At-large D.C. Council member Robert White Jr. won the Democratic primary on June 16, 2026, for Eleanor Holmes Norton's congressional seat, marking the potential for a new representative for the district since 1991. Norton, 88, announced she would not seek another term after serving 18 terms in Congress. The Democratic nominee is expected to advance to the November general election in a heavily Democratic Washington, D.C., where they are favored against Republican and third-party challengers.
The D.C. delegate can introduce legislation and serve on committees but does not have a final vote on the House floor. The race occurs amid ongoing discussions regarding D.C. statehood and federal control of the capital. White, who has been on the D.C. Council since 2016 and previously worked for Norton, emphasized the need for a more assertive advocate in Congress.
Norton has been a prominent political figure since her election in 1990, and her retirement opens the first competitive race for the seat in decades. White is set to face Republican Denise Rosado, who is running unopposed for the GOP nomination, and third-party candidate Kymone Freeman in the general election.