District of Columbia

Attorney General

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The Attorney General is the District's chief lawyer: represents the District in court, enforces consumer protection and other civil laws, and prosecutes juvenile and some adult misdemeanor cases.

Candidates Compare by issue

Manuel Rivera

Republican

Attorney

The gist

Pledges to focus on juvenile crime, homelessness, addiction, domestic violence.
Proposes referring major lawsuits to private law firms.
Opposes filing lawsuits that settle for pennies on the dollar.
Supports tracking whether lawsuit settlement money reaches victims.
Supports a better working relationship with the federal government.
Pledges to save taxpayers money.
Supports more party competition in D.C. elections.

More about Manuel

View sources (2)

Pledges to focus on juvenile crime, homelessness, addiction, domestic violence.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“juvenile crime, homelessness, drug addiction, family domestic violence in the city. Those are my top priorities in the city”
Proposes referring major lawsuits to private law firms.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“I think we can use private law firms to do those types of lawsuits”
Opposes filing lawsuits that settle for pennies on the dollar.
What's the Point of Running as a Republican in D.C.?
News coverage · The Washington Sun (Martin Austermuhle) · Sep 11, 2026 · washingtonsun.com
“filing a lot of flashy lawsuits and some of them are settling for pennies on the dollar”
Supports tracking whether lawsuit settlement money reaches victims.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“Under the current regime, there's no accountability to show that the victims are receiving those benefits.”
Supports a better working relationship with the federal government.
What's the Point of Running as a Republican in D.C.?
News coverage · The Washington Sun (Martin Austermuhle) · Sep 11, 2026 · washingtonsun.com
“We should have a better relationship with the federal government and White House”
Pledges to save taxpayers money.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“I'm going to keep this city safe, I'm going to save them taxes”
Supports more party competition in D.C. elections.
What's the Point of Running as a Republican in D.C.?
News coverage · The Washington Sun (Martin Austermuhle) · Sep 11, 2026 · washingtonsun.com
“I believe democracy works best when voters have a real choice. Somebody must be willing to challenge that status quo.”

Brian L. Schwalb

DemocraticIncumbent

Attorney General of the District of Columbia

The gist

Pledges continued prosecution of juvenile crime alongside prevention.
Pledges work to keep illegal guns out of D.C.
Opposed the federal attempt to take over D.C.'s police force.
Filed lawsuits against federal orders, including the National Guard deployment.
Pledges to protect workers, seniors and tenants from exploitation.
Filed antitrust suit accusing RealPage and landlords of rent collusion.In office
Secured $57 million Pepco settlement over Anacostia River pollution.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Brian

View sources (4)

Pledges continued prosecution of juvenile crime alongside prevention.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“Kids must face consequences when they break the law, and my office will continue doing its job by prosecuting juvenile crime”
Pledges work to keep illegal guns out of D.C.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“work to keep illegal guns out of the District, hold dangerous drivers and environmental polluters accountable”
Opposed the federal attempt to take over D.C.'s police force.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“As Attorney General, I successfully blocked the Administration's attempt to take over our police force”
Filed lawsuits against federal orders, including the National Guard deployment.
Meet Brian
Campaign website · Brian for DC 2026 · brianfordc.com
“Filed 50+ lawsuits and amicus briefs opposing unlawful federal orders, including deployment of National Guard in DC”
Pledges to protect workers, seniors and tenants from exploitation.
Meet the candidates running for D.C. Attorney General
Candidate questionnaire · 7News (WJLA) · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“where we protect DC residents, workers, seniors and tenants from abuse and exploitation”
Filed antitrust suit accusing RealPage and landlords of rent collusion.
Attorney General Schwalb Sues RealPage and 14 of DC's Largest Landlords for Illegally Colluding to Raise Rents
Government record · Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia · Nov 1, 2023 · oag.dc.gov
“announced a lawsuit against RealPage, Inc. (RealPage) and 14 of the largest residential landlords in the District for colluding to illegally raise rents”
Secured $57 million Pepco settlement over Anacostia River pollution.
Attorney General Schwalb Secures $57 Million from Pepco for Polluting the Anacostia River
Government record · Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia · Oct 3, 2023 · oag.dc.gov
“will pay over $57 million to resolve allegations that it discharged toxic chemicals into the District's land and waterways for decades”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.