WASHINGTON, DC — A special election was triggered to fill an at-large council seat in Washington, D.C., following Kenyan McDuffie's resignation to seek the Democratic mayoral nomination. The candidates running in the special election are At-Large Council member Doni Crawford, former at-large council member Elissa Silverman, and DC State Board of Education President Jacque Patterson.
All three candidates are running as independents. The winner of this special election will serve through January, after which voters will decide who earns the next four-year term for the at-large seat in November. At-large council seats represent all residents across D.C., while ward-based seats represent specific districts.
Crawford previously worked as a council staffer and at a think tank before taking office. She contacted over 50 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions across the district. Crawford stated that D.C. police overtime in fiscal year 2025 was equivalent to roughly 870 additional officers due to staffing shortages. She said long-term safety improvements require addressing housing, jobs, police response times, and community trust. Crawford additionally supports using emergency and permanent legislation within home rule limits to reflect the District's priorities.
Silverman served on the council and focused on passing paid family leave legislation and working to hold agencies accountable during her tenure. She stated that the city needs to coordinate police, housing, and social services to address individuals likely to commit violence. Silverman also said the police force needs increased staffing, particularly for detectives. She said D.C. leaders need to align actions across agencies and elected offices before taking steps that could lead to federal pushback.
Patterson has lived in the District of Columbia for 30 years. He said safety concerns reflect years of underinvestment in youth programming and mental health. Patterson specifically supports targeted enforcement like curfews alongside reinvestment in youth programs and mental health. He also said lawmakers should consider federal reactions when proposing legislation and avoid introducing bills solely for political performance.