The Gist
Home

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.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

Public safety

  • Manuel RiveraRepublican

    • Pledges to focus on juvenile crime, homelessness, addiction, domestic violence.

  • Brian L. SchwalbDemocratic

    • Pledges work to keep illegal guns out of D.C.

Housing

  • Manuel RiveraRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Brian L. SchwalbDemocratic

    • Filed antitrust suit accusing RealPage and landlords of rent collusion.In office

Economy & jobs

Environment & parks

  • Manuel RiveraRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Brian L. SchwalbDemocratic

    • Secured $57 million Pepco settlement over Anacostia River pollution.In office

Government & transparency

  • Manuel RiveraRepublican

    • Proposes referring major lawsuits to private law firms.
    • Opposes filing lawsuits that settle for pennies on the dollar.
    • Supports a better working relationship with the federal government.
    • Supports more party competition in D.C. elections.

  • Brian L. SchwalbDemocratic

    • Opposed the federal attempt to take over D.C.'s police force.
    • Filed lawsuits against federal orders, including the National Guard deployment.

Courts & justice

  • Manuel RiveraRepublican

    • Supports tracking whether lawsuit settlement money reaches victims.

  • Brian L. SchwalbDemocratic

    • Pledges continued prosecution of juvenile crime alongside prevention.

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.