2013 Council of the District of Columbia special election

District of Columbia no 2012_Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia_election#At-large_2 2012 2014_Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia_election#At-large_district 2014 April 23, 2013 Anita-Bonds-Official-Portrait-Shot-002 (cropped).jpg Anita Bonds District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 18,027 31.7% Elissa Silverman, District 14 Legislative Breakfast (cropped).jpg District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Elissa Silverman 15,228 26.8% Marahs.jpg District of Columbia Republican Party Patrick Mara 13,698 24.1% Councilmember Anita Bonds(interim) Democratic Anita Bonds Democratic Member of the Council of the District of Columbia Matthew Frumin.jpg District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Matthew Frumin 3x4.svg Paul Zukerberg District of Columbia Democratic State Committee Michael A Brown at DC Candidates Forum 13 Mar 13 (cropped).jpg Michael A. Brown District of Columbia Democratic State Committee 11.1% 6,307 2.1% 1,195 1.9% 1,100 The 2013 Council of the District of Columbia special election was held on April 23, 2013 to elect one at-large member to the Council of the District of Columbia. Interim councilmember Anita Bonds was appointed to the position by the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee following the resignation of Phil Mendelson who became chairman of the Council in the 2012 elections.2012-12-12 Anita Bonds Becomes Interim D.C. Councilmember - CBS Baltimore https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/anita-bonds-becomes-interim-dc-councilmember/ 2026-06-09 www.cbsnews.com en-US Multiple candidates challenged Bonds in the open, all-party special election. The race essentially boiled down to the moderate Bonds, the interim councilmember, the progressive ex-journalist and budget wonk, Elissa Silverman, and the moderate Republican member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education, Patrick Mara. Silverman, who had previously courted the endorsement of Matt Frumin fearing Democratic candidates would split the vote and therefore grant Mara a path to victory, represented the city's influxn of younger, newer, and more progressive voters.McCartney Robert 2013-05-01 Elissa Silverman’s strength in D.C. Council race shows new residents’ political muscle https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/elissa-silvermans-strength-in-dc-council-race-shows-new-residents-political-muscle/2013/05/01/e25aafc2-b296-11e2-baf7-5bc2a9dc6f44_story.html 2026-06-11 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 Bonds eventually placed first, winning Wards 4, 5, 6, and 7, the city council districts with electorates dominated by Black voters.Craig Tim DeBonis Mike 2013-04-24 Anita Bonds holds on to D.C. Council seat https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-election-officials-report-low-turnout-in-council-at-large-race/2013/04/23/49276024-ac3e-11e2-a8b9-2a63d75b5459_story.html 2026-06-11 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 Silverman placed second, winning a substantial share of votes in the rapidly-gentrifying Ward 1 and edging out Mara in her home Ward 6. Mara placed third though put up a respectable showing for a Republican in one of the nation's most liberal cities; he won Wards 2 and 3.DCBOE Election Results https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_statistics/2013-Special-Election 2026-06-11 electionresults.dcboe.org Background Incumbent councilmember Phil Mendelson was first elected to the Council in 1998 with 37% of the vote alongside David Catania after narrowly winning a majority of votes in a 10-way Democratic primary.Montgomery David November 4, 1998 Mendelson, Catania Win: Veteran Council Member Hilda Mason Is Ousted https://www.proquest.com/docview/408419806/ The Washington Post A35 Mendelson was reelected in 2002, 2006, and 2010, all with significant primary opposition. In 2012, after Kwame Brown announced his resignation as Council chair, Mendelson's colleagues named him the next chairman.Craig Tim 2012-06-13 Mendelson, Brown chosen to lead D.C. Council amid acrimonious debate https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/phil-mendelson-selected-as-dc-council-leader/2012/06/13/gJQAlma0ZV_story.html 2026-06-09 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 He resigned from his at-large seat, prompting the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee to appoint a successor.Patrick Madden Anita Bonds Elected To At-Large D.C. Council Seat https://wamu.org/story/12/12/11/anita_bonds_elected_to_at_large_dc_council_seat/ 2026-06-09 WAMU en Applied to be appointed In total, 3 individuals submitted applications for Mendelson's seat,2012-12-11 Anita Bonds, D.C.'s Newest Councilmember https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/346748/anita-bonds-d-c-s-newest-councilmember/ 2026-06-09 Washington City Paper en-US namely: Anita Bonds, chair of the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee, Fort Myer Construction executive, and former community affairs director to mayor Tony WilliamsDeBonis Mike 2012-09-11 Anita Bonds, D.C. Democratic chair, eyes at-large council seat https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/post/anita-bonds-dc-democratic-chair-eyes-at-large-council-seat/2012/09/11/cf908c84-fba0-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_blog.html 2026-06-09 The Washington Post en-US John Capozzi, former Shadow representative from the District of Columbia (1995-1997)DeBonis Mike 2012-12-06 Democrats likely to elect party chair for vacant D.C. Council seat https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/democrats-likely-to-elect-party-chair-for-vacant-dc-council-seat/2012/12/06/c9574df8-3fc0-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html 2026-06-09 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 Doug Sloan, vice president of the Washington, DC NAACP branchAustermuhle Martin D.C. Democratic Party Chairwoman Easily Wins Appointment to At-Large Seat on D.C. Council https://dcist.com/story/12/12/11/dc-democratic-party-chairwoman-easi-1/ 2026-06-09 DCist en Out of the 71 ballots cast by District of Columbia Democratic State Committee officials, Bonds received 55. Candidates Democratic Party Anita Bonds, incumbent councilmemberBlinder Alan 2012-12-23 D.C. Council at-large seat quickly draws a crowd https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/1736690/d-c-council-at-large-seat-quickly-draws-a-crowd/ 2026-06-09 Washington Examiner en-US Matthew Frumin, attorney and former chair of ANC 3ESommer Will 2012-12-03 District Line Daily: Unusual Lawsuit https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/456299/district-line-daily-unusual-lawsuit/ 2026-06-09 Washington City Paper en-US Elissa Silverman, policy analyst and former The Washington Post and Washington City Paper journalistMcCartney Robert 2013-05-01 Elissa Silverman’s strength in D.C. Council race shows new residents’ political muscle https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/elissa-silvermans-strength-in-dc-council-race-shows-new-residents-political-muscle/2013/05/01/e25aafc2-b296-11e2-baf7-5bc2a9dc6f44_story.html 2026-06-09 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 Paul Zukerberg, attorneySuderman Alan 2013-03-18 Michael Brown Wins in Ward 8 https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/346344/michael-brown-wins-in-ward-8/ 2026-06-09 Washington City Paper en-US Withdrawn Michael A. Brown, former member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district (2009-2013) and son of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron BrownMadden Patrick Michael Brown Drops Out Of Race For D.C. At-Large Seat https://wamu.org/story/13/04/03/michael_brown_drops_out_of_race_for_dc_at_large_seat/ 2026-06-09 WAMU en (still appeared on balllot) John Capozzi, former Shadow representative from the District of Columbia (1995-1997) A.J. Cooper, former TV host and Marine Corps veteranSommer Will 2013-01-17 District Line Daily: The District's Favorite Republican https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/455755/district-line-daily-the-districts-favorite-republican/ 2026-06-09 Washington City Paper en-US (endorsed Silverman) Jon Gann, documentary filmmakerAustermuhle Martin Candidates in At-Large Special Election Doing Something Different: Dropping Out https://dcist.com/story/13/01/23/candidates-in-at-large-special-elec/ 2026-06-10 DCist en Pedro Rubio Jr., federal contracting consultantAlpert David On Lets Choose DC, you chose Silverman, Frumin, Brooks https://ggwash.org/view/29975/on-lets-choose-dc-you-chose-silverman-frumin-brooks 2026-06-11 Greater Greater Washington en John Settles II, finance executiveThies Chuck 2013-02-04 Thies: Special Election in D.C. Heats Up https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/special-election-in-dc-heats-up/2039451/ 2026-06-09 NBC4 Washington en-USAustermuhle Martin Field of At-Large Candidates for Special Election Narrowed Down Significantly https://dcist.com/story/13/01/24/field-of-at-large-candidates-for-sp/ 2026-06-10 DCist en Did not qualify Diallo Brooks, fellow at the United States Department of Education Declined Sekou Biddle, former member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district (2011)Austermuhle Martin D.C. Elections Board Sets Special Election for April 23, 2013 https://dcist.com/story/12/11/29/dc-board-of-election-sets-special-e/ 2026-06-09 DCist en Endorsements Elissa Silverman ;Local officials David Grosso, member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district (2013-2021)Craig Tim 2013-04-03 David Grosso endorses Silverman in at-large D.C. Council race https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/david-grosso-endorses-silverman-in-at-large-dc-council-race/2013/04/03/6007b484-9c57-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_story.html 2026-06-12 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 Sharon Ambrose, former member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 6 (1997-2007) Kathy Patterson, former member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 3 (1995-2007) (candidate's campaign chair) Organizations Greater Greater Washingtonhttps://ggwash.org/view/30715/for-dc-council-elissa-silverman For DC Council: Elissa Silverman Greater Greater Washington March 27, 2013 June 9, 2026 Individuals A.J. Cooper, former TV host, Marine Corps veteran, and candidate for this seat Newspapers Washington City Paperhttps://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/209298/vote-or-sigh-on-april-23-vote-elissa-silverman/ Vote or Sigh Washington City Paper April 19, 2013 June 9, 2026 Anita Bonds ;Local officials Tony Williams, former mayor of the District of Columbia (1999-2007)Craig Tim 2012-03-11 Anita Bonds picks up support in special election https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/anita-bonds-picks-up-support-in-special-election/2013/03/11/a7d41d80-8a54-11e2-8d72-dc76641cb8d4_story.html 2026-06-11 The Washington Post en-US Muriel Bowser, member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 4 (2007-2015) Marion Barry, member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 8 (1993-1995, 2005-2014), former mayor of the District of Columbia (1979-1991, 1995-1999), and former member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district (1975-1979) Muriel Bowser, member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 4 (2007-2015) Jack Evans, member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 22013-04-03 Special Election Raises Concerns About Racial Balance in D.C. Politics https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/first-read-dmv/special-election-raises-concerns-about-racial-balance-in-dc-politics/2046964/ 2026-06-11 NBC4 Washington en-US Vincent Orange, member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district (2011-2016) and Ward 5 (1999-2007)Tim Craig 2013-04-07 Brown’s departure makes for a fluid D.C. Council race featuring six candidates https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/browns-departure-makes-for-a-fluid-dc-council-race-featuring-six-candidates/2013/04/07/5b006766-9dfa-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_story.html?hpid=z5 2026-06-11 The Washington Post en-US Labor unions AFSCME Individuals Sulaimon Brown, activistAlan Suderman 2013-04-18 Sulaimon Brown Denounces Catania, Endorses Bonds https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/346198/sulaimon-brown-denounces-catania-endorses-bonds/?_gl=1%2Av87unt%2A_ga%2ANjMyODEwNjczLjE3Nzk2MjY5MDk.%2A_ga_2QCWH3DD9J%2AczE3ODEyODcyMjQkbzI5JGcxJHQxNzgxMjg4NjIyJGo1NSRsMCRoMA.. 2026-06-12 Washington City Paper en-US Declined to endorse ;Local officials Tommy Wells, member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 6 (2007-2015) Organizations Gertrude Stein Democratic ClubJohn Riley 2013-03-22 No Endorsement from Stein https://www.metroweekly.com/2013/03/no-endorsement-from-stein/=z5 2026-06-11 Metro Weekly en-US DC Statehood Green Party Perry Redd (D.C. Statehood Green), songwriter and activistSuderman Alan 2013-01-24 And Then There Were 8 https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/346588/and-then-there-were-8/ 2026-06-09 Washington City Paper en-US Republican Party Patrick Mara (Republican), member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education from Ward 1 Endorsements Patrick Mara ; State governors Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey (2010-2018) Opening Act: Pat Mara David Weigel Slate April 24, 2013 http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/04/24/opening_act_pat_mara.html Organizations Sierra ClubThe Washington Post Sierra Club endorses Republican Mara for D.C. Council Tim Craig https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/sierra-club-endorses-republican-mara-for-dc-council/2013/03/27/3ba11a3e-9727-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html June 9, 2026 March 27, 2013 District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce Fraternal Order of PoliceWashington Post Patrick Mara’s appealing contrary view https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/patrick-maras-appealing-contrary-view/2013/04/18/85912cca-a85b-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html June 9, 2026 Editorial Board April 18, 2013 Newspapers The Washington PostWashington Post Patrick Mara for D.C. Council https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/patrick-mara-for-dc-council/2013/03/21/e9beda84-8db8-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html March 21, 2013 Editorial Board March 21, 2013 The Washington Blade General Election 2013 Council of the District of Columbia special election Democratic Party (United States) Anita Bonds 18,027 31.7% Democratic Party (United States) Elissa Silverman 15,228 26.8% Republican Party (United States) Patrick Mara 13,698 24.1% Democratic Party (United States) Matthew Frumin 6,307 11.1% Democratic Party (United States) Paul Zukerberg 1,195 2.1% Democratic Party (United States) Michael A. Brown (withdrawn) 1,100 1.9% D.C. Statehood Green Party Perry Redd 1,090 1.9% 187 0.3% 56,832 100.00% References Category:Council of the District of Columbia elections District of Columbia Category:2013 elections in Washington, D.C. Category:Special elections in Washington, D.C.