Smolders was a candidate in the 2002 general election as a member of the Pim Fortuyn List. He was the 16th person on the candidate list of that party. During the election season, he was Pim Fortuyn's driver. Nine days before the election, Fortuyn was assassinated by Volkert van der Graaf. As Fortuyn's driver, Smolders witnessed the event, and said he followed the suspect afterwards until Van der Graaf was arrested by the police. After the election, he became a member for the Pim Fortuyn List in the House of Representatives. He left the lower house in January 2003.