Por primera vez en tres décadas, cinco candidatos compiten por el escaño de DC en el Congreso, el puesto que Eleanor Holmes Norton ocupó durante casi la mitad de su vida y desde donde convirtió la lucha por la estadidad en un movimiento nacional.
Brooke Pinto, Greg Jaczko, Kinney Zalesne, Robert White y Trent Holbrook debatieron sobre los temas que definen el futuro de la ciudad: el intento de la administración Trump de tomar control del MPD, el robo congresional de $1,000 millones en fondos locales y la reversión del código penal de DC.
Varios candidatos cargan el legado directo de Norton — Holbrook y White son excolaboradores de la congresista.
📩 Las primarias son el 16 de julio. Desliza para conocer a cada candidato y lo que propone.
Debate organizado por @thewashingtoninformer , @the51st y @spotlightdc .
#debate #dc #congreso #ElTiempoLatino
🎤 Thanks so much to everyone who attended our sold-out mayoral candidate forum this week — whether you were one of the close to 300 IRL at the MLK Library or 2000+ on the livestream!
Big shoutout to our partners from @washinformer , @spotlight4dc , and @dcpubliclibrary and to volunteers Matt, Jordan, and Libby who supported our full-time and part-time staff members in making the event run as smoothly as possible. We’re also grateful to the candidates who made time to answer the questions we received from hundreds of readers leading up to the event: @goodweatherfordc , @krmcduffie , @janeese4dc , @vincentorangevo , @riniformayor , @hopefordc
Be sure to zoom in on the team photo: Attendees helped us graph how informed they felt about our mayoral candidates before the event (blue dots) and afterwards (red dots). We’re so proud of the shift you can see in the data!
Missed the fun? Want to be more informed yourself? You can watch the recording on our website now — link in bio. (📷: Maddie Poore, Sam Delgado, Abby Higgins)
Our mayoral forum on Monday with @washinformer + @spotlight4dc is SOLD OUT — but thanks to @dcpubliclibrary , there will be a livestream!
RSVP at the link in bio so we can send you the link on Monday 👀
EDITED TO ADD: Our first run of tickets has sold out, but get on the waitlist — we’ll work with the library to get as many people in the room on April 20 as possible.
For the first time in over a decade, D.C. is facing an open mayoral race — and it’s coming at an uncertain time in our city. Federal workforce cuts are impacting the local economy, the city’s budget is tighter than a perfectly rolled joint, and interference from Trump and congressional Republicans just doesn’t seem to stop. Meanwhile, it’s getting increasingly expensive to live in the District — from increasing rent and utilities to childcare and food. And on top of all that, we’re rolling out a new method of voting this year.
At The 51st, we believe that all D.C. residents deserve a more equitable and just place to live, and — like our newsroom— we believe our next mayor should work to make people’s lives better.
While we’re excited to facilitate the conversation among candidates — in partnership with @washinformer , @spotlight4dc , and @dcpubliclibrary — it’s ultimately up to D.C. to decide. So don’t miss out on this event: Whether you’re a D.C. native, a longtime Washingtonian, or just registered to vote in the city, this forum is for you. Link in bio to RSVP for free tickets!
When cold weather arrives, most people expect to see a bump in their utilities. But many D.C. residents were shocked to see their electricity bills had doubled and even tripled this winter — in some cases, climbing over $1,000 in a single month.
“Your first thought is that it's something you're doing wrong,” said Rawan Abhari, whose February Pepco bill topped out at $303 and whose next bill is projected to be at least $400. But after reading stories about other residents going through the same thing, she realized the problem was bigger than just her household.
We heard from dozens of readers currently dealing with this issue. They say these bill increases are unsustainable, and that they’re at a loss about what to do about them. “My bill quadrupled the past two months and I don’t know what to do to fix it,” one reader emailed.
For The 51st, Samantha Delgado (@slightlysamantha ) dug into what's going on here — and what’s being done about it. 🔗 in bio for the full story, reported with support from @spotlight4dc . (🎨: Maddie Poore)
We ended 2025 with a wonderful get-together of local editors, reporters, and lovers of the news over pizza and drinks. We celebrated all the hard but important work accomplished in the year — and the thousands of dollars that SpotlightDC was able to award to local newsrooms and their journalists.
Thanks to supporters like you, SpotlightDC will be able to continue another year of giving out grants to critical accountability journalism projects. Happy new year!
Come for the love for local news, stay for the free pizza 🍕
Our city has been through a lot this year. Throughout it, local journalists have doggedly covered underreported subjects that hold the powerful accountable. That's why on Thursday December 11th from 6pm-8pm at Sonny's Pizza, SpotlightDC will be celebrating the people who bring these important stories to life: reporters, editors, and funders.
So whether you work in a newsroom, are a freelancer, or you're someone who simply cares about the District, we would love to see you there. Join us for an evening of collaboration!
Let us know you're coming by RSVPing to the Google form at the link in our bio! Bring your friends, pitches, tips, and hopes for D.C. journalism.
🎨: @rose_inks
Phillip Brown was driving on October 17 to get milk for his three young kids, according to his lawyer. D.C. police patrolling with federal agents tried to pull him over because the car had tinted windows and was missing a front license plate. Believing that the driver was trying to flee, a federal agent shot three times into the car. Brown’s lawyer said the gunfire came so close that a bullet hole was found in the collar of his jacket.
Less than a month later — and a few blocks away, in D.C.'s Ward 7 — federal agents from the same agency shot at another driver, who allegedly ran a red light, then refused to stop. The incidents highlight significant differences in how local and federal police respond to crime, as well as what systems of accountability exist for when they use deadly force.
"As a mayor I would be very concerned that a fatality could happen on my watch because the feds are running roughshod," says @yaidaford , a D.C.-based attorney who has sued both local and federal police for excessive uses of force. "We need some transparency. At least then we know that someone is fighting on our behalf."
Read more from Martin Austermuhle at the link in our bio. This reporting was supported by @spotlight4dc . (📷: @tylera.jpeg )
There’s never been a more critical time to invest in watchdog journalism. That's why we're asking for your help.
From now through the end of December, all donations to SpotlightDC will have double the impact, thanks to the Institute of Nonprofit News' NewsMatch campaign. Donate $25? That turns into $50. Contribute $100? That’s $200.
This work is important, but it requires financial support. If SpotlightDC has helped you stay informed about our city or take action, we hope you'll donate today at the link in our bio.
We’re excited to announce the latest SpotlightDC-funded project: Dream City, a new independent podcast that will explore the inner workings of D.C.’s political and business worlds.
Hosted by WAMU’s Politics Hour political analyst Tom Sherwood and Axios D.C. reporter Cuneyt Dil, Dream City will bring timely analysis of the most important stories in D.C. — and hold the powerful accountable along the way.
Their first episode is out today! Tune in via the link in our bio, or go to dreamcity.news to stay up-to-date on episodes.
