Opportunity DC Announces Candidate Endorsements in DC Council Primary Contests

Pinto, Felder, and Trayon White Are Pragmatic Leaders Who Will Move the District Forward

Opportunity DC is endorsing two incumbent DC Councilmembers and a Ward 7 community leader in the District of Columbia’s 2024 primary contests. Opportunity DC conducted a rigorous endorsement process that included questionnaires and interviews designed to surface the candidates’ ideas and gauge their alignment on Opportunity DC’s priorities: growing the District’s economy, building safer communities, and investing in education and workforce development. We encourage you to view our 2024 voter guide here. The guide includes completed questionnaires from Council candidates, election analysis, and helpful links for voting in this year's elections

OPPORTUNITY DC's 2024 PRIMARY CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS

WARD 2: Councilmember Brooke Pinto

Councilmember Brooke Pinto has demonstrated exemplary leadership for her ward and for DC as a whole since her election in 2020. Notably, she took action in 2023 to address the spike in crime by shepherding the Secure DC public safety package through the Council. The legislation addresses violent crime in meaningful ways – directly, through stronger accountability for criminals and law enforcement, and indirectly, such as by encouraging economic development in DC’s commercial corridors. Endorsed by Opportunity DC, Secure DC passed with unanimous Council support. Additionally, Councilmember Pinto’s Business and Entrepreneurship Support to Thrive (BEST) Act simplifies the process of obtaining a business license in DC and reduces associated fees, making entrepreneurship more accessible for District residents. Councilmember Pinto is also a staunch advocate for fiscal discipline, standing firm at a moment when some District leaders are inclined to increase taxes and risk undermining DC’s ability to attract and retain residents and businesses.

WARD 7: Wendell Felder  

In a crowded field of qualified candidates seeking to succeed Councilmember Vincent Gray, Wendell Felder stands out. An Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner with extensive experience in city government and in DC’s healthcare and higher education sectors, Felder has a compelling, practical vision for revitalizing Ward 7. His plan to expand DC’s police cadet program will promote public safety. Felder’s policy positions are aligned with Opportunity DC’s values of promoting equitable economic growth and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities.  With Felder on the Council, small business owners will have a representative who has navigated District agencies. Felder understands firsthand the critical relationship between the business community and government in fostering a robust and equitable economy. Felder is also best positioned to build on Councilmember Gray’s legacy of improving the quality of life for residents in Ward 7 and across the District.

WARD 8: Councilmember Trayon White 

Councilmember Trayon White’s advocacy for small business grant funding, career and technical development opportunities, and targeted investments in Ward 8 were key factors in Opportunity DC’s endorsement. His initiatives on Council, such as the DC Dream Grants program and the Community Investment Fund, have provided vital funding for small businesses, particularly for entrepreneurs east of the river who face additional barriers to accessing capital and navigating government bureaucracy. Councilmember White’s alignment with Opportunity DC’s policy goals was evident in the endorsement process.

All of the candidate questionnaires, including those for the Ward 4 and At-Large Council races, are posted here.