Melissa Chaudhry, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Washington's 9th district, has stated she is hesitant to publicly advocate for LGBTQ+ rights due to potential alienation of Muslim voters, despite these voters constituting a small percentage of her district. Chaudhry, who is Muslim, made this admission in an interview with The Stranger.
When questioned about the absence of LGBTQ+ issues on her campaign website, Chaudhry explained, "Because a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately." According to a 2025 Pew Research Center report, 41% of American Muslims believe homosexuality should be accepted by society, compared to 57% of Christians and 82% of Jewish people. The Seattle metropolitan area, which encompasses a significant portion of Chaudhry's district, is approximately 2% Muslim, according to Pew's "Religious Landscape Study." In contrast, the U.S. Census reports that about 17% of adults in Seattle identify as LGBTQ+.
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Chaudhry's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the interview. The candidate has since attempted to address criticism from LGBTQ+ activists. Andrew Ashiofu, chair of Washington Stonewall Democrats, stated on Facebook that "Our community is not expendable. LGBTQ+ rights are not optional." In response, Chaudhry assured potential LGBTQ+ voters of her support, writing, "If you are queer, and you are wondering if you and your rights are safe with me, I assure you from the bottom of my heart, you are, you have always been, and you always will be." She also mentioned her sister is in a same-sex relationship and that she has friends who are a lesbian couple.
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Ashiofu dismissed Chaudhry's response, comparing her approach to a racist claiming to have Black friends. Chaudhry, who adopted her husband's last name and wears a hijab, lost her previous bid for the congressional seat in 2024.