We will push candidates to define what they stand for. We will make those answers public. We will create a space where leadership is tested in the open. And when we make a choice, you can be confident that it reflects the priorities of Democrats who call Ward 1 home.

In December 2025, we invited our members to help us build our candidate questionnaires and to determine what we should ask candidates and how we should evaluate them. Our members were clear:

• 87% wanted the focus to be on candidates’ positions on key public policy issues;

• 68.5% wanted to understand how candidates would use the powers of their office to get things done; and,

• 66.7% emphasized candidates’ records and accomplishments.

Affordability and cost of living emerged as the leading concern (72.2%), and nearly nine in 10 of respondents (90.8%) supported legislation-specific questions so candidates address real governing decisions, not generalities.

Using that guidance, our endorsements subcommittee, led by Ward One Democrats Vice Chair Gabrielle Rogoff, drafted the questionnaire and developed it in consultation with the Ward 1 Democratic Committee.

Candidates must submit the questionnaire by midnight ET on March 14, 2026, to be considered for endorsement. Responses received after the deadline may not be included.

Responses will be published at Ward1Democrats.org/endorsements shortly after the deadline.

This year, our endorsement process will be presented at our candidate forum on March 21, 2026, and conducted at our candidate endorsement meeting on April 11, 2026. Additional details will be shared in advance of each event, and additional events related to this process may be added.

If endorsed, Ward One Democrats will put the full organizational weight of the group behind our candidates, communicating our support broadly to Democratic primary voters across the ward.