Tuesday, May 12, 2026
| 01 | Janeese Lewis GeorgeWard 4 CouncilmemberActive Campaign MomentumHigh ? Democrat? Frontrunner First declared candidate (Dec 1, 2025). Democratic socialist; progressive frontrunner in the field. Incumbent Ward 4 councilmember since 2021; fmr. DC Assistant Attorney General. Pledges 72,000 new housing units in 5 years. Hit 1,000 DC donors faster than any candidate in DC history (4,000+ now). Backed heavily by labor — 9+ unions. Campaign chair: Tommy Wells (fmr. Ward 6 CM). Currently subject to an OCF investigation over union-PAC coordination (opened Apr 24, 2026). | janeesefordc.com ? | ~$1.97MFair Elections certified. ~$494K private + ~$1.47M public matching. 4,000+ DC donors — most in modern DC history. | Housing (72K units)AffordabilityChildcarePublic SafetyHome Rule / Anti-TrumpClimateRoad PricingDC StatehoodPublicly-Owned Grocery | Labor (9+ Unions)SEIU 32BJ · ATU Local 689 · UFCW Local 400 · UNITE HERE Locals 23 & 25 · Washington Teachers Union · Baltimore–DC Metro Building Trades Council · LiUNA · IBEW Local 26 OfficialsKarl Racine (fmr. AG) · Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (MD) · Robert White (CM At-Large) · Brianne Nadeau (CM Ward 1) · Charles Allen · Yvette Alexander (fmr. CM) OrganizationsGreater Greater Washington · Sierra Club DC · Working Families Party · DSA · DC for Democracy · Sharon Pratt (fmr. Mayor) | Mayoral Candidate: Janeese Lewis George — Full ProfileMay 12, 2026 · In-Depth Candidate Profile“Lead with respect, not fear” — Lewis George at MLK LibraryApr 23, 2026 · Forum Coverage & AnalysisLewis George reassures Jewish community on antisemitismApr 14, 2026 · DowntownerDC ColumnThe 2026 mayoral campaign begins — Lewis George as frontrunnerDec 1, 2025 · Race Analysis?WaPoWho is donating to Lewis George and McDuffieMar 17, 2026 · Campaign finance analysis ?Axios DCEndorsements for Lewis George, McDuffieMay 1, 2026 · Endorsement breakdown ?Axios DCCampaign investigation targets union allianceApr 29, 2026 · OCF probe coverage ?WUSA9 · VIDEOLewis George & McDuffie — First Head-to-Head DebateApril 2026 · Watch InterviewWatch Debate Wash. Informer · VIDEOLewis George at DCision 2026 DebateMay 2, 2026 · Full debate recordingWatch Debate The 51stFact-checking the attacks in the mayoral raceMay 11, 2026 · Investigative ?WTOPAffordability, home rule & Trump dominate debatesMay 2026 · Debate recap ? |
| 02 | Kenyan McDuffieFmr. At-Large CouncilmemberActive Campaign MomentumRising ? Democrat? Frontrunner Moderate frontrunner. Former DOJ Civil Rights attorney under Obama. 4th-generation Washingtonian. 13 years on DC Council (Ward 5 + at-large). Resigned at-large seat (Jan 2026) and re-registered as Democrat to run. Positions himself as a pragmatic, growth-oriented Democrat — “growth with guardrails.” Set 24-hour Day 1 fundraising record ($181K). Strongly favored by real estate & business sector. Just endorsed by fmr. Mayor Anthony Williams (May 7). | kenyanmcduffie.com ? | ~$1.82MFair Elections certified. ~$289K private + ~$1.53M public matching. Backed by Opportunity DC super PAC ($1M+ ad spend). | Housing (12K units)AffordabilityEconomic GrowthPublic SafetyYouth Curfew ExpansionHome RulePermit ReformSmall BusinessTourism Revival | Business / Real EstateOpportunity DC (PAC) · Associated Builders & Contractors Metro DC · Small Multifamily Owners Assoc. OfficialsAnthony Williams (fmr. Mayor, May 7) · Linda Cropp (fmr. Council Chair) · Mary Cheh (fmr. CM) · Charlene Drew Jarvis (fmr. CM) · Muriel Bowser (implicit, “wink wink”) CommunityRon Moten · Vinson Brannum (Ward 5 Dems Chair Emeritus) | |
| 03 | Gary GoodweatherReal Estate Developer · Army VeteranDebate Confirmed May 18 MomentumSteady ? DemocratCredible Challenger Earliest declared candidate (Oct 2025). First-time candidate for any office. U.S. Army veteran (rank of Captain) and 30-year real estate developer. First mayoral candidate certified under Fair Elections in this cycle. Outsider message: “revamp permitting” and cut bureaucracy. Pledges fare-free Metro and a “Capital Corps” civic-service program. Qualified for the FOX 5 / Georgetown debate (May 18) — one of just three to do so. | goodweatherfordc.com ? | ~$370K+Fair Elections certified (first to qualify, Oct 2025). 1,200+ donors incl. 1,052 DC residents. ~$365K+ in public funds unlocked. | AffordabilityFare-Free MetroHousingPermit ReformHealthcare AccessHome RuleLiteracyCapital Corps | StatusNo major institutional endorsements publicly confirmed. Notable RecognitionFirst mayoral candidate to qualify for Fair Elections funding · Responded to GGWash and Free DC questionnaires · Confirmed for FOX 5 / Georgetown debate May 18 | |
| 04 | Vincent OrangeFmr. At-Large CM & Ward 5 CMDemocratCredible Challenger Entered race Jan 23, 2026. Veteran DC politician — DC Chamber president (2016–20), Ward 5 CM (1999–2007), At-Large CM (2011–16). Pitches “measured outcomes, not political moments.” Pledges 1,000 tiny homes as a housing solution; promotes a “Vince Orange Plan” for public safety. Not enrolled in Fair Elections — running a traditional campaign. Past campaign-debt controversies (~$108K owed to vendors from pre-2018 races, since cleared). Did not respond to Free DC questionnaire. | orangeformayor.com ? | Not DisclosedNot in Fair Elections. Per Bisnow (Apr 20), contributions not appearing in public OCF database. Limited public fundraising transparency. | “The Orange Plan” (Safety)1,000 Tiny HomesEducation MilestonesEconomic GrowthHomeownershipYouth CurfewsWorkforce Development | StatusNo major institutional endorsements confirmed. NotesDid not respond to Free DC questionnaire · Not enrolled in Fair Elections · Argues experience & track record as core credential | |
| 05 | Yaida FordCivil Rights Attorney · Urban FarmerWrite-In Candidate Democrat (Write-In)Credible Challenger Announced Jan 22, 2026. Civil rights attorney and urban farmer; campaign frames the race through an equity and legal-advocacy lens. Did not make the June 16 ballot — running as write-in candidate. Self-described “people-powered, no party-machine” campaigner. Strong showing in Free DC straw poll (57 votes — third-highest among mayoral candidates). Completed Free DC questionnaire. Participated in Free DC Forum at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church (Mar 2026). | Active on social media; no current campaign URL confirmed | LimitedFiled Jan 22, 2026. Enrolled in Fair Elections per Jan 2026 filings. Now running as write-in — limited public fundraising disclosure. | Safe NeighborhoodsAffordable HousingStrong SchoolsDC StatehoodEconomic EmpowermentAI & EconomyResource Officers | Notable Performance3rd-highest vote total in Free DC straw poll (57 votes) · Completed Free DC questionnaire StatusNo major institutional endorsements confirmed. Write-in campaign. | |
| 06 | Talib Karim MuhammadAttorney · Engineer · EducatorDemocratCredible Challenger Announced Dec 23, 2025. Multidisciplinary background: teacher, engineer, attorney, reporter. Most distinctive platform in the field: proposes replacing DC’s 8-ward system with 10 “Charter Cities,” creating all-gender academies, and forming a “Public Safety Army.” Aggressive 2-year statehood plan. Universal rent control proposal. Minimal fundraising; cash on hand was negative as of Jan 31 filings. Did not respond to Free DC questionnaire. | No campaign URL publicly confirmed | ~$6KOCF Jan 31 report: $6,054 raised / $6,369 spent / –$316 cash on hand. Enrolled in Fair Elections; no public match unlocked. | DC Statehood (2-yr plan)10 Charter CitiesUniversal Rent ControlGender AcademiesPublic Safety ArmyAffordable Housing | StatusNo major endorsements confirmed. Did not respond to Free DC questionnaire. | |
| 07 | Hope SolomonFmr. Federal Contractor (DOGE’d)DemocratNewcomer Entered race Feb 11, 2026. 17-year federal contractor / national security veteran (DHS, DOD, FBI) — laid off via DOGE cuts in 2025. Born and raised in DC; Burleith native, Dupont Circle resident. Georgetown grad (COL ’06, GRD ’08); fmr. Vice President of the Georgetown Business Association. Family runs a Georgetown men’s formalwear shop. Campaign slogan: “Hope for DC — Est. 1983. Made in DC.” Pitches herself as the no-BS outsider: “running for mayor is my official way to bitch.” | hopefordc.com ? | LimitedFiled Feb 9, 2026. Small-scale operation. Not yet certified for Fair Elections public match as of latest filings. | AffordabilityGovt EfficiencySchool Lottery ReformAgency AuditsSmall BusinessTransparencyCabinet Accountability | StatusNo major institutional endorsements confirmed. Outsider/first-time candidate. | |
| 08 | Rini SampathCybersecurity ConsultantDemocratNewcomer Launched Feb 13, 2026 after DC’s January snowstorm-response failures. Age 31. First South Asian candidate on a DC mayoral ballot. Born in Theni, Tamil Nadu; moved to U.S. at age 7. Lives on U Street. Fmr. USC student government president (2015). Built a prototype 311 app as a campaign initiative. Hit the 1,000-donor threshold for the FOX 5 / Georgetown debate but says she’s been excluded from major forums by the “DC political machine.” Campaign theme: “Fix the Basics.” | riniformayor.com ? | ~$50K+Hit 1,000-donor threshold (April). Filed Feb 13, 2026. Small grassroots donor base; gathered 4,500+ ballot petition signatures. | Fix the BasicsInfrastructure311 App ReformEmergency PreparednessCybersecurityHousing AffordabilityGovt Execution | StatusNo major institutional endorsements confirmed. Independent grassroots campaign. MilestonesHit 1,000-donor debate threshold (April) · 4,500+ ballot petition signatures · First South Asian on DC mayoral ballot | |
| 09 | Robert L. GrossIT Professional · USAF VeteranStatehood GreenLower-Profile Running in the Statehood Green Party primary. Self-described “moderate socialist-capitalist.” Platform centers on responsible AI integration in DC government — for budgeting, service delivery, real-time performance oversight. U.S. Air Force veteran. Responded to Free DC questionnaire. Very limited public-media profile compared to Democratic field. | No major campaign URL publicly confirmed | UnknownRunning in Statehood Green primary. Limited public OCF disclosures. | AI in GovernmentGovt ModernizationBudget EfficiencyService Transparency“Moderate Socialist-Capitalist” | StatusResponded to Free DC questionnaire. No major institutional endorsements confirmed. | |
| 10 | Rhonda HamiltonNonprofit Founder · Small Business OwnerIndependentLower-Profile DC native. Founder of M.I. Mother’s Keeper, a mental health advocacy nonprofit. Small business owner; former realtor. One of the earliest filers in the race. Self-describes as a “community-centric Independent.” Previously challenged Bowser in 2022 as a write-in. Running as independent — Democratic nominee historically wins DC general elections. Responded to Free DC questionnaire. | No major campaign URL publicly confirmed | Limited / UnknownSmall independent operation. No major fundraising disclosures. | Housing StabilityHealthcareEconomic DisparitiesSmall BusinessMental Health | StatusResponded to Free DC questionnaire. No major institutional endorsements confirmed. | |
| 11 | Muhsin Boe UmarCommunity OrganizerIndependentLower-Profile Self-described “lifelong community builder.” Campaign focuses on ground-level community issues: violence reduction, food access, trades training. Also listed in some filings as “Mushin Bouluther Umar.” Did not respond to Free DC questionnaire. Very limited public media presence. | No campaign URL publicly confirmed | UnknownVery limited disclosed fundraising. Listed in OCF as “Mushin Bouluther Umar.” | Neighborhood ViolenceFood AccessTrades TrainingCommunity Building | StatusDid not respond to Free DC questionnaire. No institutional endorsements confirmed. | |
| 12 | Ernest JohnsonNonprofit CEO · Community ActivistDemocratLower-Profile DC native. CEO of Friends of Frank Reeves Center (provides backpacks, school supplies, and free haircuts to elementary schools). Frequent candidate — ran against Bowser in 2018 Democratic primary (lost). Democrat. Did not respond to Free DC questionnaire. Very limited campaign infrastructure relative to top-tier field. | No major campaign URL publicly confirmed | UnknownVery limited OCF disclosed fundraising. Frequent candidate pattern. | Education ProgramsRevenue GrowthPublic SafetyCommunity Services | StatusDid not respond to Free DC questionnaire. No institutional endorsements confirmed. | |