The Gist
At-Large Member of the Council
Photo of Oye Owolewa
Oye OwolewaCampaign photo — Team Oye

Oye Owolewa

Candidate for At-Large Member of the Council

Democratic

Background

Occupation
Pharmacist; D.C. shadow U.S. Representative
Campaign website
vote4oye.com

Pharmacist and the District's elected (shadow) U.S. Representative, a post he has won three times; a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 8. He won the June 2026 Democratic at-large primary to succeed Councilmember Anita Bonds, who did not seek reelection.

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Photo: Campaign photo — Team Oye

Documented positions

Public safety

  • Supports removing police officers from DC public schools.

    Fight for the DC You Deserve (issues)

    Campaign website · Team Oye · vote4oye.com

    “Oye will remove police from DCPS schools and invest instead in counselors, nurses, and social workers who support the whole child.”
    Report

Education

  • Proposes making the University of the District of Columbia tuition-free.

    Fight for the DC You Deserve (issues)

    Campaign website · Team Oye · vote4oye.com

    “He will also work to make UDC tuition-free so every DC resident has a real path forward without debt.”
    Report

Housing

  • Supports capping yearly rent increases at inflation.

    He would also expand rent control to newer buildings and fund proactive housing inspections.

    Fight for the DC You Deserve (issues)

    Campaign website · Team Oye · vote4oye.com

    “strengthen rent stabilization by reducing the maximum annual increase to the Consumer Price Index, expanding rent control to newer buildings”
    Report

  • Supports steering Housing Production Trust Fund money to preservation.

    He also pledges to restore the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and defend the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.

    Fight for the DC You Deserve (issues)

    Campaign website · Team Oye · vote4oye.com

    “Oye supports dedicating a significant share of the Housing Production Trust Fund to preservation, including TOPA transactions, nonprofit acquisitions”
    Report

Health & human services

  • Pledges to restore and permanently fund DC Medicaid and Alliance.

    His site also says he supports moving the District toward a single-payer Medicare for All system.

    Fight for the DC You Deserve (issues)

    Campaign website · Team Oye · vote4oye.com

    “Oye will fight to fully restore and permanently fund DC Medicaid and the DC Healthcare Alliance so coverage cannot be stripped away again.”
    Report

  • Pledges to fund Safe at Home and end its waitlist.

    AARP DC questionnaire answer on helping older adults stay safely in their homes.

    2026 At-Large Councilmember Candidates (general election questionnaire)

    Candidate questionnaire · AARP District of Columbia · Aug 4, 2026 · aarp.org

    “As Councilmember I will increase Safe at Home funding to meet actual demand, eliminate the waitlist, expand home modification support”
    Report

Government & transparency

  • Pledges to end District agencies' cooperation with ICE.

    He also told 7News he would push back on the federal government's use of MPD time and overtime for federal priorities.

    Fight for the DC You Deserve (issues)

    Campaign website · Team Oye · vote4oye.com

    “Oye will enforce the Sanctuary Values Act, end cooperation between District agencies and ICE, and hold agencies accountable when they violate the law.”
    Report

Courts & justice

  • Opposes expanding pretrial detention or lengthening sentences.

    Fight for the DC You Deserve (issues)

    Campaign website · Team Oye · vote4oye.com

    “Oye will oppose expansions of pretrial detention, reject efforts to create new crimes or longer sentences that do not improve safety.”
    Report

Other issues in this race

Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Oye Owolewa on them.

  • Taxes & budgetNo documented position found.
  • Economy & jobsNo documented position found.
  • Roads & infrastructureNo documented position found.
  • Environment & parksNo documented position found.

All sources (8)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.

Oye Owolewa for At-Large Member of the Council, District of Columbia · The Gist