An overview of endorsements in DC Council, State Board of Education races

By Editor On Oct 19, 2020 Last updated Nov 20, 2020

If it’s hard to keep track of all the candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot, it may be even tougher to keep track of everyone who has endorsed them. To that end, The DC Line compiled as many endorsements as we could find to help voters as they prepare to cast their ballot. We’ve included those from unions, interest groups, newspapers, other 2020 candidates, and elected citywide and ward officials.

Our guide includes links to the campaign websites of active candidates, except for the handful who don’t have a known online presence. When possible, we’ve also provided links to relevant press releases or social media posts so voters can read the full language of these endorsements. This guide focuses mainly on endorsements that have been issued or repeated since the June primary (for a listing of endorsements in those races, see our earlier report).

At-large DC Council (two seats on the ballot)

Endorsements for Markus Batchelor (independent)
- Washington Teachers’ Union
- People for the American Way’s Next Up Victory Fund: “The Next Up Victory Fund supports young candidates who reflect the progressive movement and will be champions of our values for years to come.”
- United We Dream Action
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
- Elected officials: Emily Gasoi, Ward 1 DC State Board of Education (SBOE) representative; Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 DC SBOE representative; Ruth Wattenberg, Ward 3 DC SBOE representative; Joe Weedon, former Ward 6 DC SBOE representative; Nathan Bennett-Fleming, former shadow U.S. representative
- Other candidates: Mysiki Valentine, who is running for an at-large DC SBOE seat
Endorsements for Marcus Goodwin (independent)
- The Washington Post editorial board: “A real estate developer who started his career working for the D.C. Council and in the mayor’s office, Mr. Goodwin understands government but would also bring a needed business perspective to the council on issues such as workforce development, affordable housing and the needs of small businesses.”
- The Georgetowner
- Emgage PAC
- Teamsters Local 639
- Small Multifamily Owners Association
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
- Elected officials: Kweisi Mfume, U.S. representative in Maryland’s 7th District; Vincent Gray, Ward 7 DC Council member; Bill Lightfoot, former at-large DC Council member; Charlene Drew Jarvis, former Ward 4 DC Council member; Frank Smith, former Ward 1 DC Council member
- Other candidates: Jacque Patterson, who is running for an at-large DC SBOE seat
Endorsements for Christina Henderson (independent)
- The Washington Post editorial board: “She follows the data and listens to all sides. That thoughtful approach is badly needed on a council that increasingly seems more interested in advancing an ideology than coming up with effective — and affordable — ways to serve the needs of D.C. residents.”
- DC Women in Politics
- Women’s Information Network (WIN)
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
- Elected officials: David Grosso, at-large DC Council member; Mary Cheh, Ward 3 DC Council member; Jack Jacobson, Ward 2 SBOE representative; Jessica Sutter, Ward 6 DC SBOE representative
- Other candidates: Rick Murphee, who pulled out of the at-large DC Council race although his name is still on the ballot
Endorsements for Chander Jayaraman (independent)
- DC AAPI Democratic Caucus (one of four candidates in the at-large race to receive the group’s endorsement): “Jayaraman proposes that DC create a welcome center for all new immigrants and would bring his experience as an AAPI immigrant to his policies for all residents of all backgrounds.”
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
Endorsements for Ed Lazere (independent)
- Greater Greater Washington: “Ed Lazere supports Mayor Muriel Bowser’s goal to create 36,000 new homes, including 12,000 affordable homes, by 2025. So did most candidates, but Lazere’s answers demonstrated a stronger understanding of why more housing is so important.”
- DC for Democracy
- Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO
- SEIU Local 500
- 1199 SEIU
- Nonprofit Professional Employees Union
- Democratic Socialists of America and Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America
- United We Dream Action
- Working Families Party
- Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund
- Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association
- 32BJ SEIU
- Unite Here Local 25
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689
- LiUNA! Local 11
- UFCW Local 400
- AFSCME District Council 20
- Baltimore-DC Building Trades Council
- National Nurses Organizing Committee
- District of Columbia Nurses Association
- Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
- American Federation of Government Employees
- IBEW Local 26
- Unite Here Local 23
- Our Revolution DC
- Persist DC
- National Organization for Women, DC Chapter
- Women’s Information Network (WIN)
- Sierra Club, Washington D.C. Chapter
- Sunrise Movement DC
- 350 DC
- DC Tenants’ Advocacy Coalition (TENAC)
- SW DC Action
- DC Voters for Animals
- Progressive Change Campaign Committee
- Chevy Chase for Racial Progress
- DC AAPI Democratic Caucus (one of four candidates in the at-large race to receive the group’s endorsement)
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
- Elected officials; Karl Racine, DC attorney general; Elissa Silverman, at-large DC Council member; Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1 DC Council member; Emily Gasoi, Ward 1 DC SBOE representative; Ruth Wattenberg, Ward 3 DC SBOE representative; Zachary Parker, Ward 5 DC SBOE representative; Karen Williams, Ward 7 DC SBOE representative
- Other candidates: Janeese Lewis George, the Democratic nominee for the Ward 4 DC Council seat
Endorsements for Jeanné Lewis (independent)
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
Endorsements for Will Merrifield (independent)
- DC Tenants’ Advocacy Coalition (TENAC): “We think Will Merrifield’s proposal for social housing is visionary and will help end the vicious cycle that has displaced tenants, skyrocketed rents and put the real estate lobby in the driver’s seat of lawmaking.”
Endorsements for Vincent Orange (independent)
- DC Association of Realtors: “Vincent Orange is a responsive voice for our residents and has made it clear that he wants to push for the district’s continued economic vibrancy during these challenging times. DCAR believes he will be a steadfast voice for fiscal responsibility on the Council.”
- The Georgetowner
Endorsements for Alexander Padro (independent)
- LGBTQ Victory Fund
Endorsements for Mónica Palacio (independent)
- DC AAPI Democratic Caucus (one of four candidates in the at-large race to receive the group’s endorsement): “Palacio has fought for immigrant rights and the DC AAPI community at the highest levels of DC government – as director of the DC Office of Human Rights.”
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
Endorsements for Robert White (Democratic Party nominee)
- Greater Greater Washington: “White has shown, both through his questionnaire responses and time in office, that he is a strong supporter and capable advocate for more equitable transportation and affordable, abundant housing.”
- Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO
- Washington Teachers’ Union
- SEIU Local 500
- 1199 SEIU
- DC Association of Realtors
- Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689
- American Federation of Government Employees
- AFSCME District Council 20
- Baltimore-DC Building Trades Council
- Caribbean American PAC
- National Organization for Women, DC Chapter
- DC Young Democrats
- District of Columbia Latino Caucus
- International Association of Firefighters Local 36
- LiUNA! Local 11
- National Nurses Organizing Committee
- Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association
- Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, Maryland & NoVa
- Plumbers and Gasfitters #5
- Sierra Club, Washington DC chapter
- Gertrude Stein Democratic Club
- Teamsters Local 639
- UFCW Local 400
- IBEW Local 26
- Unite Here Local 25
- 32BJ SEIU
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
- Ward 5 Democrats
- Washington DC Local 5 Plumbers
- Small Multifamily Owners Association
- DC AAPI Democratic Caucus (one of four candidates in the at-large race to receive the group’s endorsement)
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of eight candidates in the at-large race to receive designation)
- Elected officials: Anita Bonds, at-large DC Council member; Elissa Silverman, at-large DC Council member; Jack Jacobson, Ward 2 SBOE representative; Zachary Parker, Ward 5 DC SBOE representative; Joe Weedon, former Ward 6 DC SBOE representative
- Other candidates: Janeese Lewis George, the Democratic nominee for the Ward 4 DC Council seat; Jacque Patterson, who is running for an at-large DC SBOE seat
Candidates without known major endorsements: Claudia Barragan (independent); Joe Bishop-Henchman (Libertarian Party nominee); Mario Cristaldo (independent); Franklin Garcia (independent); Calvin H. Gurley (independent); Kathy Henderson (independent); A’Shia Howard (independent); Marya Pickering (Republican Party nominee); Eric M. Rogers (independent); Michangelo “Doctor Mic” Scruggs (independent); Keith Silver (independent); Ann C. Wilcox (Statehood Green Party nominee)

Ward 2 DC Council

Endorsements for Peter Bolton (Statehood Green Party nominee)
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of four candidates in the Ward 2 race to receive designation)
Endorsements for Randy Downs (independent)
- Washington Teachers’ Union
- LGBTQ Victory Fund
- Greater Greater Washington
- Persist DC: “His experience as an active & effective ANC and environmental steward proves that he is the best advocate for the environment, vulnerable communities and small businesses in DC.”
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of four candidates in the Ward 2 race to receive designation)
- Elected officials: Jack Jacobson, Ward 2 DC SBOE representative
- Other candidates: Mysiki Valentine, who is running for the at-large DC SBOE seat; Patrick Kennedy, who ran for the Ward 2 seat in the Democratic primary, finishing second to Brooke Pinto
Endorsements for Martín Miguel Fernández (independent)
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of four candidates in the Ward 2 race to receive designation)
Endorsements for Brooke Pinto (Democratic Party nominee)
- The Washington Post editorial board: “We reaffirm our endorsement in the Democratic primary of Ms. Pinto and have been impressed with how she has met the challenge of taking office during complicated budget deliberations.”
- The Georgetowner
- DC Association of Realtors
- Sierra Club, Washington DC chapter
- DC Women in Politics
- Serve America PAC
- IBEW Local 26
- DC Voters for Animals
- Baltimore-DC Building Trades Council
- Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association
- Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, Maryland & NoVa
- Teamsters Local 639
- Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
- LiUNA! Local 11
- Small Multifamily Owners Association
- DC Tenants’ Advocacy Coalition (TENAC)
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (one of four candidates in the Ward 2 race to receive designation)
- Elected officials: Phil Mendelson, DC Council chairman; Karl Racine, DC attorney general; Michael D. Brown, DC shadow senator; U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass.; Tom Daschle, former U.S. Senate majority leader, D-S.D.
- Other candidates: John Fanning, who ran for the Ward 2 seat in the Democratic primary

At-large DC State Board of Education

Endorsements for Dorothy Douglas
- DC Women in Politics
Endorsements for Jacque Patterson
- The Washington Post editorial board
- AFGE Local 1975
- Elected officials: Robert White, at-large DC Council member; Vincent Gray, Ward 7 DC Council member; Trayon White, Ward 8 DC Council member; Jack Jacobson, Ward 2 DC SBOE representative; Jessica Sutter, Ward 6 DC SBOE representative
- Other candidates: LaJoy Johnson Law, who is running for the Ward 8 DC SBOE seat
Endorsements for Mysiki Valentine
- Washington Teachers’ Union
- Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO
- Nonprofit Professional Employees Union
- Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America
- Our Revolution DC
- Elected officials: Elissa Silverman, at-large DC Council member; Markus Batchelor, Ward 8 SBOE representative (also a DC Council candidate); Emily Gasoi, Ward 1 SBOE representative; Joe Weedon, former Ward 6 SBOE representative
- Other candidates: Ed Lazere, who is running for an at-large DC Council seat; Janeese Lewis George, the Democratic nominee for the Ward 4 DC Council seat
Candidates without known major endorsements: Christopher W. Martin; Troy Murphy; Ravi K. Perry

Ward 2 DC State Board of Education

Endorsements for Allister Chang
- The Washington Post editorial board
- LGBTQ Victory Fund
- Elected officials: Jack Jacobson, current Ward 2 SBOE representative
Endorsements for James Harnett
- Washington Teachers’ Union
- Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO
Endorsements for Sarah Mehrotra
Candidates without known major endorsements: Christopher Etesse

Ward 4 DC State Board of Education

Endorsements for Frazier O’Leary
- Washington Teachers’ Union
- Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO

Ward 7 DC State Board of Education

Endorsements for Eboni-Rose Thompson
Endorsements for Karen Williams
- The Washington Post editorial board
- Elected officials: Jack Jacobson, Ward 2 DC State Board of Education representative
Candidates without known major endorsements: Charles Boston; Dontrell Smith

Ward 8 DC State Board of Education

Endorsements for LaJoy Johnson-Law
- The Washington Post editorial board
- AFGE Local 1975
- Elected officials: Jack Jacobson, Ward 2 DC SBOE representative; Jessica Sutter, Ward 6 DC SBOE representative; Tierra Jolly, former Ward 8 DC SBOE representative
- Other candidates: Jacque Patterson, who is running for the at-large DC SBOE seat
Endorsements for Carlene Reid
Candidates without known major endorsements: Ryan Washington

This post has been updated with additional endorsements, including several more candidates having received Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction.