DC has closed primary elections. This means that only voters who are registered may vote for a candidate within the same party. In overwhelmingly Democratic DC, the candidate that wins the Democratic primary (Jun 19, 2018) most likely win in the general election (Nov 6, 2018). Keep reading to learn about early voting dates, ballot initiatives, and candidates.
PRIMARY ELECTION DATES
Add the Facebook event as a reminder!
June 4-7, 2018, 8:30am-7:00pm
Early Voting Begins at Judiciary Square ONLY
One Judiciary Square (441 4th St NW)
June 8-15, 2018, 8:30am-7:00pm
Early Voting Begins at Satellite Centers (including Judiciary Square)
Find your Early Voting Centers
Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 7am-6pm
Primary Elections
Find your Polling Place
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Voter Registration for the June 19, 2018 Primary Election:
To be eligible to vote in the District of Columbia you must be at least 18 years old on or before the election (16 year olds may preregister, but will not receive a voter registration card or be eligible to vote until they are at least 17 years old with a birthdate that is before November 6, 2018).
Eligible voters NOT registered in the District of Columbia can register and declare their party affiliation during Early Voting or on Election Day. All eligible voters may cast ballots in support of or against Initiative Measure Number 77, regardless of party affiliation status.
Initiative Measure Number 77
District of Columbia Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2017:
Note: A majority of candidates are voting “No” on this measure.
Learn more at Vote “No” 77.
NOW: Under existing D.C. law, tipped employees are paid $2.77 an hour. If the tips they receive on top of that does not bring their wage to the minimum wage ($11.50), the employer has to pay them additional wages which brings their hourly pay up to the minimum wage.
PROPOSED: If enacted, this initiative will gradually increase the minimum wage in the District of Columbia to $15 hourly by 2020; gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped employees so that they receive the same minimum wage directly from their employer as other employees by 2026; Beginning in 2021, require minimum wage to increase yearly in proportion to increases in the consumer price index. The minimum wage increases under the initiative will not apply to DC government employees or employees of DC government contractors.
Note: The “directly from their employer” is the part you are voting on. As it is, tipped employees already receive at least the minimum wage through a combination of the tipped wage + tips + employer’s making up the difference.
CANDIDATES
You can only vote for a candidate within your declared party! The best way to learn about a candidate is to meet them in person and questions. We recommend attending a candidate forum so you can learn where they stand on issues that are important to you.
To find out about upcoming forums, check the main page for civic engagement events.
[D] = Democrat
[R] = Republican
[G] = Green
[L] = Libertarian
Note: We have contacted ALL candidates for a quote. The ones below have replied. If you are a candidate and would like to provide a quote, please email [email protected].
DELEGATE TO THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bruce Majors [L]
Natale “Lino” Stracuzzi [G]
Kim R. Ford [D]
Eleanor Holmes Norton [D], Incumbent
MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Muriel Bowser [D], Incumbent
James Butler [D]
Ernest E. Johnson [D]
Ann C. Wilcox [G]
Martin Moulton [L]
CHAIRMAN OF THE DC COUNCIL
Calvin H. Gurley [D]
Phil Mendelson [D], Incumbent
AT-LARGE MEMBER OF THE DC COUNCIL
"My candidacy is focused on promoting affordability and equality in Washington. Therefore, I am committed to introducing legislation that ensures all residents have an equitable opportunity to obtain affordable housing, gainful employment and a high quality education. I also recognize that it’s time for the city to invest in our social services, fix our transportation infrastructure and commit to transparency so that we know how our tax dollars are being spent."
Jeremiah Lowery [D]
Aaron Holmes [D]
Anita Bonds [D], Incumbent
David Schwartzman [G]
Denise Hicks [L]
WARD 1 MEMBER OF THE DC COUNCIL
Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, Howard University, Kalorama, LeDroit Park, Mount Pleasant, Park View, Pleasant Plains, Shaw, U Street Corridor
"I believe in fixing problems and that when you’re on the Council you need somebody who doesn’t start solving a problem with legislation but someone who starts solving the problem by talking to the community."
Sheika Reid [D]
Brianne Nadeau [D], Incumbent
Lori Parker [D]
WARD 3 MEMBER OF THE DC COUNCIL
American University Park, Berkley, Cathedral Heights, Chevy Chase, Cleveland Park, Colony Hill, Forest Hills, Foxhall, Friendship Heights, Glover Park, Kent, Massachusetts Heights, McLean Gardens, North, Cleveland Park, Observatory Circle, The Palisades, Potomac Heights, Spring Valley, Tenleytown, Wakefield, Wesley Heights, Woodland Normanstone, Woodley Park
Mary Cheh [D], Incumbent
WARD 5 MEMBER OF THE DC COUNCIL
Arboretum, Bloomingdale, Brentwood, Brookland, Carver Langston, Eckington, Edgewood, Fort Lincoln, Fort Totten, Gateway, Ivy City, Langdon, Michigan Park, North Michigan Park, Pleasant Hill, Riggs Park, Stronghold, Trinidad, Truxton Circle, Woodridge
“I am running to remind this city that our government is of the people, by the people, for the people. Our elected candidates should put the people before corporations and developers."
Kenyan McDuffie [D], Incumbent
Bradley Thomas [D]
Gayle Hall Carley [D]
LaMonica Jeffrey [D]
Nestor Djonkam [D]
WARD 6 MEMBER OF THE DC COUNCIL
Barney Circle, Capitol Hill, Judiciary Square, Kingman Park, Mount Vernon Triangle, Navy Yard, Near Northeast, NoMa, Shaw, Southwest Waterfront, Sursum Corda, Swampoodle
Lisa Hunter [D]
Michael Bekesha [R]
Charles Allen [D], Incumbent
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Karl Racine [D], Incumbent
UNITED STATES SENATOR (SHADOW)
"I want to continue the advocacy to fulfill the promise of democracy and finally bring equality through statehood to the 700,000 loyal American citizen who reside in the District of Columbia."
“DC’s 700,000 residents need statehood so we can keep our local laws safe from Congressional interference, and have the voices in Congress – two Senators and a Representative – that we deserve. As Shadow Senator, I would be a strong and active voice on the Hill, and bring a modern and strategic approach to achieving our statehood goal.”
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE (SHADOW)
Franklin Garcia [D], Incumbent
