The 2026 brief
7 issues on the 2026 DC ballot
Each brief opens with three quick facts, then four hero stats, what's at stake, who decides, the recent moves, and the questions to put to candidates. Every numeric claim links to a primary or authoritative source.
Ranked-choice voting
DC's first-ever ranked-choice primary is June 16, 2026. Rank up to five candidates per race.
Statehood & Federal Pressure
DC residents pay federal taxes and have no vote in Congress. In 2025–2026, that gap got wider.
Public Safety & Justice
Crime is at multi-year lows. The political fight over it isn't.
Housing & Evictions
Median rent is $2,500. FY25 evictions hit a 7-year high. The eviction-notice window just shrank from 30 days to 10.
Budget, Taxes & Federal Workforce
DC lost ~22,000 federal jobs in 2025. Out-year revenue is now projected $342M/yr lower.
Transportation
Traffic deaths fell more than half in 2025. Now USDOT wants to ban the cameras.
Schools
Test scores hit a record one-year gain. The Ward 3 to Ward 8 gap is still 55 points.