2025 Council of the District of Columbia special election

2025 Council of the District of Columbia Ward 8 special election

←  2024 July 15, 2025 2028 →

Candidate Trayon White Sr. Sheila Bunn Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 2,392 2,140 Percentage 27.7% 24.8%   Candidate Mike Austin Salim Adofo Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 2,103 1,932 Percentage 24.4% 22.4%

White   20–30%   30–40%   40–50% Bunn   20–30%   30–40% Austin   20–30%   30–40% Adofo   30–40% Results by precinct Interactive map version

Councilor before election Trayon White Democratic Elected Councilor Trayon White Democratic

The 2025 Council of the District of Columbia Ward 8 special election was held on July 15, 2025, to elect one member of the Council of the District of Columbia. The election was called following the expulsion of Trayon White from the council. ^[1]

Background

Former councilmember Trayon White was re-elected in 2024 with 75% of the vote. ^[2] White was indicted on federal bribery charges and arrested by the FBI in 2024. ^[3] He was expelled from the council on February 4, 2025 after a court date was scheduled for bribery charges. ^[4]

Candidates

The deadline to submit 500 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot was April 17, 2025. ^[5]

Democratic Party

Declared

• Salim Adofo, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and candidate for the Council in 2024 ^[6]
• Mike Austin, former council staff member ^[7]
• Sheila Bunn, former chief of staff to former councilman and mayor Vincent C. Gray and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton ^[7]
• Trayon White, former councillor (2017–2025) ^{[8] [9]}

Failed to qualify

• Jauhar Abraham, anti-violence activist ^{[10] [11]}
• Khadijah Clark, former candidate ^[7]
• Eric T. Cleckley, former council aide ^[12]
• Lawrence Grayson, business owner ^{[13] [11]}

Withdrawn

• Dion Jordan, former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for seat AC02 ^{[14] [15]}
• Oliver Linner Roy, nonprofit founder ^{[13] [15]}

Endorsements

Mike Austin

Local officials

• LaRuby May, former councilmember from Ward 8 (2015-2017) ^[16]

Individuals

• Cora Masters Barry, widow of former mayor and councilmember Marion Barry ^[16]

Sheila Bunn

Local officials

• Wendell Felder, councilmember from Ward 7 (2025-present) ^[16]

Republican Party

Withdrawn

• Kara Johnson, business owner ^{[7] [15]}

Independents

Failed to qualify

• Anthony O. DeVaughn ^{[13] [11]}
• Jennifer Gelencia Muhammad, activist ^{[7] [11]}

Write-in candidates

Declared

• Mary A. Roach (Democratic) ^[17]
• Oliver L. Roy, non-profit founder (Democratic) ^[17]
• Delonte Ford Singh (Republican) ^[17]

General election

Results

2025 Council of the District of Columbia Ward 8 special election ^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Trayon White	2,392	27.72%
	Democratic	Sheila Bunn	2,140	24.80%
	Democratic	Mike Austin	2,103	24.37%
	Democratic	Salim Adofo	1,932	22.39%
	Write-in		63	0.73%
Total votes			8,630	100.00%

References

1. "Special election set to fill former D.C. Council member Trayon White's seat". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
2. "General Election 2024 - Certified Results". DC Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 31 December 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
3. Allen, Gabby. "DC to hold special election for Trayon White's Ward 8 Council seat". DC News Now. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
4. "Trayon White expelled from the DC Council for corruption but he's free to run for his old seat". AP News. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
5. "Expelled Councilmember Trayon White is running for reelection in special election". WUSA9. 30 March 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
6. "ANC Commissioner Salim Adofo announces DC Council bid after Trayon White's expulsion". ABC7 News. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
7. "Ward 8 Special Election Candidates Pledge Paradigm Shift". The Washington Informer. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
8. "Expelled DC Council member Trayon White teases reelection campaign for open Ward 8 seat". WTOP-TV . 31 March 2025. Archived from the original on 31 March 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
9. "Trayon White on DC special election: 'Once I get on the ballot, it's gonna be a problem for everyone'". WTOP-TV . April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
10. "Trayon White's decision to run again scrambles the special election prompted by his expulsion". WAMU 88.5. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
11. "Municipal elections in Washington, D.C. (2025)". Ballotpedia.
12. Ashley, Phylicia (30 April 2025). "DC Council remains mixed on new stadium proposal, we asked where each member stands". WJLA 7. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
13. "Trayon White collects signatures in Southeast to get back on the ballot in Ward 8". WUSA9. April 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
14. "Dion Jordan announces bid for DC's Ward 8 council seat". DC News Now. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
15. "District of Columbia Board of Elections - July 15, 2025 Special Election - Ward 8 Member of the Council" (PDF). DC Board of Elections. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
16. "Trayon White projected to win Ward 8 D.C. Council seat back after expulsion". WAMU . July 15, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
17. "District of Columbia Board of Elections - July 15, 2025 Special Election - Ward 8 Member of the Council Write-in Candidates" (PDF). DC Board of Elections. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
18. "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults dcboe. Retrieved 19 October 2025.