Doni Crawford Enters D.C. Council Special Election Weeks After Appointment to Fill McDuffie Vacancy

Newly appointed at-large councilmember files to keep seat as June 16 special election approaches

Doni Crawford, who was appointed last month to fill an at-large vacancy on the Council of the District of Columbia, has entered the June 16, 2026 special election to retain the seat. Crawford was sworn in on January 20, 2026, after the Council voted unanimously to appoint her as interim at-large councilmember.

The vacancy was created when Kenyan McDuffie resigned his at-large seat as he moved to run for mayor in the 2026 election cycle. Under the District’s Home Rule framework, when an at-large seat held by a non-affiliated member becomes vacant, the Council is required to appoint a similarly non-affiliated individual until a special election is held. The special election is scheduled for June 16, 2026, the same day as the city’s primary election.

How Crawford reached the Council

Crawford was selected from a large pool of applicants considered by the Council in January. Before her appointment, she worked inside the Wilson Building, most recently serving as committee director for the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development under McDuffie and previously as his legislative director. Her professional background also includes policy work focused on fiscal and economic issues.

At the time of her appointment, Crawford had recently registered as an independent, aligning with the seat’s non-majority-party status. She has also described affordability as a central issue for the coming months, as the Council prepares for budget deliberations and oversight hearings during a period of fiscal uncertainty.

What the special election field looks like

The Board of Elections has published a list of candidates who have filed for the June 16 special election for the non-Democratic at-large Council seat. The list includes multiple independents and a Statehood Green candidate, reflecting a crowded contest for a position that can influence budget votes and major legislation even during a partial term.

• Elissa Silverman, a former at-large councilmember, has filed as an independent.
• Jacque Patterson, president of the D.C. State Board of Education, has filed as an independent.
• Other filed candidates include Doug Sloan, Edward Daniels, De’Andre Anderson, Senay Emmanuel, Khalil Lee, Juan McCullum, Ryan Prince, Elizabeth “Liz” Reddick, Addison Sarter, Nina Taylor, and Darryl Moch (Statehood Green).

What comes next

To appear on the June 16 ballot, candidates must meet ballot-access requirements, including collecting signatures from registered voters. The winner will hold the at-large seat through the remainder of the term, with Districtwide elections continuing into the November 3, 2026 general election.

The June 16 special election will determine who serves as the District’s non-Democratic at-large councilmember for the balance of the current term.