The 2010 Council of the District of Columbia election was held on November 2, 2010, with primaries held on September 14. 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 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
At-large PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirstelectedStatusChairpersonVincent Gray 2006Incumbent declined to run.New member elected.Democratic hold. Kwame Brown 87.8% Ann C. Wilcox 10.2%At-largePhil Mendelson 1998Incumbent re-elected. Phil Mendelson 56.4% David Catania 30.6% David Schwartzman 6.8% Richard Urban 5.2%%David Catania1997 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
Wards PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirst electedStatusWard 1Jim Graham 1998 Incumbent re-elected Jim Graham 81.3% Nancy Shia 9.4% Marc Morgan 7.7%Ward 3Mary Cheh 2006 Incumbent re-elected Mary Cheh 65.0% Dave Hedgepeth 34.0%Ward 5Harry Thomas Jr. 2006 Incumbent re-elected Harry Thomas Jr. 83.9% Kathy Henderson 9.1% Tim Day 5.9%Ward 6Tommy Wells 2006 Incumbent re-elected Tommy Wells 85.2% Jim DeMartino 14.0%
Chairperson
Incumbent Chairperson Vincent Gray declined to run again in order to run for Mayor of the District of Columbia. Incumbent Democratic At-large Councilmember Kwame Brown was elected for his first term as chairman of the Council after defeating two challengers in the general election and one in the primary.
Democratic primary Candidates Kwame Brown, incumbent Democratic At-large Councilmember Dorothy Douglas Vincent Orange, former Ward 5 Councilmember
Endorsements
Statehood Green primary Candidates Ann C. Wilcox
General election
At-large
Both incumbents, Democrat Phil Mendelson and Independent David Catania, won re-election to their fourth full terms.
Democratic primary Candidates Michael D. Brown, incumbent DC Shadow Senator Phil Mendelson, incumbent Democratic At-large Councilmember (since 1999) Clark Ray
Endorsements
Statehood Green primary Candidates Darryl L. C. Moch David Schwartzman
Independents Candidates David Catania, incumbent Independent At-large Councilmember (since 1998) Richard Urban
General Election
Ward 1
Incumbent councilmember Jim Graham was re-elected to a fourth full term.
Democratic primary Candidates Jim Graham, incumbent Ward 1 Councilmember Jeff Smith Bryan Weaver
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates Marc Morgan
Statehood Green primary No candidates filed for the primary, with Nancy Shia winning the nomination through write-in votes.
General Election
Ward 3
Incumbent councilmember Mary Cheh won re-election to a third term, defeating Republican nominee Dave Hedgepeth.
Democratic primary Candidates Mary Cheh, incumbent Ward 3 Councilmember (since 2003)
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates Dave Hedgepeth, litigation lawyer
General Election
Ward 5
Incumbent councilmember Vincent Orange declined to run for a second term to run for Mayor. The seat was won by Harry Thomas Jr., son of former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Sr..
Democratic primary Candidates Delano Hunter Kenyan McDuffie Harry Thomas Jr., son of former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Sr. Tracey D. Turner
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates Tim Day
Independents Candidates Kathy Henderson
General Election
Ward 6
Incumbent councilmember Tommy Wells won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican nominee Jim DeMartino.
Democratic primary Candidates Kelvin Robinson, former chief of staff to Mayor Anthony Williams Tommy Wells, incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember (since 2007)
Endorsements
Debates + Debates and forums for Ward 6 Democratic primary candidates Date Place Host Participants Participant. Invitee. Absent. Confirmed non-invitee. Out of race (exploring, suspended, or not yet entered) 1 September 2010Christ Our Shepherd ChurchWard 6 Democrats
Republican primary Candidates Jim DeMartino, military consultant for the United States Navy
General Election
Notes
References