United States Representative and Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Washington's 1st district.
Case
Networked automated license-plate cameras can assemble searchable records of vehicle movements. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to ban the systems, keep them with limits, or defend them as investigative tools. This tracker separates outright bans from narrower restrictions.
Case
An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.
Role at the time: U.S. representative for Washington's 1st district, in an emailed statement from her office
Statement summary
Rep. Suzan DelBene said in a statement sent by her office that the law has not kept up with technology, leaving Americans' personal information open to unregulated collection and abuse by companies and government. She cited the benefits of license plate readers for law enforcement and called for a national consumer data protection law and regulations that ensure the tools are used transparently, with accountability for misuse.
“We need regulations that ensure these tools are used in a clear, transparent way and that violations or misuse come with accountability.”
Our laws are not keeping up with how technology is advancing. That leaves the personal information of millions of Americans vulnerable to unregulated collection and abuse by private companies and the government. I’ve been a strong advocate of a national consumer data protection law. This would help protect Americans’ civil liberties while balancing the benefits of new technologies, like ALPRs, that can help law enforcement better protect our communities. We need regulations that ensure these tools are used in a clear, transparent way and that violations or misuse come with accountability.
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. DelBene credits the readers with helping law enforcement but warns of unregulated collection and abuse, and supports their use only with clear, transparent rules and accountability for misuse, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional. Keeping the readers under general regulation fits the Guardrails step.
Role at the time: U.S. Representative, Washington 1st district
Statement summary
Suzan K. DelBene voted Yea on H.Con.Res. 93, the House resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
“On Agreeing to the Resolution: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
A yea vote supported directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, opposing continued U.S. involvement in the war without congressional authorization.
Role at the time: Member of Congress, in an official statement
Statement summary
Rep. Suzan DelBene said Congress must authorize war and said she would support the Iran War Powers Resolution.
“Any war that sends our service members into harm's way must be approved by Congress. Congress must now do its job and immediately vote on the Iran War Powers Resolution, which I plan to support.”
The case tracks continued U.S. military operations against Iran. The speaker calls for ending the war or removing U.S. forces, which rejects continued operations.
Statement dates: September 15, 2026 to October 5, 2026
Statement dates: February 28, 2026 to September 15, 2026
Statement dates: October 5, 2026
Statement dates: October 5, 2026
Statement dates: October 5, 2026
Statement dates: September 15, 2026
