District of Columbia

Chairman of the Council

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

What this office does: The Chairman presides over the 13-member Council of the District of Columbia, which writes the District's laws and approves its budget, and is elected by all District voters.

Declared write-in candidate: John Cheeks (Independent).

Candidates Compare by issue

Abi-Ananiah Prudent

Republican

Senior coordinator, Concerned Women for America · Navy Yard

The gist

Supports targeting repeat violent offenders with proven strategies.
Proposes expanding youth prevention and intervention programs.
Supports transparent budgeting and performance standards for agencies.
Supports retaining strong school leaders and improving literacy and math.
Supports funding reliable transit and maintaining roads and bridges.
Pledges to strengthen the District's safety-net services.
Supports including local small businesses in city events.

More about Abi-Ananiah

View sources (1)

Supports targeting repeat violent offenders with proven strategies.
Priorities
Campaign website · Abi-Ananiah Prudent for DC 2026 · prudentforchair.com
“Abi Prudent will prioritize funding for proven violent crime reduction strategies and support targeted approaches that focus on repeat violent offenders. … Abi also supports transparent and accurate crime reporting”
Proposes expanding youth prevention and intervention programs.
Priorities
Campaign website · Abi-Ananiah Prudent for DC 2026 · prudentforchair.com
“She will expand youth prevention and intervention programs, strengthen Council oversight of public safety agencies”
Supports transparent budgeting and performance standards for agencies.
Priorities
Campaign website · Abi-Ananiah Prudent for DC 2026 · prudentforchair.com
“She supports transparent budgeting, clear performance standards, and consistent tracking of agency outcomes”
Supports retaining strong school leaders and improving literacy and math.
Priorities
Campaign website · Abi-Ananiah Prudent for DC 2026 · prudentforchair.com
“Abi is also focused on retaining strong school administrators and improving literacy and math outcomes”
Supports funding reliable transit and maintaining roads and bridges.
Priorities
Campaign website · Abi-Ananiah Prudent for DC 2026 · prudentforchair.com
“Abi Prudent supports funding reliable transit service that residents can count on every day. … prioritize maintaining roads, bridges, and public infrastructure”
Pledges to strengthen the District's safety-net services.
Priorities
Campaign website · Abi-Ananiah Prudent for DC 2026 · prudentforchair.com
“Prudent will work to strengthen safety-net services across the District so families have the support they need.”
Supports including local small businesses in city events.
Priorities
Campaign website · Abi-Ananiah Prudent for DC 2026 · prudentforchair.com
“She supports policies that include local small businesses in city events and initiatives”

Phil Mendelson

DemocraticIncumbent

Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia · Southeast DC

The gist

Pledges to fight to preserve DC home rule.
Supports delivering services without raising residents' tax burdens.
Supports maintaining existing programs before adding new spending.In office
Opposed Congress's 2025 cap on DC's locally funded spending.In office
Led Council revisions to the Commanders' RFK stadium deal.In office
Authored the District's gun control laws after the Heller ruling.In office
Authored the District's Universal Paid Leave law.In office

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

More about Phil

View sources (6)

Pledges to fight to preserve DC home rule.
Phil Mendelson for Chairman (campaign website)
Campaign website · Mendelson for Chairman 2026 · mendelson2026.com
“You have my promise that I will fight to keep DC's local democracy every day, until Donald Trump is gone.”
Supports delivering services without raising residents' tax burdens.
Meet Phil
Campaign website · Mendelson for Chairman 2026 · mendelson2026.com
“He also believes that government can accomplish this without increasing the tax burdens shouldered by our residents.”
Supports maintaining existing programs before adding new spending.
Chairman Mendelson Remarks at Council Swearing-In Ceremony
Public statement · Office of Council Chairman Phil Mendelson · Jan 2, 2025 · chairmanmendelson.com
“we can't keep adding new things to pay for, when we aren't taking care of everything we already have”
Opposed Congress's 2025 cap on DC's locally funded spending.
Mendelson Statement on Continuing Resolution's Effect on the District
Public statement · Office of Council Chairman Phil Mendelson · Mar 14, 2025 · chairmanmendelson.com
“District spending comes from locally-generated revenues, not federal dollars. So Congress is not saving federal dollars.”
Led Council revisions to the Commanders' RFK stadium deal.
Chairman Mendelson Announces Vote on RFK Stadium Legislation
Public statement · Office of Council Chairman Phil Mendelson · Jul 24, 2025 · chairmanmendelson.com
“we feel we have a much-improved agreement that would bring the team back to their historical home”
Authored the District's gun control laws after the Heller ruling.
Chairman Phil Mendelson
Government record · Council of the District of Columbia · dccouncil.gov
“authoring Budget Autonomy, the District's gun control laws”
Authored the District's Universal Paid Leave law.
Chairman Phil Mendelson
Government record · Council of the District of Columbia · dccouncil.gov
“marriage equality, Universal Paid Leave, and the District's tree canopy protection law”

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.