D.C. Democratic At-Large Race Focuses on Local and Federal Issues

April 8, 2026

Nine Democratic candidates are competing for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council following Anita Bonds' decision not to seek re-election. The race is unfolding amid heightened tensions over federal interference in local affairs, particularly concerning a planned Department of Homeland Security facility being constructed in Ward 8 and increased ICE enforcement activities throughout the D.C. metropolitan area. Leading candidates include U.S. Shadow Representative Dr. Oye Owolewa, Maryland labor official D'yana Forester, former Bonds staffer Kevin B.

Who is affected

Ward 8 residents near the planned DHS headquarters at St. Elizabeths West Campus
Nearly 20,000 people arrested by ICE in the D.C. metropolitan area since Trump's return
District residents involved in three use-of-force incidents with federal officers (one deadly)
Outgoing D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds (being replaced)
Transportation Security Administration employees working without pay during budget impasse
Federal workers affected by government shutdown
Small business owners and contractors concerned about workforce attendance due to immigration enforcement
Low-income tenants and elders facing foreclosure
Working families who don't qualify for government services but struggle financially
Women who are heads of households (26% of D.C. women) and children living in poverty (66%)
Residents near Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center facing healthcare challenges
Teachers and schools unaware of federal gun violence prevention funding allocation
Young people affected by gun violence, including the "Young Kings" organizing group

What action is being taken

Clark Construction and ZGF Architects are designing and building the DHS facility at St. Elizabeths West Campus
Dr. Oye Owolewa is leading protests and acts of nonviolent resistance against the construction companies
ICE agents are currently posted at airports supporting TSA personnel and making arrests using tips from airport security
The D.C. Council recently overrode Mayor Bowser's veto of legislation mandating federal officer identifying information in MPD incident reports
D'yana Forester is working in Annapolis to put supports in place for TSA workers in Maryland
Kevin B. Chavous is attending community meetings and candidate forums across the District
Candace Tiana Nelson is leading the "Reimagining the Future of Georgia Avenue" advisory group
Greg Jackson is positioning himself to build relationships between the council and Congress

Why it matters

This election is significant because it occurs during a critical period of federal-local government tension, with Congress advancing dozens of bills infringing on District laws and federal immigration enforcement dramatically escalating. The incoming at-large council member will help determine how D.C. responds to federal overreach while addressing persistent local challenges including housing affordability, public safety, healthcare access, and support for working families who fall through existing safety nets. The position requires balancing constituent needs across all eight wards while managing a $22 billion budget larger than ten state budgets, making competent governance and accountability essential. With federal workers facing job insecurity, immigrant communities under threat, and concerns about federal law enforcement presence in predominantly Black neighborhoods, the elected official's approach to protecting home rule and ensuring equitable resource distribution will directly impact residents' daily lives and long-term community stability.

What's next

Another protest action is scheduled for mid-April regarding the DHS facility
Dr. Oye Owolewa plans to engage the D.C. Council through a resolution calling on ZGF Architects and Clark Construction to break their contract with the federal government
Owolewa will work with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in Ward 8 and across the city to advance this cause
The next Democratic at-large council member will begin in January 2027, immediately facing performance oversight season followed by budget deliberations
The Democratic primary election will be held on June 16

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer