gaza, free healthcare for all, and rent control. But her confrontational style earned her no friends within the political establishment. And she’s even butted heads with other lefty organizers in Seattle. Harrell, Mallahan, Wilson, Armstrong, and Molloy said they would not endorse Sawant. Whelan said he’s open to conversation, but leans “no.” Isaiah Willoughby, who the moderator did not ask about Smith initially, said he definitely would” and reminded the audience that he protested at CHOP/CHAZ in 2020.