Marxist Kshama Sawant boxed out as comeback bid collapses

Rep. Adam Smith, Washington’s longest-serving member of Congress, led Tuesday’s primary with approximately 51 percent of the vote. Republican Doug Basler held second place with 24 percent, putting the two on course for a November matchup. Sawant was stranded in third place with just 13 percent, barely ahead of fellow far-left candidate Melissa Chaudhry.

The Associated Press called the race for Washington's 9th District, which includes portions of South Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, and surrounding communities.

Thousands of ballots remain to be counted, but the initial margin leaves Sawant facing elimination under Washington’s top-two primary system. During previous elections for Seattle City Council, Sawant managed to overcome large gaps due to late ballots.

Sawant, who served three terms on the Seattle City Council, ran as an “independent anti-war revolutionary socialist” and attempted to turn anger over Israel, military spending, and the Democratic establishment into a congressional comeback.

Instead, she was squeezed between a Democratic incumbent, a Republican challenger, and another anti-Israel candidate competing for the same far-left voters.

Speaking before a few dozen supporters during an Election Night event, Sawant blamed union leaders for endorsing Smith and accused Chaudhry of dividing the socialist and activist vote. “Shame on Melissa Chaudhry,” Sawant shouted as supporters booed.

Chaudhry had attempted to court progressive and socialist activists by campaigning against Israel. She supported the University of Washington Gaza encampment and received backing from controversial anti-Israel political figures. Chaudhry revealed during an endorsement interview that she was planning on abandoning the Democratic Party for the Green Party if victorious, despite campaigning in the Democratic primary.

Chaudhry also acknowledged that she had deliberately avoided advertising her pro-LGBTQ positions because she was being “careful” about how they would be received by some of her Muslim constituents. The disclosure drew criticism from Democratic organizations, including the Stonewall Democrats and members of the 33rd Legislative District Democrats, who accused Chaudhry of tailoring her stated positions to different audiences.

Chaudhry’s husband, Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a convicted fraudster, was previously detained by ICE. Chaudhry used media appearances and activist rallies to characterize his detention as an injustice.

Sawant and Chaudhry competed for many of the same voters: socialists, anti-Israel activists, campus protesters, and disaffected Democrats.

Smith has represented the district since 1997 and raised nearly $1.9 million through mid-July. Sawant raised approximately $645,000, while Basler reported $99,000, much of it self-funded. Smith thanked voters Tuesday night and said he would continue fighting President Donald Trump and “MAGA extremists who threaten our democracy.”

Sawant repeatedly branded Smith an “arch-Zionist and warmonger” because of his history of supporting Israel and his role as the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Smith recently voted for an amendment seeking to cut aid to Israel while continuing to describe himself as a supporter of the country.

Although later ballots could narrow the margins, if Tuesday’s results hold up, Sawant’s radical socialist branch may have failed to expand beyond its existing activist base.