DC primary – Voters in Washington, D.C., are casting ballots Tuesday at 75 locations until 8 p.m. in a Democratic-dominant primary that is likely to decide winners in major city races, including delegate to Congress, attorney general, D.C. Council seats, and the mayoral co
When the first voters step through the doors of their neighborhood polling sites Tuesday morning, they’re also stepping into a day that could redraw the balance of power in Washington, D.C.
Polls are open at 75 locations across the District until 8 p.m. This is a primary election, but with the vast majority of D.C. voters identifying as Democrats. the outcome in many races is expected to effectively determine who wins in November—sometimes with just a single nomination standing between candidates and the general election.
The most closely watched contest centers on the open race for D.C.’s delegate to Congress. The seat is currently held by Eleanor Holmes Norton. who is not seeking reelection. leaving the field open for several candidates. Voters are also deciding the race for attorney general, where incumbent Brian Schwalb faces a primary challenger.
On the D.C. Council ballot, multiple seats are up for grabs, including competitive at-large races. There is also a special election to fill the at-large seat Kenyan McDuffie vacated to run for mayor. Several ward races are also being decided, elections that could bring new members to the council.
The mayor’s race is drawing particular attention, with seven candidates seeking to replace Muriel Bowser, who is not seeking another term. It’s an especially high-stakes moment for D.C. politics in part because this election is the first in the District to use ranked choice voting.
Under ranked choice voting, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority. counting continues in rounds: the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated each round. and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on those rankings. The process continues until someone crosses the 50 + 1 percent threshold.
Because of that system, results may unfold differently than voters are used to. Winners are not expected to be finalized on election night. Initial returns will reflect early and first-choice vote totals. while more complete results will come in the days after as additional ballots are counted. Final certified results are expected by mid-July.
Once polls close, candidates are set to monitor returns from watch events across the city. Mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George plans to be at the Howard Theatre. and Kenyan McDuffie will watch returns at The Park at 14th. Among the delegate candidates. Brooke Pinto is scheduled to be at Wild Days on the Eaton hotel’s rooftop. Robert White will be at The Point on 2nd Street. and Kinney Zalesne will be at Barcelona Wine Bar. Mayoral candidate Gary Goodweather is planning a watch party at Bar Angie.
For voters, the day is about more than checking a box—it’s about setting the direction of several key positions in city government, with the promise that, in a Democratic-leaning primary, today’s decisions may quickly become tomorrow’s governance.
Washington D.C. primary ranked choice voting Eleanor Holmes Norton delegate to Congress Brian Schwalb D.C. Council at-large Kenyan McDuffie Muriel Bowser mayoral candidates polls open 8 p.m.