A Free D.C. candidate forum turned contentious when mayoral frontrunners Kenyan McDuffie and Janeese Lewis George clashed on stage, highlighting growing tensions in a competitive race as voters weigh leadership and trust ahead of the primary election.
Category: District of Columbia Government
Washington DC — The Nation’s Capital
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks on retirement after 35 years on Capitol Hill
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, has officially announced her retirement. After 35 years representing the District, Norton has filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign. In a Jan. 27 letter speaking on her retirement, Norton reflected on her career and its impact on the city. “I’ve had the privilege of […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Longtime DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is ending her reelection campaign for Congress
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s longtime nonvoting delegate to Congress and a Civil Rights Movement veteran, has filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign, signaling the close of her 35-year tenure on Capitol Hill. Her retirement opens a competitive Democratic primary in the overwhelmingly Democratic city as questions had mounted about her effectiveness amid heightened federal intervention in Washington.
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D.C., 34 states reach settlement with Kia, Hyundai over anti-theft failures
D.C., along with 34 other states, has reached a settlement with Hyundai and Kia after the automakers sold millions of vehicles without industry-standard anti-theft technology. Under the agreement, nearly 8,200 vehicles in the District are now eligible for free anti-theft hardware, and affected drivers may receive restitution for theft-related damages.
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government
D.C. law changes in 2026 impact workers, youth and healthcare
As 2026 begins, Washington, D.C. residents face new laws, including Medicaid eligibility changes, an extended youth curfew, inflation‑linked minimum wage increases and automatic expungements for certain misdemeanor cases, with some exceptions for violent offenses.
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government
D.C. delegate seat draws crowded field ahead of 2026 midterms
The crowded 2026 race for Washington, D.C.’s nonvoting House delegate seat in U.S. Congress reflects growing concerns over federal interference and the city’s future. Multiple candidates say the moment demands new leadership to protect local autonomy and representation.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Smith gives impassioned farewell speech, challenges ‘haters’ as interim MPD chief steps upÂ
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Bowser announced Dec. 17 the appointment of Jeffery Carroll as interim police chief in the District. According to a news release from Bowser’s office, Carroll currently serves as Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) executive assistant chief of specialized operations, a position to which he was appointed by […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Year of unprecedented change leaves Washingtonians in a state of flux
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com While the inevitability of change serves as an unavoidable aspect of the human condition, 2025 was a year in which those who live or work in Washington, D.C. faced challenges, controversies and surprising conclusions that might best be described as unprecedented. As the nation’s capital, one would expect […]
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DC Mayor Bowser announces she won’t seek fourth term, as federal intervention continues
Mayor Muriel Bowser announced she will not seek a fourth term as D.C. mayor after a turbulent year marked by federal intervention ordered by the White House. Her departure comes amid legal battles over the National Guard deployment, political criticism of her response to federal actions, and continued concerns about the District’s limited home rule.
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D.C. boosts support for vulnerable families through new TANF law
A new law raised the monthly child support pass-through for vulnerable Washington, D.C., families on TANF from $150 to $200. Advocates call this an important step toward ending the impact of the city’s cost recovery system.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Norton calls for end to ‘disingenuous partisanship’ after House passes two anti-D.C. Home Rule bills
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com Washington, D.C., officials are decrying federal legislation that, they say, pose as threats to Home Rule – the law which has allowed the District to self-govern since 1975. On Nov. 17, the House Rules Committee considered 13 D.C.-related bills. Ahead of the vote, the District’s delegate to Congress, […]
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Early educator pay fund faces cuts amid D.C. budget shortfall
Childcare advocates are warning that D.C.’s early learning system could face a major setback after the D.C. Council voted to reduce salary minimums for educators supported by the city’s Pay Equity Fund. Lawmakers said the change was necessary to sustain the program after Mayor Muriel Bowser declined to provide additional funding amid ongoing budget challenges