Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Washington, D.C. Mayor & Council Election 2026

7 of 13

council seats up

7 contests

19 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Find a candidate

Mayor · 1 seat

Janeese Lewis GeorgeWard 4 Councilmember (term ends Jan. 2029)9sourced
Robert L. GrossThe D.C. Statehood Green Party's mayoral nominee. His campaign site describes him as an advocate and organizes his agenda around a "Human Life Standard" framework for measuring whether policies improve residents' lives.7sourced
Rhonda HamiltonFounder and executive director of M.I. Mother's Keeper, a D.C. mental health advocacy nonprofit, and owner of Waterfront Insurance Network. She has more than 20 years in the financial industry.6sourced

Chairman of the Council · 1 seat

At-Large Member of the Council · Vote for up to 2

Ward 1 Member of the Council · 1 seat

Ward 3 Member of the Council · Unopposed

Matthew FruminIncumbentWard 3 Councilmember (term ends Jan. 2027)7sourced

Ward 5 Member of the Council · 1 seat

Ward 6 Member of the Council · 1 seat

Every D.C. voter votes for mayor, Council chair and two at-large seats; voters in Wards 1, 3, 5 and 6 also pick their ward member. In contests with three or more candidates you may rank up to five.

5 notes on these statements

The Board of Elections lists the mayoral and Council candidates with a party affiliation: Democrat, Republican, Statehood Green or Independent. DC Board of Elections

Janeese Lewis George is the Ward 4 Councilmember, with a term through Jan. 2, 2029. Council of the District of Columbia

Elissa Silverman won the June 16, 2026 special election for an at-large Council seat. DC Board of Elections

Robert White is the Democratic candidate for Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives on this ballot. DC Board of Elections

In the June 16 Democratic primary, Janeese Lewis George won the mayoral nomination and Oye Owolewa won the at-large nomination under ranked-choice tabulation. DC Board of Elections

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Wendell FelderWard 7 Councilmember (term ends Jan. 2029)4sourced Christina HendersonAt-Large Councilmember, independent (term ends Jan. 2029)4sourced Brooke PintoWard 2 Councilmember (term ends Jan. 2029)4sourced Robert C. White, Jr.At-Large Councilmember (term ends Jan. 2029)4sourced Trayon White, Sr.Ward 8 Councilmember (current term began Aug. 2025, ends Jan. 2029)4sourced

Start here

Match quiz7 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesPublic safety: youth curfew and pretrial detention, Tenant law after the RENTAL Act, Tipped wage and child care Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Mail ballot drop boxes open (tentative)

Fri, Oct 9, 2026

In 4 daysAll key dates

What the next council decides

Public safety: youth curfew and pretrial detention

Where it standsA youth curfew law passed in May 2026 lets police or the mayor set short, earlier curfew zones; the whole law expires Dec. 31, 2028.

What's on the tableThe next Council decides whether to extend, change or let the curfew law lapse, and how to handle pretrial detention and youth detention.

In a temporary curfew zone, the curfew can start at 8 p.m. for up to four days, and only gatherings of more than eight youth count as a violation. DC Council news · May 8, 2026
The curfew bill sunsets on Dec. 31, 2028; without Council action, D.C.'s curfew law then reverts to the 1995 law. DC Council news · May 8, 2026
The Council approved the curfew bill at final reading 8-5 on May 5, 2026. DC Council LIMS · May 5, 2026
In February 2025 the Council passed a temporary law extending Secure DC pretrial detention provisions. DC Council LIMS · Feb 18, 2025

Tenant law after the RENTAL Act

Where it standsThe RENTAL Act, law since Dec. 31, 2025, shortened eviction notices and exempted newer and small non-corporate buildings from tenants' right to purchase (TOPA).

What's on the tableThe next Council decides whether to keep, adjust or roll back the RENTAL Act's changes to eviction rules and TOPA.

The RENTAL Act shortens the notice period for all evictions from 30 days to 10 days. DC Council news · Oct 23, 2025
It exempts residential buildings from TOPA for 15 years after construction. DC Council news · Oct 23, 2025
It exempts buildings with four or fewer units that are not under corporate ownership from TOPA. DC Council news · Oct 23, 2025
The Council approved the RENTAL Act at final reading 10-3 on Oct. 21, 2025. DC Council LIMS · Oct 21, 2025

Tipped wage and child care

Where it standsIn 2025 the Council partially repealed Initiative 82, holding the tipped wage at $10 until July 2026 and capping it at 75% of the minimum wage in 2034.

What's on the tableThe next Council decides whether to change the tipped-wage schedule again and how much to fund child care programs.

Under the 2025 change, the tipped wage stays at $10 through July 2026, then rises every two years until it reaches 75% of the minimum wage in 2034. The 51st · Jul 29, 2025
The Council voted 7 to 5 for the partial repeal on July 28, 2025. Washingtonian · Jul 28, 2025
In October 2025 the Council reduced the pay scales in its early childhood educator pay law because budgeted funds would be insufficient. DC Council news · Oct 23, 2025

Local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement

Where it standsCandidates differ on whether to bar all voluntary cooperation by MPD and other D.C. agencies with federal immigration enforcement.

What's on the tableThe next Council decides whether to pass legislation limiting how D.C. agencies, including MPD, cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

The ACLU of D.C. asked general-election candidates what action they would take so D.C. agencies, including police and schools, do not voluntarily collaborate with federal immigration enforcement. ACLU of D.C.
In the primary questionnaire, the ACLU of D.C. asked candidates whether they support prohibiting MPD and all D.C. agencies from voluntarily cooperating with federal immigration enforcement beyond what is required by law. ACLU of D.C.

The budget and the 'fiscal cliff'

Where it standsThe Council's FY2027 budget drew $150 million from a reserve fund; Mayor Bowser declined to sign it, warning of an $837 million budget cliff for the next mayor and Council.

What's on the tableThe next mayor and Council write the FY2028 budget, including whether to cut programs, raise revenue or use reserves.

Mayor Bowser declined to sign the FY2027 budget, which the Council passed unanimously, saying it funds recurring programs with one-time money. NBC4 Washington · Jul 29, 2026
Bowser said the budget leaves the next mayor and Council an "$837 million budget cliff." NBC4 Washington · Jul 29, 2026
The Council's budget draws down one reserve fund, leaving the District with sixty-two days of cash in that fund. DC Council news · Jun 26, 2026
The first use of any revenue above the CFO's estimates would be to replenish the $150 million taken from the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve Account. DC Council news · Jun 26, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. The 2026 youth curfew law lets police or the mayor set short, earlier curfew zones and expires at the end of 2028. Where do you stand?
2. Should D.C. expand pretrial detention, holding more people in jail before trial?
3. Youth held by the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) face long waits for placement. What should come first?
4. The 2025 RENTAL Act shortened eviction notices and narrowed tenants' right to purchase (TOPA). Where do you stand?
5. Voters passed Initiative 82 to phase out the lower tipped wage; in 2025 the Council capped it at 75% of the minimum wage. What should the rule be?
6. Should D.C. expand its Child Care Subsidy Program?
7. How much should MPD and other D.C. agencies cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Board begins mailing ballots to registered voters (tentative)DC Board of Elections · Oct 1, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Mail ballot drop boxes open (tentative)DC Board of Elections · Oct 1, 2026Oct 9, 2026
Deadline for voter registration applications, except in personDC Board of Elections · Oct 1, 2026Oct 13, 2026
Early voting begins at Early Vote Centers (through Nov. 1)DC Board of Elections · Oct 1, 2026Oct 26, 2026
Election Day (Vote Centers open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; same-day registration)DC Board of Elections · Oct 1, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Wendell Felder, Christina Henderson, Brooke Pinto, Robert C. White, Jr., Trayon White, Sr.7 on this ballot

13 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 7-vote majority.

The Council has 13 members: eight ward members, four at-large members and a Chairman elected at-large. Council of the District of Columbia
The mayor heads the executive branch, can approve or veto bills passed by the Council, and is elected to a four-year term. DC Board of Elections · Nov 29, 2023
The Chairman and two at-large members are elected to four-year terms in non-presidential election years, as are the members for Wards 1, 3, 5 and 6. DC Board of Elections · Nov 29, 2023
Ranked choice voting is used in contests with three or more candidates; voters may rank up to five. DC Board of Elections
In the general election for at-large Council members, two winners are declared; each ballot counts for its highest-ranked remaining candidate, and the last-place candidate is eliminated until two remain. DC Board of Elections

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