DC 2026 Primary — Candidate Dossiers
Companion to the voter guide. Short, standalone profiles. Each dossier is structured the same way so you can flip between candidates and compare like with like. Order is by race, then by competitiveness within race.
Updated June 15, 2026 — primary is TOMORROW.
MAYOR
Janeese Lewis George
Ward 4 Councilmember | Age 38 | Black | Democratic socialist | The favorite
One-line pitch. “DC is too expensive — I’ll stand up to anyone, including Trump, to make this city affordable for working families.”
Bio. Third-generation Washingtonian raised in Ward 4. BA from St. John’s (NYC), JD from Howard Law. Career: Philly prosecutor → DC AG’s office under Racine → State Board of Education → Council in 2020, beating Bowser ally Brandon Todd. Reelected 2024. Husband Kyle; son Pierce born October 2024.
Coalition. White progressives, transplants, Gen Z and millennials, hospitality and service unions. WaPo/Schar poll has her +37 in Ward 1, +16 in Ward 6. Tied east of the Anacostia, where 40%+ remain undecided.
Polling. WaPo / Schar School (May 27–June 1, likely voters): 36%. City Cast / TrueDot (May 12–17): 39%. Both polls fielded before the June 12 OCF fine.
Signature positions. 72,000 housing units in 5 years; “Dignified Homes DC” social housing; expanded rent stabilization; universal childcare capped at 7% of family income; new Business Activity Tax on law firms / lobbyists / consultants; opposes IMPACT teacher evaluation; pledges to rescind MPD-ICE cooperation. Voted yes on the Commanders/RFK deal after amendments.
Endorsements. WTU, Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO, 32BJ SEIU, 1199SEIU, ATU 689, UFCW 400, GGWash, Sierra Club, WFP, Metro DC DSA, Capital Stonewall Democrats (May 14), Baltimore Afro-American (June 5), Karl Racine, Robert White, Charles Allen, Brianne Nadeau. 20+ unions. No Bernie/AOC endorsement — they stayed out of DC. No Washington Post editorial endorsement — the Post sat out entirely.
Money. ~$1.97M (private + Fair Elections match). Backed by union-funded IE committee Safe & Affordable DC.
Controversies. MAJOR — June 12, 2026: OCF final order fined her campaign $16,000 — four separate $4K penalties for above-limit expenditures, above-limit contributions, Fair Elections noncompliance, and prohibited-purpose expenditures. Separate $4K penalty against Safe & Affordable DC. Findings: inadequate firewall between campaign, unions (UNITE HERE Local 25, SEIU 32BJ), and the PAC; improper personal-credit-card reimbursements; union staff-leasing arrangements. Her response: “riddled with factual errors,” “politically motivated,” will appeal. McDuffie’s closing message has been built around this fine. Also: 2019 “divest from MPD” tweet still weaponized; pension-fund-for-housing proposal drew WaPo opinion fire.
Trump factor. On June 11, Trump threatened a federal takeover of DC if Lewis George wins: “I wouldn’t like it, and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis.” Her response: “an attack on democracy and local self-government.” Likely net-positive for her turnout among anti-Trump voters, but McDuffie surrogates have used it to argue she’s a “federal risk.”
RCV positioning. Strong #1 ceiling; weaker #2 ceiling than McDuffie. Needs to clear ~45% on first preferences to be safe under transfers.
Kenyan McDuffie
Former At-Large CM | Age ~50 | Black | Pragmatic moderate | The contender
One-line pitch. “I have the experience to make DC the most affordable city in America — without the ideological experiments.”
Bio. Grew up in Stronghold (NE DC). Howard undergrad (summa), UMD Law. PG County prosecutor → US DOJ civil rights → Norton’s office → Ward 5 CM 2012 → At-Large 2022 (as independent). Re-registered Democrat and resigned the at-large seat to run for mayor, Jan 14 2026.
Coalition. Black voters east of the river and Ward 5, business and real estate, older / longer-tenured residents. Up 27 points among baby boomers, 17 among lifelong residents in the City Cast poll.
Polling. WaPo / Schar School (May 27–June 1): 25%. City Cast / TrueDot (May 12–17): 34%. Notable: led 27–15 on second-choice preferences in the City Cast poll — his RCV transfer advantage is real.
Signature positions. +1,000 MPD officers; 12,000 new units + 20,000 preserved (calls Lewis George’s number fantasy); keep IMPACT and mayoral control of DCPS; calls Commanders/RFK deal “the largest private investment in DC’s history”; no new taxes; AI-and-permits efficiency agenda. Lone no vote on Nadeau’s encampment-eviction moratorium.
Endorsements. Former Mayors Anthony Williams and Sharon Pratt; former Council Chair Linda Cropp; Restaurant Association; Greater Capital Realtors; Opportunity DC super PAC (~$1M spent on his behalf); DC firefighters; SEIU Maryland/DC State Council; Senator Alsobrooks (MD); Washington Jewish Week (May 27). Bowser soft-endorsement (June 9) at Axios AM Live: “I support Kenyan McDuffie” — coordinated as quasi-endorsement without formal designation. No Washington Post editorial endorsement (Post sat out).
Money. ~$1.82M (private + Fair Elections match) + ~$1M outside spending via Opportunity DC.
Controversies. 2019 DC Lottery contract (cousin received $3M subcontract; McDuffie reversed his vote, denies prior knowledge); 2022 AG residency disqualification; active OCF investigation into 2022 public-financing eligibility (activist Ed Lazare formal challenge) — his campaign manager calls it “false and politically motivated”; Opportunity DC donor scrutiny over GOP/Trump-aligned contributors.
RCV positioning. Built for RCV — natural #2 for Goodweather, Orange, Sampath, Solomon voters. The 11-point City Cast second-choice lead is structural. Path runs through second-choice transfers from the moderate / Black-establishment lane.
Gary Goodweather
Real estate developer / Army vet | Age 51 | Operations outsider
One-line pitch. “DC needs a manager who has actually built things, not another politician.”
Bio. Army veteran; ~30 years in finance and ops; tenant representation at CBRE; helped develop Constitution Square in NoMa; served on the NoMa BID. Would be DC’s first Jewish mayor. No prior elected office.
Coalition. Thin and ad-hoc — NoMa developers, parts of the Jewish community, YIMBY-curious moderates, voters frustrated with both major lanes.
Polling. WaPo / Schar School: 3%. City Cast / TrueDot: 7%. Below the noise in the late poll.
Signature positions. Streamline permitting; free Metro for DC residents; two-term mayoral limit; small modular nuclear reactor for energy independence; “Capital Corps” civic service program; vertical-greenhouse food production. Most skeptical of curfews among major candidates.
Endorsements. None major.
Money. ~$370K (Fair Elections — first candidate certified, ~$375K public funds on $62K private raise). 1,200+ donors, 1,052 DC residents.
RCV positioning. Kingmaker. His voters’ second choices likely decide the race. Profile suggests #2s flow heavily to McDuffie.
Vincent Orange
Former CM | Age 68 | Black | Establishment veteran
One-line pitch. “We don’t have a money problem, we have a management problem.”
Bio. Pepco Holdings regional VP earlier in career. Ward 5 CM 1999–2007. At-Large CM 2011–2016 (resigned over conflict of interest concurrent with becoming DC Chamber of Commerce CEO 2016–2020). Announced January 2026.
Polling. WaPo / Schar: 4%. City Cast / TrueDot: 5%.
Signature positions. Build 1,000 tiny homes for first responders, minimum-wage workers, seniors; restore MPD to ~4,100 officers; no new taxes; Revenue Alignment Commission to audit spending; tuition-free UDC. Has said he’d “negotiate with President Trump and Congress” — distinctive for accommodationist framing.
Endorsements. None major. Not in Fair Elections.
Controversies. 2016 conflict-of-interest resignation; “frequent candidate” reputation.
RCV positioning. McDuffie-favorable #2 source — older Black moderates in Wards 5/7/8.
Rini Sampath
Cybersecurity consultant | Age 31 | South Asian | First-time candidate
One-line pitch. “Fix the Basics.”
Bio. Born in Theni, Tamil Nadu; moved to US at 7; USC student body president 2015; cybersecurity director / federal contractor; U Street resident, 10 years in DC. First South Asian on a DC mayoral ballot. Campaign catalyzed by DC’s failed January 2026 snowstorm response.
Coalition. Pragmatic-progressive young professionals, immigrant community, operations-minded voters.
Polling. Below 5% in both polls.
Signature positions. 311 app reform (built a prototype); budget transparency dashboard; emergency response time improvements; deregulate home-based childcare; sidewalk repair efficiency. Pragmatic progressive — “deeply progressive values” with execution-first framing.
Endorsements. None major. Hit 1,000-donor debate qualification threshold; ~5,000 petition signatures.
RCV positioning. #2s split — pragmatic progressives flow to Lewis George, fix-the-basics voters to Goodweather or McDuffie.
COUNCIL CHAIR
Phil Mendelson (incumbent)
Age 73 | Council Chair since 2012
Bio. Grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. AU 1970. 12 years on ANC 3C. At-large CM 1999–2012, Chair since. Lives on Capitol Hill.
Signature accomplishments. Universal Paid Leave (2016); same-sex marriage; budget autonomy push. Chief Council budget rewriter — slashed Bowser’s FY26 tax cuts, restored social spending.
Endorsements. AFL-CIO, 1199SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, IBEW 26, LiUNA.
Why no real challenger. Jack Evans (the disgraced ex-Ward 2 CM) filed but consolidated no institutional support.
Controversies. Open April 2026 OCF investigation into use of council printers/staff to challenge Evans’s nominating petitions. Not race-changing.
Verdict. Effectively unopposed. Rank Mendelson #1.
AT-LARGE COUNCIL — BONDS SEAT (DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY)
Greg Jackson
Age 41 | Black | Ward 8 (Congress Heights) | Top tier
One-line pitch. “I’m the only one who has battled in the congressional arena.”
Bio. Howard-area roots. Gunshot survivor — six surgeries from a 2013 stray bullet in Shaw. A mentee was killed on Jackson’s porch in June 2023; his home was shot at in 2024. Career: Obama campaign co-chair → DCCC → DC Mayor’s Office of Community Relations → Deputy Director, White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention 2023–2024.
Signature positions. Public safety as data-and-outcomes; opposes citywide curfews; pathways to homeownership; positions as Trump-resistance candidate with congressional relationships.
Endorsements. Brady PAC (its first-ever local endorsement); Opportunity DC (co-endorsed with Raymond).
Money. ~$195K. Fair Elections.
RCV positioning. Part of the Raymond / Jackson / Nelson coordinated ranking ask — voters urged to rank all three together. The first major formal RCV pact in this race.
Oye Owolewa
Age 36 | Nigerian-American | Capitol Hill | Top tier — likely frontrunner
One-line pitch. “The prescription is statehood.”
Bio. Pharmacist; former ANC 8E (won by 1 vote in 2018); DC Shadow Representative since 2020 (six years as the city’s unpaid chief statehood advocate). Northeastern grad.
Coalition. Progressives, DSA-curious, labor, immigrants, statehood activists.
Signature positions. Statehood as identity; opposes ICE headquarters siting; rejects enforcement-heavy safety; UDC tuition-free; signed Public Power Pledge.
Endorsements. Working Families Party, Sierra Club, Capital Stonewall Democrats, DC NOW, ATU Local 689 (#2 rank), UNITE HERE 25, multiple AFGE locals, Brianne Nadeau. GLAA +9 — top score in the field.
Money. $429K — leads the field. Fair Elections.
RCV positioning. Best-positioned to absorb #2 votes from Forester (shared labor base) and Lewis George progressives. Not part of the Raymond/Jackson/Nelson pact — his lane is distinct.
Dyana Forester
Age 46 | DC native | Daughter of a DC cop and a Mexican immigrant
One-line pitch. “Lifelong DC, lifelong fighting for working families.”
Bio. DCPS graduate and DCPS parent. Nearly 20 years in government and labor. Former UFCW Local 400 organizing director. Past president of Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO (narrowly elected, 51.3% — first contested election in living memory). Currently Senior Director of Labor Relations for Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Former ANC and DC Housing Authority commissioner.
Signature positions. Safety through stability — housing, health, economic supports as prevention. Affordability-first housing; skeptical of scale-for-affordability trades.
Endorsements. UFCW Local 400; AFGE District 14; Plumbers Local 5; Senator Alsobrooks. NOTABLE: Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO — which she previously led — declined to endorse in this primary, backing Silverman in the at-large special instead. GLAA +6.
Money. Mid-pack ($113K-$242K range). Fair Elections.
RCV positioning. Needs to consolidate labor’s #1 votes that aren’t going to Owolewa. If labor splits, she likely doesn’t win.
Kevin Chavous
Age 41 | Black | Ward 7 | Bonds-machine continuity
One-line pitch. “It’s more so about listening and being a conduit from the community to the legislation.”
Bio. Lifelong DC, Ward 7. Howard graduate. Lawyer. Son of former Ward 7 CM Kevin P. Chavous. Director of Committee on Executive Administration and Labor / Policy Director under Anita Bonds 2022–Jan 2026. Bonds’s hand-picked successor.
Signature positions. Push IZ to 15%; school counselors and nurses; “fiscal discipline and scrutinizing contracts.”
Endorsements. Anita Bonds; Eric Holder. No labor endorsements of note.
Money. Mid-pack. Fair Elections.
RCV positioning. Bonds-machine baggage; competes with Jenkins for the same lane and splits the institutional vote.
Lisa Raymond
Age 56 | Capitol Hill | The wildcard — part of the new RCV pact
One-line pitch. “No one else has the combination that I have.”
Bio. COO of Cesar Chavez Public Charter School. Former DC State Board of Education member (Wards 5–6). Former senior advisor to Council Committee of the Whole. Former Chief of Staff to AG Karl Racine 2018–2020.
Signature positions. Pro-density; supports the 72,000 new-units target at 30% affordability with safeguards; education + housing platform.
Endorsements. GGWash; DC YIMBYs; DC Association of Realtors; Opportunity DC (co-endorsed with Jackson). GLAA +7.5 — second-highest in the field.
Money. Fair Elections.
RCV positioning. Part of the Raymond / Jackson / Nelson coordinated ranking ask. If the pact’s voters follow through, she’s the candidate most likely to benefit because her base shares the most ideological overlap with both Jackson and Nelson’s voter pools.
Candace Tiana Nelson
Age 50 | Brightwood | Part of the new RCV pact
Bio. Chief of staff to Ward 4 CM Janeese Lewis George. Led AG Schwalb transition. Good-government / Ward 4 progressive lane.
RCV positioning. Part of the Raymond / Jackson / Nelson coordinated ranking ask. Pulls from Lewis George’s mayoral base — voters who rank JLG #1 for mayor and want a progressive at-large too.
Leniqua’dominique Jenkins
Age 40 | Black | Former Ward 7 ANC
Bio. Came to DC in 2010 as an unpaid Capitol Hill intern. Founder of Capitol Living home-care agency (10 years). Former Anita Bonds staffer. Former Ward 7 ANC commissioner (Deanwood). Children’s-book author.
Signature positions. Third-grade literacy, environmental justice, senior services, east-of-the-river representation.
RCV positioning. Competes with Chavous for the Bonds-legacy / Ward 7-8 lane. Splits the institutional vote.
Briefly: Davis, Hill
Dwight Davis (51). Lifelong Washingtonian, former DCPS principal/teacher (20 years). Education-first platform. GLAA +6.5.
Fred Hill (57). Federal-contracting small-business owner (~30 years). Former Board of Zoning Adjustment chair (10 years). Supports McDuffie for mayor. Pro-development. GLAA +6.6.
AT-LARGE COUNCIL — McDUFFIE SEAT (SPECIAL ELECTION, NONPARTISAN)
Open to all registered DC voters regardless of party. No candidate in this race is also in the Bonds primary.
Doni Crawford (interim incumbent)
Bio. Senior policy analyst at DC Fiscal Policy Institute 2019–2022; policy advisor / legislative director under McDuffie 2022–Jan 2026. Appointed interim CM January 20, 2026. Negotiated the Commanders RFK community-benefits provisions and local-hiring requirements.
Endorsements. Council Chair Phil Mendelson; Greater Capital Realtors; Restaurant Association; Opportunity DC; DC Charter School Action. GLAA +6.5 — highest in this special.
RCV positioning. Cross-endorses Patterson — each ranks the other #2. Essentially a “stop Silverman” pact.
Elissa Silverman
Bio. Held the at-large seat 2015–2023, lost to McDuffie in 2022. Former DCFPI analyst. Co-authored DC’s paid family leave law. Reputation as hard-nosed oversight-focused independent.
Endorsements. Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO; UNITE HERE 25; AFGE 2725; Greater Greater Washington; Sierra Club DC; Bike Walk Bus PAC; DC NOW. The AFL-CIO backing her in the special while declining to endorse in the Bonds primary is the single most consequential endorsement decision of the cycle. GLAA +5.75.
Signature positions. Anti-corruption, oversight, truancy reduction. Skeptical of curfews.
Jacque Patterson
Bio. Age 61. President, DC State Board of Education (At-Large). ANC for 10 years. Former KIPP DC charter leader.
Endorsements. ElectED DC.
RCV positioning. Cross-endorses Crawford.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Brian Schwalb (incumbent)
Bio. Harvard Law; former Venable partner; elected 2022 with Racine’s backing.
Signature record. Sued Trump administration twice in 2025 — over the DEA Administrator serving as DC’s “emergency police commissioner” and over the 2,300-troop National Guard deployment as illegal military occupation. $3.95M Amazon Flex tip-theft settlement. Ongoing Amazon lawsuit over secret exclusion of Wards 7–8 ZIPs from Prime fast-delivery. $19M+ in wage-theft recoveries.
Political pressure. Trump’s US Attorney Jeanine Pirro has publicly attacked Schwalb’s juvenile prosecution rate. Schwalb counters that his office prosecutes 85% of police-referred cases.
Money. ~$1.3M.
J.P. Szymkowicz
Bio. Fifth-generation Washingtonian. Foxhall Village. Georgetown finance; practices law with his father at Szymkowicz & Szymkowicz LLP. Fourth-term ANC commissioner in Ward 3 (3D).
Case for change. Argues “there’s been a crime crisis the entire time Mr. Schwalb has been in office.” Wants more aggressive juvenile prosecution — essentially Pirro’s line from the right.
Money. ~$5,000 (token campaign).
US HOUSE DELEGATE (OPEN — NORTON WITHDREW)
Norton withdrew January 25, 2026 citing early-stage dementia and fraud victimization.
Robert White
At-Large CM | Age 44 | Black | The only Black candidate in the field | The favorite
One-line pitch. “The native Washingtonian and former Norton staffer who will turn the Delegate office into a real legislative engine of the resistance.”
Bio. Three-term At-Large CM since 2017. Native Washingtonian. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s legislative counsel 2008–2013. Has run twice for mayor against Bowser.
Polling. City Cast (May): 38% (Pinto 21, n=487). Prediction markets: 78–85¢ — the cycle’s biggest favorite.
Signature positions. Pursue an Appropriations seat (rare for a non-voting delegate); transfer federal lands (L’Enfant Plaza area) to local control; Puerto Rico-style federal business-tax model.
Endorsements. Congressional Black Caucus; Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC (Jayapal, Casar, Frost); Working Families Party; Free DC; Greater Greater Washington; Washington Teachers’ Union; DC Nurses Association; AFSCME DC Council 20; AFGE Local 1975.
Money. $184K Q1; ~$230K cash on hand. In Fair Elections — majority of donors are DC residents.
RCV positioning. Has consolidated the progressive and Black vote on first preferences; picks up Zalesne’s late-round transfers in any plausible scenario.
Brooke Pinto
Ward 2 CM | Age 33 | White | Frontrunner on money — but polling deficit
One-line pitch. “A proven fighter who can pre-empt congressional attacks with legal and legislative tools.”
Bio. Originally from Connecticut. JD-trained; former assistant attorney general under Karl Racine. Ward 2 CM since 2020; currently chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.
Polling. City Cast (May): 21% — 17 points behind White.
Signature positions. Height Act repeal; federal land transfers; denser transit-oriented construction; make rent federally tax-deductible; pre-emption via legal and legislative tools.
Endorsements. Senator Warren; Senator Alsobrooks (MD); Anita Bonds; Restaurant Association; deep bench of restaurant owners; iRobot CEO Gary Cohen.
Money. $843K total raised; $821K cash on hand. Not in Fair Elections. ~$170K from donors who have also funded Trump (including $100K Trump 47 donor Alan Breed).
Controversies. The April 2026 doxxing scandal — a 67-page oppo dossier on Robert White containing personal/family information — was the inflection point of the race. Pinto issued a partial apology, scrubbed family info, and re-released a 56-page version; refused to withdraw. The story has receded in recent weeks, but the polling damage is locked in. Also: Republican donor base (half non-DC, GOP-flecked); 2020 Mar-a-Lago photo.
RCV positioning. Built her play around first-choice plurality from money; doxxing collapsed her #2 ceiling. Path to victory now requires both polls being wrong and money winning the final 48 hours.
Kinney Zalesne
Age 59 | White | First run for elected office
One-line pitch. “Inside-the-Beltway power and a national Democratic Rolodex, deployed for DC autonomy.”
Bio. Cleveland Park. Former counsel at DOJ; former Microsoft executive; former deputy national finance chair of the DNC; nonprofit director.
Signature positions. Capitol Caucus with neighboring states; post-primary “statehood summit”; Section 8 reform; the delegate’s power comes from the person, not the position.
Endorsements. Former US AG Eric Holder; WomenCount.
Money. $594K total; $466K cash on hand; $85K self-loaned. Not in Fair Elections.
RCV positioning. Best-positioned dark-horse for the runner-up slot. Could be the consensus #2 for both Pinto voters who recoil at the doxxing and White voters who want federal-level connections.
Greg Jaczko
Age 55 | Tenleytown. Former NRC chair under Obama; renewable energy consultant. Signature pitch: “no taxation without representation” — proposes a federal tax exemption for DC residents until DC has voting representation. ~$90K raised with $27K self-funded.
Trent Holbrook
Age 40 | Dupont Circle. 8-year Norton staffer. Raised just $17K, with $15K self-funded.
WARD 1 COUNCIL (OPEN — NADEAU RETIRING)
Aparna Raj
Age 32 | South Asian American | DSA | The polling leader
One-line pitch. “It shouldn’t be this hard to live here.”
Bio. From West Chester, PA. Communications manager at Local Progress. Three terms on Metro DC DSA Steering Committee, including chair. Tenant organizer with Stomp Out Slumlords. Renter.
Polling. GGWash / PPP (March 27–29, n=232): 42% — 17 points ahead of Brown.
Signature positions. Expand rent stabilization; universal childcare via corporate tax; “local autonomy” framing for federal interference.
Endorsements. Metro DC DSA; Working Families Party; Sierra Club; UFCW Local 400; Washington Teachers’ Union; UNITE HERE 25 and 23; ATU Local 689; AFGE Locals 2725 and 2978. 11 unions and counting.
Money. In Fair Elections; first Ward 1 candidate to max matching funds; $330K+ — double the next candidate.
RCV positioning. Strong first-choice lead; needs a clean majority on first preferences to be safe under transfers, because the Brown / Trindade Deramo cross-endorsement could combine into a credible challenge.
Rashida Brown
Age 47 | Black | The cross-endorsement challenger
One-line pitch. “Leads. Listens. Delivers.” — and “It’s time for Ward 1 to have a Black woman in the seat.”
Bio. Social worker / consultant (founder of Seedling Strategies). ANC for 10 years. Would be Ward 1’s first Black woman councilmember.
Polling. GGWash / PPP: 25%.
Signature positions. Restore TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act) rights; modify Future Land Use Map for more density; invest in HPAP; legal clinics for Trump-era federal overreach.
Endorsements. Brianne Nadeau (incumbent’s blessing — most institutionally significant); Sierra Club (shared with Raj).
Money. Fair Elections. Second to Raj in the ward.
RCV positioning. Cross-endorsement alliance with Trindade Deramo — they rank each other #2. Combined Brown + Trindade Deramo first-choice (25 + 16 = 41) is just below Raj alone (42) in the only public poll. The race comes down to whether late-round transfers close that gap.
Miguel Trindade Deramo
Age 39 | Brazilian-American
Bio. ANC chairman. Brazilian-American mother. Former DHS analyst. Led the DC ranked-choice voting ballot initiative in 2024. Moved to Ward 1 in 2023.
Polling. GGWash / PPP: 16%.
Signature positions. “All of the above” housing including social housing models; bus lanes on U/Georgia/14th; 14th St corridor revitalization.
RCV positioning. Cross-endorses Rashida Brown — they rank each other #2. Textbook RCV-era innovation; the most important strategic alliance in the race.
Jackie Reyes-Yanes
Age 48 | Salvadoran-born
Bio. Fled the Salvadoran civil war in 1990. Former Latino affairs director under CM Jim Graham. Most recently director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs under Bowser. Would be Ward 1’s first Latina CM in a heavily Latino ward.
Polling. GGWash / PPP: 9%.
Signature positions. Small-business recovery; 14th Street corridor management; opposes MPD-ICE cooperation; fiscally skeptical of “free everything.” The Bowser-administration-aligned candidate.
Terry Lynch
Age 66 | Mt. Pleasant 40+ years
Polling. GGWash / PPP: 8%.
Bio. Director of a downtown religious coalition since the 1980s. Hyper-local civic gadfly. “Use it or lose it” vacant-property seizure (claims Ward 1 could add 5,000 units); aggressive parking enforcement as crime prevention.
WARD 3 COUNCIL
Matthew Frumin (incumbent)
Unopposed in the Democratic primary. Won a crowded 2022 primary. Wonkish, low-drama profile. No Republican has filed for November either. Rank Frumin #1 and move on.
WARD 5 COUNCIL
Zachary Parker (incumbent)
Black; former State Board of Education member. Took office January 2023. Points to a 35% Ward 5 violent-crime drop 2023–2024 and another 15% in 2025. Endorsed by Opportunity DC and GGW.
Bernita Carmichael
DC native, Phelps HS / UDC, daughter of a Gulf War medic, opioid-stigma advocate.
Bridget French
20-year energy and infrastructure policy professional.
Verdict. Parker heavily favored.
WARD 6 COUNCIL
Charles Allen (incumbent)
White, ~50s, three-term Ward 6 CM
One-line pitch. “29% drop in violent crime — refine, don’t repeat the past three years of fighting.”
Bio. Native Mississippian who moved to DC for grad school. First elected 2014. Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Environment.
The defining story. Architect of the 2020 emergency police-reform bill, the 2022 Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act, and the Revised Criminal Code Act (which Congress voted to overturn in 2023). Survived a 2024 recall attempt — organizers failed to collect the 7,500 Ward 6 signatures needed.
Signature positions. Voted for the 2024 Secure DC omnibus; points to 29% drop in violent crime in 2025; STEER Act on dangerous driving; RESALE Act for commercial corridors; “gentle density” zoning.
Endorsements. Greater Greater Washington (urbanists/transit); progressive establishment; endorsed Janeese Lewis George for mayor.
Money. In Fair Elections.
RCV positioning. Strong base in Capitol Hill / NoMa / H Street. Murphy and Nauden split the anti-Allen vote without their #2s transferring cleanly to each other.
Michael Murphy
Bio. Capitol Hill resident; consumer-protection and whistleblower attorney at Bailey & Glasser LLP.
Signature positions. Align MPD crime data with federal reporting standards; rebuild police staffing; revisit the Youth Rehabilitation Act; expand surveillance; increase sentences; ease redevelopment barriers.
Attack frame. Council “failed on transparency, oversight, and public safety” — Allen, having chaired Judiciary during the 2023 crime spike, is the responsible party.
Gloria Ann Nauden
Bio. Black; 30+ year Ward 6 resident; former ANC 6A02 commissioner; CEO of Philanthropy DMV.
Signature positions. “Listen. Collaborate. Deliver.” Increased police staffing paired with youth programming, mentorship, community policing — less confrontational than Murphy.
RCV positioning. Natural #2 for Allen voters who are wavering and for Murphy voters who recoil at his sharper frames.
US SHADOW SENATOR
Paul Strauss (incumbent)
Holding the senior shadow senator seat since 1997 — nearly 30 years. Seeking a sixth four-year term. American University BA, JD.
Markus Batchelor
Black. Elected to State Board of Education from Ward 8 in 2016 at age 23 — the youngest ever; served until 2021. Now National Political Director at People For the American Way. Pitches the seat as a real progressive advocacy platform rather than a sinecure. Endorsed by Greater Greater Washington (Strauss didn’t submit a questionnaire), Washington Teachers’ Union, and the People For the American Way Victory Fund.
US SHADOW REPRESENTATIVE
Franklin Garcia
Served three terms as shadow rep 2015–2021. With Owolewa retiring from this seat to run At-Large, Garcia is running essentially unopposed. Former Salvadoran-American immigrant; the only Latino in any federal-level DC race.
All dossiers reflect the public record as of June 15, 2026. Money figures from latest available OCF filings. Polling: WaPo / Schar School (May 27–June 1, mayoral); City Cast / TrueDot (May 12–17, mayoral; May, delegate); GGWash / PPP (March 27–29, Ward 1). Return to voter guide →