NEWS: Ward One Democrats Endorses Candidates, Publishes Voter Guide Ahead of June Election
Group Representing 40,000 Democrats Declares Supporting Endorsed Candidates, Engaging Voters Top Priorities Through Election Day
PRESS RELEASE
April 27, 2026
Media Contact:
Corresponding Secretary
Press@Ward1Democrats.org
WASHINGTON – The Ward One Democrats today announced its endorsements in several key races and launched a broader voter education and organizing push ahead of DC’s June 16 primary and special elections. The group, which represents more than 40,000 Democrats in one of the District’s most politically active wards, has also paired the endorsements with an online voter guide, precinct-level organizing, and an upcoming convention, all designed to prepare Democrats for one of the most consequential elections in DC since home rule and the city’s first ranked-choice election since the passage of Initiative 83 in 2024.
“Ward One Democrats is treating this election like the defining political moment that it is,” said Alex Baca, chair of the Ward One Democrats. “We’re not just announcing endorsements. We’re organizing voters, giving people trusted information, and making sure Democrats in Ward 1 have a real voice in where this city goes next.”
After a months-long process of candidate questionnaires, forums, meet-and-greets, and more, hundreds of Democrats in Ward 1 gathered earlier this month and, by a two-thirds vote, endorsed the following candidates:
Janeese Lewis George for Mayor in the Democratic primary
Robert White for Delegate in the Democratic primary
Oye Owolewa for DC Council At-Large in the Democratic primary
Elissa Silverman for DC Council At-Large in the special election
The group also backed a slate of candidates for the D.C. Democratic State Committee, extending its reach from local government races into the party infrastructure that helps shape Democratic politics citywide:
Kelsye Adams of Ward 1 for National Committeewoman
Phillip Pannell for National Committeeman
Michelle Chappell and Vida Rangel for Ward 1 Committeewoman
Ethan Arnheim and Alex Busbee for Ward 1 Committeeman
Lïa Lake Kuduk of Ward 1, Emily Siegel, and Aliyah McNeely for At-Large Committeewoman
Sam Bonar and Andrew DeFrank for At-Large Committeeman
The tabulated results of the candidate endorsement votes may be viewed by clicking here.
In the Ward 1 Council race to replace retiring Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, no candidate received a two-thirds vote over the others. Therefore the Ward One Democrats did not make an endorsement, a decision that reflects the strength and diversity of the field.
“Ward 1 has a strong bench of Democrats running for Council,” said Baca. “Our members saw candidates with real support, real experience, and real ties to different parts of the ward. Since we are not making an endorsement in that race, we encourage voters to check out the Ward 1 Voter Guide so they have a direct way to compare the candidates and decide how they want to rank their ballot for themselves.”
The organization’s endorsement vote, with hundreds of ballots cast, was held April 11 at the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage, following a months-long process that included candidate questionnaires, forums, meet-and-greets, and a secret ballot vote. Candidate questionnaire responses now form the core of the Ward 1 Voter Guide, which the group is promoting to help voters compare candidates directly before casting ranked-choice ballots on June 16.
For Ward One Democrats, the endorsement process and voter guide are central to how the organization views its responsibility to “provide a framework for an expression of the public will,” a central tenet of the group’s founding preamble.
“Ranked-choice voting gives voters more power, but it also asks them to make more decisions,” said Gabrielle Rogoff, vice chair of the Ward One Democrats, who oversaw the group’s endorsement process. “Our job is to make sure voters have useful information, direct answers from candidates, and a clear sense of which leaders are ready to deliver for Ward 1.”
The group’s endorsed candidates now enter the final stretch of the campaign with the backing of an organization that is trying to operate less like a passive political club and more like a ward-wide political engagement engine for the city’s most politically active and diverse ward.
On April 23, the Ward 1 Democratic Committee adopted a resolution making the June election its top organizational priority and calling on officers, precinct representatives, and members to take part in voter education, voter engagement, and support for endorsed candidates in every precinct.
The next public step comes May 9, when members of the Ward One Democrats gather at the Woman’s National Democratic Club for its annual convention. The group plans to hold officer elections, fill precinct representative vacancies, hear a DC Board of Elections presentation on ranked-choice voting, and rally in support of its endorsed candidates.
“The convention gives our members another chance to show what we have been building: a membership structure, a voter education operation, and a political engagement force that gets results,” said Baca. “We are building Ward One Democrats into an organization capable of shaping how voters understand this election and who they elect to serve. We invite any Democrat in Ward 1 to join us at our Convention on May 9 and learn more about how they can be part of this exciting momentum.”
Democrats interested in attending the group’s upcoming annual convention can learn more and register to attend Ward1Dems.org/events or by emailing info@ward1democrats.org.
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About the Ward One Democrats:
Ward One Democrats is the official Democratic Party organization for Ward 1 in Washington, D.C.— home to more than 40,000 registered Democrats and the city’s most racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse neighborhoods, including Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, Howard University, Mount Pleasant, Park View, Pleasant Plains, and LeDroit Park. We bring together neighbors to strengthen the Democratic Party, support its candidates, and encourage civic participation across our diverse community. Learn more at Ward1Democrats.org!
Media Contact:
Corresponding Secretary
Ward One Democrats
press@ward1democrats.org
(202) 656-1632
