District of Columbia

Ward 1 Member of the Council

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

What this office does: The Ward 1 member of the Council of the District of Columbia represents the ward, voting on the District's laws and budget.

Ranked-choice voting (Initiative 83): voters may rank up to 5 choices.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jett James Jasper

Republican

Former nonprofit and business executive · Adams Morgan

The gist

Pledges to fill 800 MPD vacancies with hiring bonuses.
Supports data-driven police deployment to high-crime areas.
Proposes after-school and vocational programs to prevent youth crime.
Supports streamlined zoning and permitting to increase housing supply.
Proposes special economic zones with business tax exemptions.
Supports simpler licensing, inspections and faster business permits.
Supports working with Congress and the administration on DC's budget.
Supports safer intersections and more reliable bus service.

More about Jett

View sources (3)

Pledges to fill 800 MPD vacancies with hiring bonuses.
Jett Jasper: On the Issues
Campaign website · Jett Jasper for our nations capital · jettjasperfordcward1.com
“Immediately fill the 800 MPD officer vacancies, by increasing sign on bonuses and new hire compensation packages”
Supports data-driven police deployment to high-crime areas.
Jett Jasper: On the Issues
Campaign website · Jett Jasper for our nations capital · jettjasperfordcward1.com
“Use data-driven deployment so police resources go where crime is highest”
Proposes after-school and vocational programs to prevent youth crime.
Jett Jasper: On the Issues
Campaign website · Jett Jasper for our nations capital · jettjasperfordcward1.com
“Strengthen youth crime prevention by creating after school or vocational programs and monthly trade school summits”
Supports streamlined zoning and permitting to increase housing supply.
Jett Jasper: On the Issues
Campaign website · Jett Jasper for our nations capital · jettjasperfordcward1.com
“Streamline zoning and permitting processes … Encourage conversion of underused properties into housing”
Meet the candidates running for the Ward 1 DC Council seat
Interview · WJLA 7News · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“The biggest thing we can do is simple economics: supply vs. demand.”
Proposes special economic zones with business tax exemptions.
Jett Jasper for DC Ward 1
Campaign website · Jett Jasper for our nations capital · jettjasperfordcward1.com
“establishing fresh and more enticing special economic zones that offers business tax exemptions and credits”
Supports simpler licensing, inspections and faster business permits.
Jett Jasper: On the Issues
Campaign website · Jett Jasper for our nations capital · jettjasperfordcward1.com
“Simplify licensing and inspections … Speed up permits and approvals”
Supports working with Congress and the administration on DC's budget.
Meet the candidates running for the Ward 1 DC Council seat
Interview · WJLA 7News · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“We need to work with not only the House Oversight Committee, but also the administration to get more money to us, get our budget passed.”
Supports safer intersections and more reliable bus service.
Jett Jasper: On the Issues
Campaign website · Jett Jasper for our nations capital · jettjasperfordcward1.com
“Push for safer intersections and pedestrian protections … Advocate for reliable bus and transit service”

Ryan Prince

Independent

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Ryan

Jude Crannitch

DC Statehood Green

Performing artist and arts instructor

The gist

Supports DC statehood and funding the statehood delegation.
Supports legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Proposes more social services for vulnerable residents, working with ANCs.
Proposes intergenerational community activities to address causes of crime.
Supports alternatives to incarceration shaped by youth input.
Proposes jobs, training and therapy for returning residents.
Pledges to address racial disparities and environmental toxins.

More about Jude

View sources (1)

Supports DC statehood and funding the statehood delegation.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Self determinstion and autonomy through DC Statehood … Yes. Provide funding for the Statehoid delegation.”
Supports legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Promote legislation recognizing housing as a human right.”
Proposes more social services for vulnerable residents, working with ANCs.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Provide more social service resources and oversight and collaborate with ANCs and Community village resources”
Proposes intergenerational community activities to address causes of crime.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Strengthen communities through intercultural intergenerational activities that break down prevalent alienation, aggression and depression.”
Supports alternatives to incarceration shaped by youth input.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Provide alternative programs, activites to incarceration. … Listen to the youth and include strategies and remedies which they contribute to”
Proposes jobs, training and therapy for returning residents.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Provide them with jobs, training and therapy”
Pledges to address racial disparities and environmental toxins.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“the eradication of the multiple levels of racial disparities that along with envitonmental toxins plague the district”

Aparna Raj

Democratic

Community organizer · Columbia Heights

The gist

Proposes rent stabilization for all multifamily-building renters.
Supports legalizing apartments citywide and upzoning transit corridors.
Proposes free universal childcare funded by business activity tax.
Supports raising minimum wage and ending tipped subminimum wage.
Proposes ending MPD collaboration with ICE.
Supports expanding violence interrupters and fixing 911 delays.
Supports DC statehood and defending Home Rule.
Supports public ownership of DC's energy utilities.

More about Aparna

View sources (3)

Proposes rent stabilization for all multifamily-building renters.
Meet the candidates running for the Ward 1 DC Council seat
Interview · WJLA 7News · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“I want to expand rent stabilization to all multi-family buildings across the District.”
Aparna for DC: Platform
Campaign website · Aparna for DC · aparnafordc.com
“Aparna will push for rent stabilization for all renters in multifamily buildings when the DC Council reauthorizes rent stabilization in 2030”
Supports legalizing apartments citywide and upzoning transit corridors.
Aparna for DC: Platform
Campaign website · Aparna for DC · aparnafordc.com
“Aparna will fight to make it legal to build apartments everywhere in DC … specifically work to upzone transit corridors such as Georgia Ave and 14th St”
Proposes free universal childcare funded by business activity tax.
Meet the candidates running for the Ward 1 DC Council seat
Interview · WJLA 7News · Jun 12, 2026 · wjla.com
“I'm also pushing for free childcare for every family in D.C. funded through the business activity tax”
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“guarantee free universal childcare and protect the Pay Equity Fund”
Supports raising minimum wage and ending tipped subminimum wage.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“raise the minimum wage, and end the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers”
Proposes ending MPD collaboration with ICE.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“establish an immigration public defender program, and end MPD collaboration with ICE so all residents can live safely and without fear”
Supports expanding violence interrupters and fixing 911 delays.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will expand violence interrupter programs in neighborhood hot spots”
Aparna for DC: Platform
Campaign website · Aparna for DC · aparnafordc.com
“She'll fight to raise dispatcher salaries and to invest in up-to-date technology that can strengthen responsiveness and reliability.”
Supports DC statehood and defending Home Rule.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: DC Ward 1 Member of the Council (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Yes, I firmly believe DC should be a state. … fighting for Statehood and defending Home Rule will be top priorities”
Supports public ownership of DC's energy utilities.
Aparna for DC: Platform
Campaign website · Aparna for DC · aparnafordc.com
“Aparna believes that DC should transition to public ownership of its utilities. … Aparna will fight to reduce Pepco's margin to a more reasonable rate, such as 6%.”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.