With each passing day, the question Washingtonians should be asking is not “who is running for political office next year,” but “who is not?”
Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has announced she will not run for an unprecedented fourth term.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the District’s representative in Congress, has not decided if she will run again but there are those who are waiting in the wings just in case she opts out.
Councilmember Anita Bonds (D-At-Large) has just announced that she will not run again after many years of service.
Then, with legal issues that must still be resolved, it remains unclear whether Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D) will be able to clear his name and keep his seat.
And while it is not an elected position, the Metropolitan Police Department’s first female chief, Pamela Smith, says she’s stepping down at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, lurking in the corner are the president and several of his Republican cronies who would like nothing better than to take control of the District. And there could be more brewing on the political front.
That means every vote will count in 2026 – every vote.
So, if you’ve been complaining and criticizing those in office about how things are going in D.C., or if you have concerns about who’s running the show, now is the time for you to act and make a difference.
This is the moment when D.C. will be transformed – perhaps for the better or worse, but it will change. The path we follow will change. And voters will serve as the change agents.
So, while you are celebrating Christmas, New Year’s Day, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, take a few moments to make sure you’re registered to vote. Then, do your homework on every open seat from the top of the ballot to the bottom.
Now is not the time to be a coach from the couch. Claim your right to vote and vote with knowledge.
This is our city. Let’s act like it still belongs to us!