2012 Council of the District of Columbia election
US Election
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The 2012 Council of the District of Columbia election was held on November 6, 2012, with primaries held on April 3. Elections were held in four of the eight wards, two at-large seats (one open to any party and one open to non-majority parties) as well as a special election for the Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia. Prior to the election, 11 seats were held by Democrats and 2 seats were held by Independents. The general election saw no party flip any seats, thereby meaning that Democrats retained their majority on the council.[1]
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November 6, 2012
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7 seats on the Council of the District of Columbia 7 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background
The council is composed of thirteen members, each elected by district residents to a four-year term. One member is elected from each of the district's eight wards. Four at-large members represent the district as a whole. The chairman of the council is likewise elected at an at-large basis. The terms of the at-large members are staggered so that two are elected every two years, and each D.C. resident may vote for two different at-large candidates in each general election.
According to the Home Rule Act, of the chair and the at-large members, a maximum of three may be affiliated with the majority political party. In the council's electoral history, of the elected members who were not affiliated with the majority party, most were elected as at-large members. In 2008 and 2012, Democrats such as David Grosso, Elissa Silverman, and Michael A. Brown changed their party affiliation to Independent when running for council.
To become a candidate for council an individual must be resident of the District of Columbia for at least one year prior to the general election, a registered voter, and hold no other public office for which compensation beyond expenses is received. Candidates running for a ward position must be a resident of that ward.
Summary
Democrats remained the largest party on the council. At-large councilmember Phil Mendelson was appointed by the rest of the council to serve as interim chairman following the resignation of incumbent chairman Kwame R. Brown due to a federal indictment.[2] All ward-level councilmembers won re-election, facing little opposition in the general election.
At-large
| Position | Incumbent | Candidates[1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected |
Status | ||
| At-large | Vincent Orange | Democratic | 2011 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
| Michael A. Brown | Independent | 2008 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. | ||
Wards
| Position | Incumbent | Candidates[1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First
elected |
Status | ||
| Ward 2 | Jack Evans | Democratic | 1991 (special) | Incumbent re-elected |
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| Ward 4 | Muriel Bowser | Democratic | 2006 | Incumbent re-elected |
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| Ward 7 | Yvette Alexander | Democratic | 2007 (special) | Incumbent re-elected |
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| Ward 8 | Marion Barry | Democratic | 2004 (special) | Incumbent re-elected |
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Chairperson
Interim Chairperson Phil Mendelson won the special election for chairperson, facing only one opponent.
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November 6, 2012
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Candidates
- Calvin H. Gurley (Democrat)
- Phil Mendelson (Democrat), interim chairperson from Eastern Market
Endorsements
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Phil Mendelson (inc.) | 174,742 | 70.72% | |
| Democratic | Calvin H. Gurley | 69,342 | 28.06% | |
| Write-in | 3,017 | 1.22% | ||
| Total votes | 247,101 | 100% | ||
At-large
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November 6, 2012
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Incumbent Democrat Vincent Orange won re-election to his first full term after his victory in the 2011 special election. Independent incumbent Michael A. Brown lost his seat to David Grosso following a string of corruption scandals.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Sekou Biddle, former At-large councilmember
- E. Gail Anderson Holness, ANC member
- Vincent Orange, incumbent At-large Councilmember
- Peter Shapiro, former Prince George's County Council member
Endorsements
Local officials
- David Catania, incumbent independent At-large Councilmember[8]
- Patrick Mara, former Republican candidate for At-large seat and Ward 1 member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education[9]
- Tommy Wells, incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember[8]
Organizations
- Sierra Club (Democratic primary)[6]
Publications
- Washington City Paper (Democratic primary)[10]
- The Washington Post (Democratic primary)[11]
Organizations
Debates
| Date | Place | Host | Participants | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Participant. I Invitee. A Absent. N Confirmed non-invitee. O Out of race (exploring, suspended, or not yet entered) | Biddle |
Holness |
Orange |
Shapiro | |||||||
| 23 February 2012 | St. Columba’s Episcopal Church | Ward 3 Democrats | P | P | P | P | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Vincent Orange (inc.) | 43,586 | 53.25% | |
| Democratic | Nate Bennett-Fleming | 18,232 | 22.27% | |
| Democratic | John F. Settles II | 10,775 | 13.16% | |
| Democratic | Pedro Rubio | 6,082 | 7.43% | |
| Democratic | Kevin Valentine Jr. | 2,560 | 3.13% | |
| Write-in | 624 | 1.42% | ||
| Total votes | 81,859 | 100% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Mary Brooks Beatty
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Brooks Beatty | 4,282 | 96.27% | |
| Write-in | 166 | 3.73% | ||
| Total votes | 4,448 | 100% | ||
Statehood Green primary
Candidates
- G. Lee Aikin
- Ann C. Wilcox
Endorsements
Organizations
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC Statehood Green | Ann C. Wilcox | 223 | 63.35% | |
| DC Statehood Green | G. Lee Aikin | 85 | 24.15% | |
| Write-in | 44 | 12.50% | ||
| Total votes | 352 | 100% | ||
Independents
Candidates
- Michael A. Brown
- A. J. Cooper
- David Grosso
- Leon J. Swain Jr.
Endorsements
Labor unions
- Maryland American Federation of Teachers[3]
Local officials
Organizations
Publications
Publications
General Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Vincent Orange (inc.) | 148,595 | 38.38% | |
| Independent | David Grosso | 78,123 | 20.18% | |
| Independent | Michael A. Brown (inc.) | 57,762 | 14.92% | |
| Republican | Mary Brooks Beatty | 27,847 | 7.19% | |
| Independent | A. J. Cooper | 25,012 | 8.14% | |
| Independent | Leon J. Swain Jr. | 24,588 | 6.35% | |
| DC Statehood Green | Ann C. Wilcox | 22,802 | 5.89% | |
| Write-in | 2,402 | 0.62% | ||
| Total votes | 387,131 | 100% | ||
Ward 2
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November 6, 2012
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Incumbent councilmember Jack Evans cruised to victory, facing no opponents in either the primary or general election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jack Evans, incumbent Ward 2 Councilmember
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
Publications
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jack Evans (inc.) | 2,947 | 92.27% | |
| Write-in | 247 | 7.73% | ||
| Total votes | 3,194 | 100% | ||
General Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jack Evans (inc.) | 23,414 | 96.86% | |
| Write-in | 760 | 3.14% | ||
| Total votes | 24,174 | 100% | ||
Ward 4
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November 6, 2012
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Incumbent councilmember Muriel Bowser easily defeated a crowded primary field before winning an uncontested general election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Muriel Bowser, incumbent Ward 4 Councilmember
- Renee L. Bowser
- Calvin H. Gurley, perennial candidate
- Baruti Jahi
- Judi Jones
- Max Skolnik
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
Publications
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Muriel Bowser (inc.) | 7,541 | 66.17% | |
| Democratic | Renee L. Bowser | 1,523 | 13.36% | |
| Democratic | Max Skolnik | 1,042 | 9.14% | |
| Democratic | Baruti Jahi | 619 | 5.43% | |
| Democratic | Judi Jones | 371 | 3.26% | |
| Democratic | Calvin H. Gurley | 268 | 2.35% | |
| Write-in | 32 | 0.28% | ||
| Total votes | 11,396 | 100% | ||
General Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Muriel Bowser (inc.) | 33,045 | 97.25% | |
| Write-in | 933 | 2.75% | ||
| Total votes | 33,978 | 100% | ||
Ward 7
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November 6, 2012
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Incumbent councilmember Yvette Alexander won a contested primary before beating local community activist Ron Moten in the general election
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Yvette Alexander, incumbent Ward 7 Councilmember
- William Bennett II, minister from Deanwood
- Tom Brown, education executive and former teacher
- Kevin B. Chavous, lawyer and son of former councilmember Kevin P. Chavous
- Dorothy Douglas, activist and member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education
- Monica L. Johnson
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
- DC for Democracy[19]
- District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce[19]
- Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance[19]
- Greater Greater Washington[19]
Publications
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Yvette Alexander (inc.) | 3,730 | 42.38% | |
| Democratic | Tom Brown | 1,950 | 22.16% | |
| Democratic | Kevin B. Chavous | 1,916 | 21.77% | |
| Democratic | William Bennett II | 892 | 10.14% | |
| Democratic | Dorothy Douglas | 192 | 2.18% | |
| Democratic | Monica L. Johnson | 73 | 0.83% | |
| Write-in | 48 | 0.55% | ||
| Total votes | 8,801 | 100% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Don Folden Sr.
- Ron Moten, community political activist
Endorsements
Labor Unions Publications
- The Washington Post (General election)[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ron Moten | 68 | 61.26% | |
| Republican | Don Folden Sr. | 31 | 27.93% | |
| Write-in | 12 | 10.81% | ||
| Total votes | 111 | 100% | ||
General Election
Debates
| Date | Place | Host | Participants | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Participant. I Invitee. A Absent. N Confirmed non-invitee. O Out of race (exploring, suspended, or not yet entered) | Alexander |
Bennett II |
Brown |
Chavous |
Douglas |
Folden Sr. |
Johnson |
Moten | |||
| 16 February 2012[20] | Langston Golf Course | Langston Community Association | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Yvette Alexander (inc.) | 29,056 | 86.96% | |
| Republican | Ron Moten | 4,074 | 12.19% | |
| Write-in | 283 | 0.85% | ||
| Total votes | 33,413 | 100% | ||
Ward 8
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November 6, 2012
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Incumbent councilmember Marion Barry easily won a contested primary en route to his final term on the council before his death in office in 2015.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Marion Barry, incumbent Ward 8 Councilmember
- Darrell Gaston
- Jacque D. Patterson
- Sandra Seegars
- Natalie Williams
Endorsements
Labor unions
Publications
- The Washington Post (Democratic primary)[11]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Marion Barry (inc.) | 5,116 | 73.54% | |
| Democratic | Jacque D. Patterson | 568 | 8.16% | |
| Democratic | Sandra Seegars | 549 | 7.89% | |
| Democratic | Natalie Williams | 485 | 6.97% | |
| Democratic | Darrell Gaston | 219 | 3.15% | |
| Write-in | 20 | 0.29% | ||
| Total votes | 6,957 | 100% | ||
Independents
Candidates
- Jauhar Abraham
General Election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Marion Barry (inc.) | 27,202 | 87.98% | |
| Independent | Jauhar Abraham | 3,588 | 11.61% | |
| Write-in | 127 | 0.85% | ||
| Total votes | 30,917 | 100% | ||