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2025 Ward 8 Special Election Voter Guide
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How to Vote by July 15th
Vote by mail:​
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Mail or drop off your ballot at a polling place or dropbox no later than election day. Click here to find a location!
Vote in person:​
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Vote Early from July 7th to July 13th. Click here to find an early voting center!
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Vote at your local precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, July 15th.

Ward 8
Opportunity DC is committed to ensuring that Ward 8 residents have strong representation on the DC Council. We sent each candidate our questionnaire to learn where they stand on critical issues facing the District and Ward 8. Their answers are posted below.
Notably, we did not invite former Councilmember Trayon White to participate in our endorsement process. When there is credible evidence that an officeholder or candidate has broken the public trust or used their office for financial gain, as there is in former Councilmember Trayon White’s case, Opportunity DC will not endorse them. Elected officials must uphold the highest ethical standards to effectively serve their constituents.
We believe this special election presents an opportunity for Ward 8 to elect new leadership focused on moving the community and the District forward. We encourage the next Ward 8 Councilmember to use their seat at the table to advocate for smart economic development, more effective government, and comprehensive public safety policies that include sufficient resources for law enforcement and root-cause solutions.
Who's Running?
Name | Endorsement | Occupation | Questionaire |
|---|---|---|---|
Mike Austin (Dem) | Associate General Counsel at United Medical Center | Click for questionnaire! | |
Salim Adofo (Dem) | Community Outreach Coordinator | Click for questionnaire! | |
Sheila Bunn (Dem)
| Chief of Staff to Vincent C. Gray, Ward 7 Council Member | Click for questionnaire! | |
Doc Adams (Rep) | No submission | No questionnaire submitted | |
Trayon White (Dem) | Former Ward 8 Council Member | No questionnaire submitted | |
Khadijah Clark (Dem) | Ward 8 social worker | No questionnaire submitted |
Why We Like Mike
A fourth-generation Washingtonian, Austin has a deep connection to the community he seeks to represent in the Wilson Building; he grew up in Ward 8's Bellevue neighborhood and now lives in Congress Heights. He has a track record of service in the ward, previously serving as a three-term ANC commissioner. As ANC 8C chair, Austin supported the development of the St. Elizabeths campus, provided grants to Ward 8 nonprofits focused on mental health and wellness, and negotiated the largest community benefits agreement in Ward history.
Mike Austin has the right business and government experience, a results-oriented legislative approach, and a clear vision for an equitably prosperous DC that sets him apart as the leader most capable of charting a new direction for Ward 8 and ensuring it receives its fair share of investment.
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