DC Heads to the Polls for Consequential 2026 Elections

The ballot covers contests for Mayor, Attorney General, Delegate to the US House of Representatives, Council Chair, At-Large Council, and Ward Council seats in Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6, among other offices. DCBOE’s special-election filing list confirms a same-day Special Election for the At-Large Member of the Council on June 16 to fill the non-majority party at-large seat that was vacated by Kenyan McDuffie, who is now running for mayor. The 2026 general election is scheduled for November 3, with the corresponding general-election calendar governing independent and minor-party ballot access and election administration timelines. District government guidance for employees confirms DC polling hours from 7 AM – 8 PM ET for the 2026 primary and general elections. 

Candidates on the Ballot (Selected Races Only)

The following are candidate rosters for the June 16 primary and the At-Large Council Special Election, presented in the order in which the candidates’ names will appear on the ballot. 

For the Republican Party primary, no Republican mayoral candidate is listed (write-in only) while the Delegate to the US House of Representatives contest lists Denise Rosado. The Attorney General contest lists Manuel Rivera, the Chairman of the Council contest lists Abi-Ananiah Prudent, and the At-Large Member of the Council contest lists Darrell Green. By ward, the Ward 1 Member of the Council contest lists Jett James Jasper, Ward 3 is write-in only, Ward 5 lists Jeffrey Kihien-Palza, and Ward 6 lists Jorge Rice. 

For the DC Statehood Green Party primary, the Mayor of the District of Columbia race lists Robert L. Gross, and the Delegate to the US House of Representatives race lists Kymone Freeman. The At-Large Member of the Council contest lists Darryl Moch, while ward contests list Jude Crannitch (Ward 1), write-in only (Ward 3), Joyce Robinson-Paul (Ward 5), and write-in only (Ward 6); the Attorney General contest is write-in only.

Ranked-Choice Voting in DC: Scope, Mechanics, Timing

The Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Act specifies that beginning with the June primary and thereafter, RCV is used in any covered primary, special, or general election that has three or more qualified candidates for President/Vice President electors, Mayor, Attorney General, Council (Chair, At-Large, Ward), Delegate to Congress, State Board of Education, US Senator, US Representative, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and other covered District officers, excluding party offices. 

How Do Voters Cast Their Ballots?

Voters rank up to five candidates in order of preference — first choice, second choice, and so on. Three simple rules apply:

✅ Ranking additional candidates does not hurt your top choices.

⛔ Do not give the same ranking to more than one candidate.

⛔ Do not skip rankings.

How Are Winners Determined?

Single-Winner Races

Your ballot counts as a vote for your highest-ranked candidate still in the race. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, counting proceeds in rounds. In each round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and ballots cast for that candidate transfer to each voter’s next-ranked choice. Rounds continue until one candidate reaches a majority and wins.

Two-Winner At-Large Council Race

A separate multi-round process is used. In each round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Rounds continue until only two candidates remain, and those two are elected.

Tabulation Process at a Glance

Strategic Considerations for Government and Public Affairs Stakeholders