WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2026 Washington, D.C. primary election featured races for mayor, delegate to Congress, and multiple D.C. Council seats. This election marked the first time ranked choice voting was utilized in D.C. primary elections.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton are departing their offices, leading to open contests for their positions. Four D.C. Council members initiated campaigns for either mayor or delegate following these departures. Additionally, At-Large Council member Anita Bonds and Ward 1 Council member Brianne Nadeau did not seek reelection.

Nine Democratic candidates competed for Anita Bonds' at-large D.C. Council seat. Among the candidates for this position were Kevin B. Chavous, who serves as Bonds' committee and policy director and received her endorsement. Dyana Forester, senior director of labor relations for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, was also a candidate. Other contenders included Fred Hill, founder of the Hill Group, and Greg Jackson, president of the Rocket Foundation. Leniqua'dominique Jenkins, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner and council staffer, also ran. Candace Tiana Nelson, previously chief of staff to Council member Janeese Lewis George, and Oye Owolewa, the D.C. U.S. shadow representative, were also candidates. Dwight Davis, an educator and minister, and Lisa Raymond, former president of the D.C. State Board of Education, completed the field.

Five Democratic candidates ran to fill Brianne Nadeau's Ward 1 D.C. Council seat. Nadeau endorsed Rashida Brown, a social worker and former Advisory Neighborhood Commission commissioner. Other candidates for the Ward 1 seat included Jackie Reyes Yanes, Terry Lynch, Aparna Raj, and Miguel Trindade Deramo.

Kenyan McDuffie, who was elected to the D.C. Council as an independent, vacated his at-large seat to run for mayor as a Democrat. Doni Crawford, previously director for the D.C. Council's Committee on Business and Economic Development, was appointed in January to serve the remainder of McDuffie's council term. Crawford ran against Jacque Patterson, president of the D.C. State Board of Education, and Elissa Silverman, a former at-large D.C. Council member, for the remainder of the term. A November election will determine the occupant of the at-large seat for the full term starting in 2027.

Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker faced Democratic primary challengers Bernita Carmichael and Bridget French. Carmichael is a small business owner and a D.C. Democratic Party committeewoman. French works on clean energy policy. In Ward 6, Council member Charles Allen faced Democratic primary challengers Michael Murphy, an attorney, and Gloria Ann Nauden, interim CEO of Philanthropy DMV and leader of the D.C. Community Development Consortium Institute. Nearly 75% of registered voters in the District are Democrats.