{"id":2613675,"date":"2026-06-12T22:15:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T02:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-shake-up-as-longtime-politicians-opt-out-of-reelection-races-to-watch\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T22:15:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T02:15:01","slug":"dc-shake-up-as-longtime-politicians-opt-out-of-reelection-races-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-shake-up-as-longtime-politicians-opt-out-of-reelection-races-to-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"DC shake-up as longtime politicians opt out of reelection: Races to watch"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdc-shake-up-as-longtime-politicians-opt-out-of-reelection-races-to-watch%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2613675&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>\u2018s 2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/election\/\">election<\/a> cycle will feature ranked choice voting and fresh faces, with longtime politicians opting out of reelection.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alaska and Maine are the only states that use ranked choice voting, which allows voters to choose candidates in order of preference. If a candidate doesn\u2019t receive a majority of first-choice votes, the votes are then reallocated in rounds until a candidate seals a majority. Washington, D.C., <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/2024-election-campaign-live-updates-harris-trump\/?highlight=3219497\">passed a ballot measure<\/a> that adopted ranked choice voting in 2024.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4606964\/ken-paxton-texas-gop-chairman-abraham-george-ousted\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paxton-backed Texas GOP chairman ousted by vice chairwoman<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4605790\/trump-randy-feenstra-rival-iowa-endorsement\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says he would\u2019ve backed Feenstra\u2019s rival if he had \u2018proper information\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4605643\/trump-dc-takeover-janeese-lewis-george-mayor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump vows to \u2018take back\u2019 DC if socialist mayoral candidate wins<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 id=\"h-mayoral\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mayoral<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A poll from last week placed democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4596705\/janeese-lewis-george-out-of-line-dc-voters-youth-curfew-poll\/\">11 percentage points<\/a> ahead of the more centrist Kenyan McDuffie in the race to replace current Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is not running for a fourth term.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With just days remaining before the June 16 Democratic primary election, it seems likely the Ward 4 councilwoman will cinch the mayoral position despite opposition to teenage curfews, which 71% of registered voters support and just 20% oppose.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McDuffie made attack ads against Lewis George\u2019s curfew position a central part of his campaign, while President Donald Trump threatened <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4605643\/trump-dc-takeover-janeese-lewis-george-mayor\/\">to take back Washington<\/a> and run the city on a federal level if Lewis George wins. Lewis George\u2019s policies <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4572471\/dc-restaurant-group-backs-kenyan-mcduffie-mayor-over-janeese-lewis-george\/\">have been compared<\/a> to those of New York City\u2019s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McDuffie has the backing of much <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4602240\/democratic-establishment-mcduffie-dc-mayor-union-lewis-george\/\">of the Democratic establishment<\/a>, whereas Lewis George finds much of her support from local unions. Both candidates were <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4595957\/dc-mayor-candidates-bowser-congress\/\">unable to name<\/a> one Republican member of Congress with whom they have formed a working relationship, and both <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4546496\/dc-mayor-candidate-file-complaint\/\">have filed personal complaints<\/a> about each other. Because Washington, D.C., is a federal district, much of it is uniquely under the governance of Congress.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lewis George and McDuffie are set to face six other long-shot primary candidates on Tuesday, all of whom are polling in the single digits.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-congressional\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Congressional<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Washington has a representative in Congress, the member isn\u2019t allowed to vote. Instead, the congressional representative argues for local issues. Democratic Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) occupied the position for over 34 years, making her one of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4435334\/eleanor-holmes-norton-retirement-statement\/\">longest-serving members<\/a> of Congress.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Norton has fought for D.C. statehood, and while D.C. remains a district, she was an integral voice in giving the movement traction.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, the 88-year-old delegate filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign, making her long-held position open.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her decision came amid criticism about her mental acuity. In 2025, Norton was taken advantage of by scammers pretending to be HVAC cleaners, with the police report stating that Norton appeared to be in the early stages of dementia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, Robert White and Brooke Pinto, both former D.C. Council members, are running to replace her in a race filled with drama. In April, Pinto released a 70-page opposition research document against White. The document included personal details about White\u2019s family, including an image of his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4528121\/dc-delegate-race-flare-up-brooke-pinto-post-robert-white-address\/\">home with the address<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">White called the release a violation of basic decency and said his opponent should immediately withdraw.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-attorney-general\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attorney general<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is running for reelection, though he faces challenger J.P. Szymkowicz in the Democratic primary. Schwalb is a vocal critic of the Trump administration and has challenged Trump\u2019s immigration policies and federal takeover of the city, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hillrag.com\/2026\/06\/05\/a-two-way-primary-race-for-attorney-general\/\">HillRag.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schwalb has pointed to his record on consumer protection, wage theft, polluters, and landlords accused of violating rent laws.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Szymkowicz\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/jp4dc.com\/\">campaign website<\/a> says he is dedicated to \u201cfighting for solutions that address the root causes of crime: better education, economic opportunity, and safe, affordable housing,\u201d arguing for a cultural revival of rule-following and public safety.\u00a0 <em>\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-d-c-council\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">D.C. Council<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s also a special election for the independent at-large councilman seat on the ballot after McDuffie left his position to run for mayor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Doni Crawford, Jacque Patterson, and Elissa Silverman are all running as candidates for the position.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4598186\/pratt-questions-votes-counted-california-lead-over-nithya-raman\/\"><strong>SPENCER PRATT QUESTIONS HOW VOTES GET COUNTED IN CALIFORNIA AS LEAD OVER NITHYA RAMAN SHRINKS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silverman said the district\u2019s most pressing issue is housing affordability, whereas Patterson said he is most concerned about the gap between academic growth and grade-level proficiency. Crawford pointed to affordability as the key issue for Washingtonians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Washington is divided into eight wards, with each ward having one council member. Five candidates are running for the Ward 1 seat after incumbent Brianne Nadeau said she wouldn\u2019t seek reelection, with Wards 3, 5, and 6 councilmen up for reelection. Ward 3\u2019s Matthew Frumin and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson remain unopposed in the Democratic primary. However, Ward 5 incumbent Zachary Parker and Ward 6 incumbent Charles Allen are both facing challengers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, D.C.\u2018s 2026 election cycle will feature ranked choice voting and fresh faces, with longtime politicians opting out of reelection.\u00a0 Alaska and Maine are the only states that use ranked choice voting, which allows voters to choose candidates in order of preference. If a candidate doesn\u2019t receive a majority of first-choice votes, the votes are<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4299,"featured_media":2613676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Robert-White-and-Brooke-Pinto-e1781309288700.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2613675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Robert-White-and-Brooke-Pinto-e1781309288700.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4299"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2613675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2613676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2613675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2613675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2613675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}