Linda Smith (Washington politician)

Linda Smith (Washington politician) was an American businesswoman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative for Washington's 3rd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, she was known as a staunch social and fiscal conservative who championed term limits, tax reform, and anti-gambling legislation. Smith previously served in the Washington House of Representatives and made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 1998.

Early life and education

Linda Ann Smith was born in La Center, Washington, and grew up in nearby Ridgefield, Washington. She attended Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, but did not complete a degree, instead focusing on building a family and a small business. She and her husband, Charles Smith, owned and operated a tax preparation service, an experience that deeply informed her later political views on IRS reform and the U.S. tax code.

Political career

Smith's political career began at the local level, where her advocacy for conservative fiscal policies led to her election to the Washington House of Representatives in 1982. She served two terms representing the 18th legislative district. In 1994, she successfully challenged Democratic incumbent Jolene Unsoeld to win election to the U.S. House from Washington's 3rd congressional district, part of the national Republican Revolution that gave the GOP control of Congress. In 1998, she gave up her House seat to run for the U.S. Senate, losing to incumbent Patty Murray in the general election.

Electoral history

In the 1994 election for Washington's 3rd congressional district, Smith defeated three-term Democrat Jolene Unsoeld. She won re-election in 1996 against Democrat Brian Baird, who would later succeed her. Her 1998 U.S. Senate campaign was a hard-fought race against Senator Patty Murray; Smith won the Republican primary but lost the general election in a year that proved difficult for Republican candidates nationally. She also sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, running on a platform of tax reform and social conservatism, but withdrew before any primaries.

Political positions and legislation

A self-described "citizen legislator," Smith was a prominent advocate for term limits and co-sponsored a constitutional amendment to enact them. She was a leading voice for overhauling the IRS and supported the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Deeply opposed to the expansion of gambling, she founded the organization Hope for the Nations to combat the industry internationally. Her conservative stances aligned with the Contract with America and groups like the Christian Coalition of America. She often clashed with leadership in both parties, maintaining an independent, anti-establishment reputation.

Later life and death

After leaving Congress, Smith remained active in anti-gambling advocacy through her organization, which later became known as Shared Hope International, focusing on combating the sex trafficking of women and children. She received several awards for her humanitarian work, including recognition from the U.S. Department of State. Linda Smith died on June 15, 2021, in Vancouver, Washington, following a long illness. She was survived by her husband, two children, and several grandchildren.

Category:1950 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Washington (state) Category:Washington (state) Republicans Category:People from Clark County, Washington