The 2012 Council of the District of Columbia election was held on November 6, 2012, with primaries held on April 3. Elections were held in four of the eight wards, two at-large seats (one open to any party and one open to non-majority parties) as well as a special election for the Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia. Prior to the election, 11 seats were held by Democrats and 2 seats were held by Independents. The general election saw no party flip any seats, thereby meaning that Democrats retained their majority on the council.

Background The council is composed of thirteen members, each elected by district residents to a four-year term. One member is elected from each of the district's eight wards. Four at-large members represent the district as a whole. The chairman of the council is likewise elected at an at-large basis. The terms of the at-large members are staggered so that two are elected every two years, and each D.C. resident may vote for two different at-large candidates in each general election.

According to the Home Rule Act, of the chair and the at-large members, a maximum of three may be affiliated with the majority political party. In the council's electoral history, of the elected members who were not affiliated with the majority party, most were elected as at-large members. In 2008 and 2012, Democrats such as David Grosso, Elissa Silverman, and Michael A. Brown changed their party affiliation to Independent when running for council.

To become a candidate for council an individual must be resident of the District of Columbia for at least one year prior to the general election, a registered voter, and hold no other public office for which compensation beyond expenses is received. Candidates running for a ward position must be a resident of that ward.

Summary Democrats remained the largest party on the council. At-large councilmember Phil Mendelson was appointed by the rest of the council to serve as interim chairman following the resignation of incumbent chairman Kwame R. Brown due to a federal indictment. All ward-level councilmembers won re-election, facing little opposition in the general election.

At-large PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirstelectedStatusAt-largeVincent Orange 2011 (special)Incumbent re-elected. Vincent Orange 38.4% David Grosso 20.2% Michael A. Brown 15.0% Mary Brooks Beatty 7.2% A. J. Cooper 6.5% Leon J. Swain Jr. 6.4% Ann C. Wilcox 5.9%Michael A. Brown2008Incumbent lost re-election.New member elected.

Wards PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirst electedStatusWard 2Jack Evans 1991 (special) Incumbent re-elected Jack Evans 96.9%Ward 4Muriel Bowser 2006 Incumbent re-elected Muriel Bowser 97.3%Ward 7Yvette Alexander 2007 (special) Incumbent re-elected Yvette Alexander 87.0% Ron Moten 12.2%Ward 8Marion Barry 2004 (special) Incumbent re-elected Marion Barry 88.0% Jauhar Abraham 11.6%

Chairperson Interim Chairperson Phil Mendelson won the special election for chairperson, facing only one opponent.

Candidates Calvin H. Gurley (Democrat) Phil Mendelson (Democrat), interim chairperson from Eastern Market

Endorsements

General election

At-large

Incumbent Democrat Vincent Orange won re-election to his first full term after his victory in the 2011 special election. Independent incumbent Michael A. Brown lost his seat to David Grosso following a string of corruption scandals.

Democratic primary Candidates Sekou Biddle, former At-large councilmember E. Gail Anderson Holness, ANC member Vincent Orange, incumbent At-large Councilmember Peter Shapiro, former Prince George's County Council member

Endorsements

Debates + Debates and forums for At-large Democratic primary candidates Date Place Host Participants Participant. Invitee. Absent. Confirmed non-invitee. Out of race (exploring, suspended, or not yet entered) 23 February 2012St. Columba’s Episcopal ChurchWard 3 Democrats

Republican primary Candidates Mary Brooks Beatty

Statehood Green primary Candidates G. Lee Aikin Ann C. Wilcox

Endorsements

Independents Candidates Michael A. Brown A. J. Cooper David Grosso Leon J. Swain Jr.

Endorsements

General Election

Ward 2

Incumbent councilmember Jack Evans cruised to victory, facing no opponents in either the primary or general election.

Democratic primary Candidates Jack Evans, incumbent Ward 2 Councilmember

Endorsements

General Election

Ward 4

Incumbent councilmember Muriel Bowser easily defeated a crowded primary field before winning an uncontested general election.

Democratic primary Candidates Muriel Bowser, incumbent Ward 4 Councilmember Renee L. Bowser Calvin H. Gurley, perennial candidate Baruti Jahi Judi Jones Max Skolnik

Endorsements

General Election

Ward 7

Incumbent councilmember Yvette Alexander won a contested primary before beating local community activist Ron Moten in the general election

Democratic primary Candidates Yvette Alexander, incumbent Ward 7 Councilmember William Bennett II, minister from Deanwood Tom Brown, education executive and former teacher Kevin B. Chavous, lawyer and son of former councilmember Kevin P. Chavous Dorothy Douglas, activist and member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education Monica L. Johnson

Endorsements

Republican primary Candidates Don Folden Sr. Ron Moten, community political activist

Endorsements

General Election Debates + Debates and forums for Ward 7 candidates Date Place Host Participants Participant. Invitee. Absent. Confirmed non-invitee. Out of race (exploring, suspended, or not yet entered) 16 February 2012Langston Golf CourseLangston Community Association

Ward 8

Incumbent councilmember Marion Barry easily won a contested primary en route to his final term on the council before his death in office in 2015.

Democratic primary Candidates Marion Barry, incumbent Ward 8 Councilmember Darrell Gaston Jacque D. Patterson Sandra Seegars Natalie Williams

Endorsements

Independents Candidates Jauhar Abraham

General Election

References