2026 Democratic Primary & At-Large (I) Special Election Endorsements

CCF is proud to endorse Kenyon McDuffie for Mayor and Dyana Forester for At-Large Councilmember in the June 16, 2026 Democratic primary election; we ranked Lisa Raymond second and Candace Nelson third, and Elissa Silverman for At-Large Councilmember in the Special Election. Each of these candidates is a dynamic champion for social justice, increased diversity in high-opportunity neighborhoods, and significantly more affordable housing in Ward 3. CCF will actively campaign for these candidates based on their commitment to these goals, particularly their support for a new community center, library, open spaces, and affordable housing that will enrich Chevy Chase and adjacent District neighborhoods. Learn more about their campaigns below!

In order to evaluate all of the candidates in these three crucial elections, we asked for their responses to the following questions:
1. Do you favor surplusing the available air rights of the Civic Core site that have not and never will be needed for the public facilities (the new library, community center, revitalized open spaces, and parking) so that it can be used for housing consistent with the Chevy Chase Small Area Plan and zoning regulations?

2. Given the ten-year process of planning and community engagement that has taken place (described in detail on our website), do you support acting to move this project forward expeditiously if you are elected?

3. Do you support the mix and amount of affordable housing that the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development’s selected vendor, Rift Valley, originally proposed — one-third deeply affordable housing (30% to 50% MFI), one-third workforce housing (80% MFI), and one-third market-rate housing based on a total of 209 units? If not, what amount and degree of affordable housing do you support at the site?

4. Would you support a change to the draft Future Land Use Map from the current proposed “Small Scale Residential Neighborhood” in Chevy Chase to permit multi-family units to be built so long as they are consistent with the overall look and feel of the neighborhood (e.g., through the use of form-based codes)?

Of the seven candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for Mayor, we received responses from three: Kenyon McDuffie, Gary Goodweather, and Vincent Orange. Of the nine candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for At-Large Councilmember, we received responses from five: Dwight Davis, Candace Nelson, Fred Hill, Dyana Forester, and Lisa Raymond. Finally, we received responses from all three of the candidates in the Special Election for At-Large Councilmember (the vacant seat created by Kenyon McDuffie’s resignation to run for Mayor): Elissa Silverman, Jacque Patterson, and Doni Crawford. You can read all candidate's full responses below.

The CCF Advocacy Committee thoroughly reviewed the candidates’ responses. We used the following criteria in assessing who we would endorse as an organization:
1. Positive responses to our questions about affordable housing at the Civic Core and changes to the draft Future Land Use Map are litmus tests for whether candidates warrant our support. Either “no response” or public opposition to housing at the Civic Core should be disqualifying for our endorsement, and we should only consider candidates who will actively support our positions on these key issues.

2. We should assess the level of candidates’ commitment based on their narrative responses. Some responses are equivocal or do not reflect a full understanding of the process and issues. Others are detailed and comprehensive. We ranked candidates based on their narrative responses and the likelihood that they will be strong advocates for our issues.

3. We considered the candidate’s likelihood of being elected. It will do us no good to support a long shot candidate even if they support our positions. We will have to work with each of the successful candidates, and a “feel good” endorsement of someone who cannot win could make that work more difficult.

4. We also considered each candidate’s overall record, stated positions on other related issues, and other endorsements received. Ethical conduct, relevant experience, ability to work cooperatively with colleagues, and communication skills are all relevant to our endorsement decisions.

5. Our individual preferences may not be the same as the CCF endorsements. Some of us have known and worked with candidates that give us insights about them that the CCF board may not consider dispositive. We reached a consensus about our organizational endorsement, but we may each vote based on our own evaluations.

6. To the extent that there are multiple candidates who would be acceptable, we considered ranking up to three. That ranking could be particularly important for the Democratic Party At-Large Council race where there are no clear frontrunners in a large field.

Based on this process, the Advocacy Committee recommended and the Board approved endorsements in these three races. Here are some of the endorsed candidates’ responses to our questions that we considered particularly significant:

For Mayor - Kenyan McDuffie

Mr. McDuffie stated that the planned development of the Chevy Chase Civic Core represents “a real opportunity to add homes in a part of the city that has zero dedicated affordable housing units and has resisted growth for decades.” To do otherwise would be “a failure of public stewardship.” He has pledged to “take action on this [project] in my first 100 Days.” Mr. McDuffie supports “delivering maximum affordability across a real spread of income levels.” “Teachers, nurses, sanitation workers, and city employees deserve access to a neighborhood with these amenities and this transit access.” As Mayor, he will also direct the Office of Planning to “add housing potential” as they develop a new Comprehensive Plan to address a “history of restrictive covenants, discriminatory lending practices, and the deliberate displacement of Black families.” “This approach lets Chevy Chase grow in a way that fits its context while meaningfully contributing to the city’s housing shortage.” Mr. McDuffie’s goals coincide with CCF’s core objectives, and we urge Democrats to select him as their candidate for Mayor.

For At-Large (D) - Dyana Forester

Ms. Forester has a deep understanding of housing issues in the District. She considers development of the Chevy Chase Civic Core site “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” that “respects the public investment in facilities, delivers housing and affordability [that] the District desperately needs, and creates a Civic Core worthy of one of DC’s most vibrant neighborhoods.” She recognizes that the community has engaged in “one of the most robust community planning processes in recent DC history,” and, as a Councilmember, she will “use every tool available to me . . . to make sure this project is delivered on time, on budget, and with the community benefit commitments that make it worthy of the decade of work the Chevy Chase community put into making it possible.” She supports a mix of deeply affordable, workforce, and market rate housing, including family-sized units. She advocates for modifications to the Comprehensive Plan to “ensure that new buildings match the scale, materials, and streetscape of existing homes, even when they contain two, three, or four units inside.” Ms. Forester will bring to the Council extraordinary expertise and passion on affordable housing, and we urge voters to select her. You can read Dyana’s full response here.

At-Large (D) Candidates We Are Proud to Rank
Under the ranked choice voting procedure, we also recommend that voters consider two other excellent candidates, Lisa Raymond and Candace Nelson, as second and third choices.

Lisa Raymond: We strongly encourage voters to rank Lisa Raymond second because of her unequivocal commitment to inclusive housing. Lisa provided clear, proactive support in our questionnaire for affordable housing at the Civic Core and necessary updates to the Future Land Use Map. Her broader citywide vision for housing abundance—focusing on cutting red tape to increase the housing supply—has notably earned her the endorsement of major advocacy groups like Greater Greater Washington and DC YIMBYs. Backed by extensive executive experience in District government, including serving as the Chief of Staff to the District's first elected Attorney General and serving as a senior advisor on education for the DC Council's Committee of the Whole, Lisa brings both the courageous policy goals and the practical know-how needed to effectively deliver results for our neighborhood. Please visit Lisa's website to learn more about her campaign, donate, and sign up to volunteer.

Candace Nelson: For our third choice in the At-Large Democratic Primary race, we recommend ranking Candace Nelson. With two decades of experience across District government—including serving as a Council Chief of Staff—Candace brings a deep understanding of the legislative process and how to effectively deliver constituent services. In her questionnaire responses, she demonstrated a strong commitment to equitable development and prioritizing community input. Her broader campaign platform, which champions robust tenant protections, expanded rent stabilization, and treating housing as a human right, makes her a dedicated advocate for ensuring that neighborhood growth remains inclusive and accessible for all residents. Please visit Candace's website to learn more about her campaign, donate, and sign up to volunteer.