Ernest E. Johnson
Mayoral Election — Democratic Primary, June 16, 2026
Not in DC Fair Elections ProgramErnest E. Johnson (age 78) is a lifelong Washingtonian and Columbia Heights resident who attended Banneker Junior High (DC public school), earned a B.S. from the University of Maryland, and completed a master's in Government Analysis at Harvard University. He is a licensed real estate broker and Notary Public, and serves on the DC Apprenticeship Council and the 3rd District Advisory Council. As founder of the nonprofit Friends of the Frank Reeves Center (501c4), Johnson has organized the Back-2-School Block Party for eight years, providing backpacks, school supplies, and free haircuts to students at Raymond and Tubman Elementary Schools, which his nonprofit adopted in 2013. He has championed using public land for community benefit — including affordable housing and a museum of Black Broadway — rather than luxury development, and opposes public asset giveaways like the RFK Stadium deal. He has called for a 26% "community stake" in the Washington Commanders. He has been open about having a prior conviction in his youth, framing his candidacy as proof that "redemption is real." His platform focuses on three pillars. On education: a fundamentals-first curriculum (phonics-based reading by 3rd grade, arithmetic mastery, cursive writing) in early grades, transitioning to mandatory STEM, vocational training tracks with industry certifications and employer partnerships, and college readiness programs — with a target of 95% 3rd-grade reading proficiency and 95% graduation rate by 2029. On public safety: community-based policing in every ward, body cameras, de-escalation training, violence interruption programs, drug court expansion, mental health and addiction treatment in corrections, and youth intervention through after-school programs, sports, and mentorship. On revenue: a "Beautify DC" jobs initiative employing seniors and youth, taxing currently exempt high-value properties, and commuter tolls on major arteries into the District.
Positions on the issues
All positions are sourced directly from the candidate's campaign materials, official questionnaire responses, or verified news coverage. Stances are rated on a scale from Strongly opposes (−2) to Strongly supports (+2). A stance of Unknown means no public position has been found.
DC should restore and strengthen TOPA (the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act) to give tenants the right to purchase their building before it's sold to an outside buyer.
Supports tenant protections and has fought for affordable housing through his nonprofit work. His campaign platform prioritizes community benefit over developer profit on public land.
Sources: [Mayoral election in Washington, D.C., 2026 — Ballotpedia]
DC should treat violence as a public health problem, investing heavily in violence interruption programs and community-based solutions.
Platform includes violence interruption programs in high-risk areas, drug court expansion for non-violent offenders, mental health and addiction treatment services in corrections, and youth intervention through mentorship and job training — alongside community policing reforms and enhanced prosecution of repeat offenders. At the April 30, 2026 Fair Elections Program mayoral debate he said he wants violence interrupters to 'graduate from the program,' cautioned that relying on returning citizens is not a long-term career given their trauma, and called for better management of violence at the DC Jail and youth facilities.
Sources: [Ernest Johnson for Mayor — Campaign Website], [DC Fair Elections Program mayoral debate (April 30, 2026)]
DC should increase funding for the Department of Parks and Recreation, including extended rec center hours and expanded youth and senior programming.
Youth intervention platform calls for 'after-school programs in high-crime areas, sports and recreational opportunities, conflict resolution and leadership training' — implying support for parks and recreation-type programming, though DPR is not named explicitly.
DC should implement congestion pricing — charging drivers to enter the busiest parts of downtown.
His 'Growing Revenue Without Raising Taxes' plan proposes to 'Install tolls on major commuter arteries into the District' — a road-pricing approach aimed at out-of-District commuters, in the same family as congestion pricing.
DC should raise taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest residents to close the District's budget gap.
His revenue plan proposes to 'tax currently exempt high-value properties' to fund city services and his Beautify DC jobs initiative — a targeted expansion of the tax base on high-value property. He pairs this with strong opposition to broad tax increases: at the April 30, 2026 Fair Elections Program mayoral debate he repeatedly insisted 'we do not need to raise taxes,' arguing the budget gap should be closed by auditing developers and ending 'waste, fraud, and abuse' rather than new levies. Recorded as a qualified +1 on taxing high-value property; note the debate emphasis against general tax increases.
Sources: [Ernest Johnson for Mayor — Campaign Website], [DC Fair Elections Program mayoral debate (April 30, 2026)]
Hiring significantly more MPD officers is a priority for reducing crime in DC.
At the April 30, 2026 Fair Elections Program mayoral debate Johnson named 'addressing the MPD shortage' as one of the serious public-safety problems he would tackle as mayor, indicating support for restoring police staffing. A brief mention rather than a detailed hiring commitment, and balanced by his emphasis on violence interruption, youth intervention, and developer accountability.
Sources: [DC Fair Elections Program mayoral debate (April 30, 2026)]
MPD should not assist ICE or other federal agencies in immigration enforcement operations within DC.
At the April 30, 2026 Fair Elections Program mayoral debate Johnson said he would not 'fund sanctuary city,' framing it as a misuse of money (hotel housing for immigrants at $250/night while, he said, Black residents die on the affordable-housing waitlist). That opposition to sanctuary policy puts him against the question's no-cooperation posture, though he framed it in fiscal/priorities terms and did not address MPD's operational cooperation with ICE directly — recorded as a moderate, not strong, opposition.
Sources: [DC Fair Elections Program mayoral debate (April 30, 2026)]
DC should build more protected bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes.
In the April 30, 2026 Fair Elections Program mayoral debate lightning round, Johnson answered a flat 'no, no, and no' to more bus lanes, more traffic-enforcement cameras, and reducing parking to make way for bike lanes — a firm, across-the-board opposition.
Sources: [DC Fair Elections Program mayoral debate (April 30, 2026)]
DC should expand its automated traffic-enforcement camera program (speed and red-light cameras).
In the April 30, 2026 Fair Elections Program mayoral debate lightning round, Johnson answered 'no' to expanding traffic-enforcement cameras.
Sources: [DC Fair Elections Program mayoral debate (April 30, 2026)]
The District's RFK Stadium / Washington Commanders redevelopment deal, as structured, is a good investment for DC residents.
At the April 30, 2026 Fair Elections Program mayoral debate Johnson called the $1.3 billion RFK/Commanders agreement a bad deal he would 'revoke' and renegotiate so the public gets a 26% ownership stake and a tag-along agreement. Strongly opposes the deal as structured.
Sources: [DC Fair Elections Program mayoral debate (April 30, 2026)]
General sources
- Mayoral election in Washington, D.C., 2026 — Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey) — ballotpedia.org. Accessed 2026-05-27.
- Ernest Johnson for Mayor — Campaign Website — Ernest E. Johnson Campaign. Accessed 2026-05-28.