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| Elections in the District of Columbia |
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On November 4, 1986, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his eighth re-election. All elected members would serve in 100th United States Congress.
The delegate is elected for two-year terms.
Walter E. Fauntroy, a Democrat, sought re-election for his ninth term to the United States House of Representatives. Fauntroy was opposed in this election by Republican challenger Mary King and D.C. Statehood Party candidate Julie McCall, who received 13.91% and 4.83%, respectively. This resulted in Fauntroy being elected with 80.09% of the vote.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walter E. Fauntroy (inc.) | 101,604 | 80.09 | |
| Republican | Mary L. H. King | 17,643 | 13.91 | |
| DC Statehood | Julie McCall | 6,122 | 4.83 | |
| No party | Write-ins | 1,486 | 1.17 | |
| Total votes | 126,855 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Democratic hold | ||||
The District of Columbia's at-large congressional district is a congressional district encompassing all of Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. Article One of the United States Constitution instructs that only "States" may be represented in the United States Congress. Because the District of Columbia does not meet that criterion, the member elected from the at-large district is not permitted to participate in votes on the floor of the House. Instead, constituents of the seat elect a non-voting delegate to the chamber. Though the delegate lacks full voting privileges, they are permitted to sit on, cast votes in, and chair congressional committees and subcommittees. The delegate may also join party caucuses, introduce legislation, and hire staff to assist with constituent services.
Walter Edward Fauntroy is an American pastor, civil rights activist, and politician who was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives and a candidate for the 1972 and 1976 Democratic presidential nominations as a favorite son.
Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives are representatives of their territory in the House of Representatives, who do not have a right to vote on proposed legislation in the full House but nevertheless have floor privileges and are able to participate in certain other House functions. Non-voting members may vote in a House committee of which they are a member and introduce legislation.
The 1972 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 7, 1972, to elect U.S. Representatives to serve in the 93rd United States Congress. This was the first election held after the 1970 United States redistricting cycle. It coincided with the landslide reelection victory of President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon's Republican Party managed to gain a net of twelve House of Representatives seats from the Democratic Party, although the Democrats retained a majority.
The D.C. Statehood Green Party, known as the DC Statehood Party prior to 1999, is a green progressive political party in the District of Columbia. The party is the D.C. affiliate of the national Green Party but has traditionally elevated issues of District of Columbia statehood movement as its primary focus. Party members refer to the Statehood Green Party as the second most popular party in the District because, historically, STG candidates win the second highest vote totals in the city, ahead of the Republican Party but behind the Democratic Party. As of February 2023, there are approximately 4,140 voters registered in the Statehood Green Party, or 0.79% of registered voters in the city.
On November 6, 1990, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. Incumbent Walter E. Fauntroy (D) had stepped down earlier to run for Mayor of Washington, D.C. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) won the open seat. All elected members would serve in 102nd United States Congress.
On March 23, 1971, the District of Columbia held a special election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. This was the first election for the newly re-created district since Norton P. Chipman briefly held the seat during the Reconstruction Era. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy, a Democrat. After serving his remaining term in the 92nd United States Congress, he would continue to be re-elected until he stepped down to run for mayor in the 1990 election.
On November 7, 1972, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his first re-election after winning the special election in the previous year. All elected members would serve in 93rd United States Congress.
On November 4, 1974, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his second re-election. Independent candidate James G. Banks surprised many by taking second place, ahead of William R. Phillips (R) and D.C. Statehood Party candidate Anton V. Wood. All elected members would serve in 94th United States Congress.
On November 2, 1976, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his third re-election. The election was notable for having a record-low turnout, as less than 16,000 voters cast their ballot in this election. This was the lowest recorded turnout for an election to this office. All elected members would serve in 95th United States Congress.
On November 7, 1978, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his fourth re-election. All elected members would serve in 96th United States Congress.
On November 4, 1980, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his fifth re-election. All elected members would serve in 97th United States Congress.
On November 2, 1982, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his sixth re-election. All elected members would serve in 98th United States Congress.
On November 6, 1984, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his seventh re-election. All elected members would serve in 99th United States Congress.
On November 8, 1988, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Walter E. Fauntroy (D), who won his ninth re-election. All elected members would serve in 101st United States Congress.
On November 3, 1992, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who won her first re-election. All elected members would serve in 103rd United States Congress.
On November 8, 1994, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who won her second re-election. All elected members would serve in 104th United States Congress.
On November 3, 1998, the District of Columbia held an election for its non-voting House delegate representing the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district. The winner of the race was Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who won her fourth re-election. All elected members would serve in 106th United States Congress.
Michael K. Fauntroy is an American political scientist. He was formerly a professor in the political science department at Howard University, where he has also been the associate chair. In 2018 he became the acting director of the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at Howard University. He studies African American politics, interest groups, and American political parties and partisanship. In 2021, he takes on a new role at George Mason University where he previously spent 11 years at prior to Howard. He has published books on the struggle for self-governance in Washington, D.C., and the relationship between African American voters and the Republican Party.
The District of Columbia is a political division coterminous with Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. According to the Article One of the Constitution, only states may be represented in the United States Congress. The District of Columbia is not a U.S. state and therefore has no voting representation.
