Adam Neil Arafat

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Adam Arafat completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Arafat's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading-bio-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI’m Adam Neil Arafat, a working-class Washingtonian running for Congress in Washington’s 10th District.\r\n<p>I served 20 years in Army aviation, then continued in public service managing the infrastructure our communities rely on every day. I’ve spent my career in roles where accountability matters and decisions have real consequences for real people.\r\n</p><p>I’m running because too many working families are being priced out, talked past, and left waiting while Washington caters to donors and corporations. I don’t take corporate or PAC money. I answer to voters.\r\n</p><p>I believe healthcare should be a right, housing should be affordable, and clean energy jobs should strengthen our communities. I’ll fight price gouging, defend reproductive freedom and voting rights, and make sure corporations finally pay their fair share.\r\n</p>\nI’m not a career politician. I’m someone who believes showing up, telling the truth, and doing the work still matters.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading-key-message-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Families deserve lower costs for essential goods like housing, energy, food, and healthcare. We need to pair this with strong accountability regardless of wealth, power or position.</li><li>I work for the people of Washington’s 10th District, not special interests. I prioritize full transparency and accountability, free from corporate or PAC money.</li><li>Universal healthcare, lower drug prices, accessible mental health care, and fair taxation that ensures corporations fulfill their financial obligations are essential.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading1-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tLowering the cost of living, universal healthcare, affordable housing, climate action, mental health care, fair taxation, reproductive rights, voting rights, and ending special interest control of politics. <br/>\r\nMoney out &amp; push accountability!\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading2-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tFranklin D. Roosevelt’s use of government to protect working people and give everyday Americans a fair shot.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading3-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI would recommend The People, No by Thomas Frank. It’s about the history of populist movements in America and how ordinary citizens have fought to make government work for everyone, not just the powerful.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading4-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tIntegrity, transparency, and accountability. An elected official should put people before special interests, listen to their constituents, and act in the public’s best interest at all times.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading5-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI lead with ethics over convenience. I don’t take corporate money, and I don’t accept the status quo when it’s wrong. I push for change when it’s the right thing to do, even if it’s uncomfortable.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading6-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTo represent the people of the district, fight for their needs, protect their rights, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely to improve quality of life and strengthen the community.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading7-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat legacy would you like to leave?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI want to leave things better for the generations that come next.<br/><br/>\r\nA country where health care is a right, not a privilege, and where I can honestly say I helped make universal health care real. Being part of change that actually improved people’s lives is the legacy that matters to me.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading8-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tUnfortunately it’s the first gulf war. I remember being a bit concerned, not fully understanding what was happening, while seeing military jets and equipment flying overhead. I lived in Abu Dhabi at the time.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading9-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was your very first job? How long did you have it?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy first job was at a sandwich coffee shop where I worked for a year while in school.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading10-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is your favorite book? Why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading10-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tNo favorites but currently reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies and its a good read\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading11-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIf you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tV for Vendetta\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading12-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is something that has been a struggle in your life?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMoney has been a constant struggle.<br/><br/>\r\nEven doing everything right, the goalposts keep moving. Inflation and rising costs make it harder to get ahead, and that reality shapes how I see the economy and policy.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading13-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse13-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading13-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse13-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe U.S. House is unique because it isn’t broken by accident. It’s designed to look democratic while functioning as theater.<br/><br/>\n<p>It’s defining qualities are constant fundraising which replaces accountability, party leadership controls outcomes, symbolic votes, and policy shaped by lobbyists. Delay isn’t a failure. It protects the status quo and the people who benefit from keeping things the same.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nPeople feel this. That’s why trust is gone. I’m running to change how this works, not pretend it does.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading14-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse14-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading14-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse14-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tExperience can help, but it isn’t essential. What matters is integrity, real-world experience, and serving people over special interests.<br/><br/>\n<p>Too many in Washington have lost touch with what it’s like to live on a paycheck. I haven’t. I know the pressures working families face, and that perspective is exactly what’s missing.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nFresh voices don’t just break gridlock. They bring the room back to reality.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading15-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse15-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading15-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse15-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tOur greatest challenges will be making life affordable for working families, addressing climate change, protecting democracy, and restoring trust in government. We must tackle rising housing, healthcare, and energy costs, end corporate influence in politics, invest in clean energy, and ensure every voice is heard and every vote counts. We are going to have a long recovery ahead after what’s been done. We need people with the motivation and drive to push change for the people not the powerful.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading16-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse16-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading16-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse16-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYes. A two-year term keeps representatives accountable and connected to the people they serve. When or if they lose touch with the needs and priorities of their district, it’s a chance to hold them to account.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse17-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading17-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse17-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse17-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat are your thoughts on term limits?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading17-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse17-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI support term limits of eight years for the House and twelve years for the Senate, with a combined maximum of twenty years if someone serves in both. Public service should be about delivering results, not holding onto power.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse18-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading18-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse18-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse18-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading18-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse18-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tPramila Jayapal - WA-7<br/>\r\nShe puts action over rhetoric and advances policy that meets real needs, takes political risk, and doesn’t take corporate or AIPAC money. She leads by building pressure and momentum, not by waiting for permission.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse19-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading19-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse19-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse19-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tBoth sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading19-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse19-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI spoke with a 35-year-old single mother who works full-time but can’t afford medical care for her child. She has no disposable income, struggles with mortgage payments, and barely buys groceries, relying on her parents to make ends meet. I also met a 38-year-old man working two jobs to earn a livable wage, with his sister and her children living with him because they can’t afford housing. Both work jobs that, 15 years ago, would have easily covered their bills and allowed for savings. Today, they barely get by. For them and many others, working multiple full-time jobs is now normal just to survive. These stories highlight our economy’s failure to support working families and drive my commitment to making life affordable again.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse20-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading20-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse20-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse20-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading20-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse20-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTen months ago, I would have said yes.<br/><br/>\n<p>Now, no. Compromise only works when it’s mutual. When one side never moves, compromise becomes a trap. It rewards obstruction and guarantees nothing changes.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nI’ll work with anyone acting in good faith. If they won’t, I won’t wait on them. Outcomes matter more than optics.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse21-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading21-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse21-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse21-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tThe Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading21-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse21-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI’d use that power to tax wealth and excess corporate profits, close loopholes, and fund priorities like healthcare, housing, and climate action. Revenue should drive policy, not get patched in at the end.<br/><br/>\r\nIf corporations benefit from the system, they should help pay for it.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse22-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading22-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse22-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse22-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tHow should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading22-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse22-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe House should use its investigative powers to restore accountability, not put on a show.<br/><br/>\n<p>We didn’t end up here by accident. Institutions were weakened, power was abused, and too many people looked the other way or benefited from it. That deserves real, public investigation. Republicans who caused harm. Democrats who failed to stop it because some were compromised or complacent. Private groups, wealthy donors, and tech executives who used money or influence to distort the system.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nIf accountability only applies to your opponents, it isn’t accountability at all. The House should follow the facts wherever they lead and make it clear that no one is above scrutiny.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse23-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading23-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse23-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse23-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat committees interest you?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading23-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse23-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWays and Means: Close of corporate tax loopholes, make big companies pay their fair share, lower costs for working families, protect Medicare, and strengthen Social Security.<br/><br/>\n<p>Oversight and Government Reform: Demand transparency, stop waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars, and hold both government officials and corporations accountable.<br/><br/>\r\nAppropriations: Direct funding toward infrastructure, affordable housing, clean energy, and healthcare while cutting waste and ending subsidies for corporations that exploit workers or harm the environment.<br/><br/>\r\nArmed Services: Bring my lived experience in Army aviation toward crafting a smart national defense budget. One that improves the quality of life of our service members, cuts waste and meets our defense needs. <br/><br/>\n</p>\nEthics: Strengthen rules, increase transparency, and ensure consequences for misconduct so the public can trust its representatives are being governed.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse24-360009-2026-02-07\" id=\"heading24-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse24-360009-2026-02-07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse24-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading24-360009-2026-02-07\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse24-360009-2026-02-07\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tGet money OUT of politics! Financial transparency and accountability are essential for public trust. Government spending and decision-making should be clear, accessible, and open to scrutiny, with real consequences for waste, fraud, or abuse.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nAdam Arafat completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Arafat's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I’m Adam Neil Arafat, a working-class Washingtonian running for Congress in Washington’s 10th District. I served 20 years in Army aviation, then continued in public service managing the infrastructure our communities rely on every day. I’ve spent my career in roles where accountability matters and decisions have real consequences for real people. I’m running because too many working families are being priced out, talked past, and left waiting while Washington caters to donors and corporations. I don’t take corporate or PAC money. I answer to voters. I believe healthcare should be a right, housing should be affordable, and clean energy jobs should strengthen our communities. I’ll fight price gouging, defend reproductive freedom and voting rights, and make sure corporations finally pay their fair share. I’m not a career politician. I’m someone who believes showing up, telling the truth, and doing the work still matters. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Families deserve lower costs for essential goods like housing, energy, food, and healthcare. We need to pair this with strong accountability regardless of wealth, power or position. I work for the people of Washington’s 10th District, not special interests. I prioritize full transparency and accountability, free from corporate or PAC money. Universal healthcare, lower drug prices, accessible mental health care, and fair taxation that ensures corporations fulfill their financial obligations are essential. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Lowering the cost of living, universal healthcare, affordable housing, climate action, mental health care, fair taxation, reproductive rights, voting rights, and ending special interest control of politics. Money out & push accountability! Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why? Franklin D. Roosevelt’s use of government to protect working people and give everyday Americans a fair shot. Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy? I would recommend The People, No by Thomas Frank. It’s about the history of populist movements in America and how ordinary citizens have fought to make government work for everyone, not just the powerful. What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? Integrity, transparency, and accountability. An elected official should put people before special interests, listen to their constituents, and act in the public’s best interest at all times. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? I lead with ethics over convenience. I don’t take corporate money, and I don’t accept the status quo when it’s wrong. I push for change when it’s the right thing to do, even if it’s uncomfortable. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? To represent the people of the district, fight for their needs, protect their rights, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely to improve quality of life and strengthen the community. What legacy would you like to leave? I want to leave things better for the generations that come next. A country where health care is a right, not a privilege, and where I can honestly say I helped make universal health care real. Being part of change that actually improved people’s lives is the legacy that matters to me. What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time? Unfortunately it’s the first gulf war. I remember being a bit concerned, not fully understanding what was happening, while seeing military jets and equipment flying overhead. I lived in Abu Dhabi at the time. What was your very first job? How long did you have it? My first job was at a sandwich coffee shop where I worked for a year while in school. What is your favorite book? Why? No favorites but currently reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies and its a good read If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be? V for Vendetta What is something that has been a struggle in your life? Money has been a constant struggle. Even doing everything right, the goalposts keep moving. Inflation and rising costs make it harder to get ahead, and that reality shapes how I see the economy and policy. What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution? The U.S. House is unique because it isn’t broken by accident. It’s designed to look democratic while functioning as theater. It’s defining qualities are constant fundraising which replaces accountability, party leadership controls outcomes, symbolic votes, and policy shaped by lobbyists. Delay isn’t a failure. It protects the status quo and the people who benefit from keeping things the same. People feel this. That’s why trust is gone. I’m running to change how this works, not pretend it does. Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? Experience can help, but it isn’t essential. What matters is integrity, real-world experience, and serving people over special interests. Too many in Washington have lost touch with what it’s like to live on a paycheck. I haven’t. I know the pressures working families face, and that perspective is exactly what’s missing. Fresh voices don’t just break gridlock. They bring the room back to reality. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? Our greatest challenges will be making life affordable for working families, addressing climate change, protecting democracy, and restoring trust in government. We must tackle rising housing, healthcare, and energy costs, end corporate influence in politics, invest in clean energy, and ensure every voice is heard and every vote counts. We are going to have a long recovery ahead after what’s been done. We need people with the motivation and drive to push change for the people not the powerful. Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives? Yes. A two-year term keeps representatives accountable and connected to the people they serve. When or if they lose touch with the needs and priorities of their district, it’s a chance to hold them to account. What are your thoughts on term limits? I support term limits of eight years for the House and twelve years for the Senate, with a combined maximum of twenty years if someone serves in both. Public service should be about delivering results, not holding onto power. Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after? Pramila Jayapal - WA-7 She puts action over rhetoric and advances policy that meets real needs, takes political risk, and doesn’t take corporate or AIPAC money. She leads by building pressure and momentum, not by waiting for permission. Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful? I spoke with a 35-year-old single mother who works full-time but can’t afford medical care for her child. She has no disposable income, struggles with mortgage payments, and barely buys groceries, relying on her parents to make ends meet. I also met a 38-year-old man working two jobs to earn a livable wage, with his sister and her children living with him because they can’t afford housing. Both work jobs that, 15 years ago, would have easily covered their bills and allowed for savings. Today, they barely get by. For them and many others, working multiple full-time jobs is now normal just to survive. These stories highlight our economy’s failure to support working families and drive my commitment to making life affordable again. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? Ten months ago, I would have said yes. Now, no. Compromise only works when it’s mutual. When one side never moves, compromise becomes a trap. It rewards obstruction and guarantees nothing changes. I’ll work with anyone acting in good faith. If they won’t, I won’t wait on them. Outcomes matter more than optics. The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected? I’d use that power to tax wealth and excess corporate profits, close loopholes, and fund priorities like healthcare, housing, and climate action. Revenue should drive policy, not get patched in at the end. If corporations benefit from the system, they should help pay for it. How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers? The House should use its investigative powers to restore accountability, not put on a show. We didn’t end up here by accident. Institutions were weakened, power was abused, and too many people looked the other way or benefited from it. That deserves real, public investigation. Republicans who caused harm. Democrats who failed to stop it because some were compromised or complacent. Private groups, wealthy donors, and tech executives who used money or influence to distort the system. If accountability only applies to your opponents, it isn’t accountability at all. The House should follow the facts wherever they lead and make it clear that no one is above scrutiny. What committees interest you? Ways and Means: Close of corporate tax loopholes, make big companies pay their fair share, lower costs for working families, protect Medicare, and strengthen Social Security. Oversight and Government Reform: Demand transparency, stop waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars, and hold both government officials and corporations accountable. Appropriations: Direct funding toward infrastructure, affordable housing, clean energy, and healthcare while cutting waste and ending subsidies for corporations that exploit workers or harm the environment. Armed Services: Bring my lived experience in Army aviation toward crafting a smart national defense budget. One that improves the quality of life of our service members, cuts waste and meets our defense needs. Ethics: Strengthen rules, increase transparency, and ensure consequences for misconduct so the public can trust its representatives are being governed. What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability? Get money OUT of politics! Financial transparency and accountability are essential for public trust. Government spending and decision-making should be clear, accessible, and open to scrutiny, with real consequences for waste, fraud, or abuse.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]