2026 Council of the District of Columbia election

2026 Council of the District of Columbia election

←  2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →
7 of the 13 seats in the Council of the District of Columbia 7 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Phil Mendelson N/A Party Democratic Independent Seats before 11 2

The 2026 Council of the District of Columbia election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect seven members to the Council of the District of Columbia. Primary elections will take place on June 16. This will be the first Council election to use ranked-choice voting following the implementation of Initiative 83. ^[1]

Special election

Main article: 2025 Council of the District of Columbia Ward 8 special election

A special election was held in Ward 8 on July 15, 2025 to fill the term of councilor Trayon White. White was expelled from the council in February 2025. White was re-elected.

Chairperson

Incumbent Democratic chairperson Phil Mendelson was re-elected to a third term with 83.4% of the vote in 2022.

At-large

The two at-large incumbents are Democrat Anita Bonds and independent Kenyan McDuffie. Only one at-large member can be a member of the majority party.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Oye Owolewa, shadow congressperson from the District of Columbia's at-large congressional district (2021–present) ^[2]

Ward 1

Incumbent Democrat Brianne Nadeau was re-elected to a third term in 2022 with 79.9% of the vote. She is not running for re-election. ^[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Brian Footer, ANC commissioner for district 1E ^[4]
• Terry Lynch, community activist ^[5]
• Aparna Raj, former chair of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America ^[5]

Declined

• Brianne Nadeau, incumbent councilmember ^[3]

Endorsements

Aparna Raj

Labor unions

• Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 ^[5]

Ward 3

Incumbent Democrat Matt Frumin was first elected in 2022 with 75.9% of the vote.

Ward 5

Incumbent Democrat Zachary Parker was first elected in 2022 with 93.9% of the vote.

Ward 6

Incumbent Democrat Charles Allen was re-elected unopposed in 2022.

References

1. Flynn, Meagen; Gathright, Jenny (July 14, 2025). "D.C. Council advances budget that softens cuts, funds ranked-choice voting". The Washington Post . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
2. Harrell, Princess (September 9, 2025). "Rep. Oye Owolewa launches bid to unseat DC Councilmember Anita Bonds in at-large race". WJLA. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
3. Pusatory, Matt (September 25, 2025). "DC Councilmember Brianne Nadeau will not seek reelection". WUSA . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
4. Chibarro Jr., Lou (July 10, 2025). "Gay ANC member announces candidacy for Ward 1 D.C. Council seat". The Washington Blade . Retrieved July 13, 2025.
5. Flynn, Meagen (September 25, 2025). "D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau will not seek reelection in Ward 1". The Washington Post . Retrieved September 28, 2025.