DC one step closer to choosing first new member of Congress in over three decades

At-large D.C. Council member Robert White Jr. won the Democratic primary Tuesday for Eleanor Holmes Norton’s long-unvoting congressional seat, putting him on track to become the district’s first new member of Congress since 1991.

The rare open-seat contest for D.C.’s delegate post comes after Norton, 88, announced he would not seek another term after 18 terms in Congress. The Democratic nominee will contest the November general election in heavily Democratic Washington, where the party’s nominee is heavily supported against Republicans and third-party rivals.

D.C.’s delegate can introduce legislation, serve on committees, and advocate for the district on Capitol Hill, but that role does not include the final vote on the House floor. The race comes as Washington continues its long-running fight over statehood, home rule and federal control of the nation’s capital.

The primary race was held under D.C.’s new ranked-choice voting system, but White was able to secure the nomination.

White has served as the at-large member of the D.C. Council since 2016 and previously worked as a legislative counsel in Norton’s congressional office. He entered the race after withdrawing a potential mayoral bid, arguing that the district needed a more aggressive advocate in Congress as federal pressure on D.C. intensified.

Norton was first elected in 1990 and took office in 1991, becoming the district’s non-voting delegate and one of D.C.’s best-known political figures. His retirement completes an 18-term term spanning nearly 35 years that was defined by fights over statehood, home rule and the capital’s full representation in Congress.

For many D.C. voters, Norton was the only convention delegate they knew. His decision to vacate the seat after 18 terms has set up a truly competitive race for the seat for the first time in decades and sparked a tug of war among local Democrats seeking to take over one of the district’s most symbolic political posts.

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White will head into the November general election, where the Democratic candidate will be heavily favored in overwhelmingly Democratic Washington, D.C.

Republican Denise Rosado is running unopposed for the GOP nomination, while at least one third-party candidate, Kymone Freeman, is also seeking the non-voting delegate seat.