Muslim hoping to unseat longtime Dem congressman for supporting Israel says pro-LGBT messages alienate Muslims

Melissa Chaudhry, a Muslim candidate running as a Democrat in Washington state against long-serving Rep. Adam Smith, faces criticism for her stance on LGBTQ+ rights and her potential party switch. Chaudhry, who has stated she supports gay rights, initially omitted this from her campaign website to avoid alienating Muslim voters, explaining to The Stranger, "because a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately." Jonathan Choe of the Discovery Institute accused Chaudhry of political opportunism, stating she "will say anything to get elected to office." The Stonewall Democrats, the state's official LGBTQ+ caucus, urged organizations to withdraw endorsements, citing Chaudhry's lack of engagement and her stated intention to switch to the Green Party if elected. Chaudhry maintains her support for all marginalized communities and accuses her critics of misrepresenting her views.