WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a candid interview on NewsNation’s “On Balance” Thursday, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) admitted that mistakes have been made in addressing crime in Seattle and urged Democrats nationally to take public safety concerns more seriously.
“Mistakes Were Made” in Seattle
Smith, who represents parts of Seattle and its suburbs, said the city’s past approaches to crime have fallen short.
“I’ve been working out here in Seattle, Washington and elsewhere to make some changes in the policy for greater accountability, greater personal responsibility,” he said. “Mistakes were made, and I think we ought to acknowledge those.”
While pointing out that crime is not limited to Democratic-led cities, Smith stressed that acknowledging shortcomings is critical to regaining public trust.
Crime Is a Bipartisan Issue
Smith pushed back on the framing that crime is solely a problem in Democratic-run cities. He cited data showing that Oklahoma City, a Republican-led city, has a higher violent crime rate than Washington, D.C.
“There are at least a dozen Republican-run cities that also are struggling with crime,” Smith said. “This isn’t about red states or blue states — it’s about doing a better job across the board.”
Concern Over Federal Tactics
Smith also criticized President Donald Trump’s recent decision to place federal checkpoints and military patrols in Washington, D.C., arguing that such tactics could undermine civil liberties.
“The thing about Trump, though, is they’re setting up checkpoints in Washington, D.C. Do Americans want that in their cities?” he asked. “Do people want the military doing law enforcement?”
Smith contrasted those measures with what he believes is a more effective solution: increasing local policing and accountability within existing law enforcement frameworks.
A Call for More Police
“I would love to see more police,” Smith said. “I would love to see a lot more people enforcing the law.”
While acknowledging that some progress has been made, Smith insisted the country needs to bolster its response to crime by expanding resources for law enforcement while also demanding stronger accountability.
Pushing Democrats to Confront Crime Directly
In one of his more pointed remarks, Smith distanced himself from members of his own party who downplay crime as a serious concern.
“I don’t agree with Democrats who say, oh, crime’s not a problem, we shouldn’t pay attention to it,” he said. “We should. And we need to do a better job on it.”
Smith emphasized that both perception and reality matter when it comes to public safety. He said voters expect politicians to demonstrate that they understand the concerns of residents in cities where rising crime has become a top issue.
A National Conversation
Smith’s remarks come at a time when crime and policing have become central to debates in Washington and across the country. With federal troops now deployed in D.C. and discussions growing over whether similar interventions could expand to other cities, lawmakers are weighing how to balance civil liberties with demands for stronger enforcement.
For Smith, the path forward involves an honest assessment of past failures and a renewed commitment to making communities safer.
“We need to do a better job at dealing with crime in cities across this country,” he concluded. “That’s the reality, and it’s something we have to face head-on.”
Leave a Reply