In 1958, Smith defeated Republican Charles Stokes for a seat in the Washington House of Representatives representing Washington's 37th legislative district, becoming just the third African-American to win a seat in the Washington legislature and the first from the Democratic Party.
In 1958, Smith defeated Republican Charles Stokes for a seat in the Washington House of Representatives representing Washington's 37th legislative district. Smith's victory over Stokes, the second African-American elected to the Washington legislature, made him just the third African-American to win a seat in the legislature, as well as the first from the Democratic Party.