Bernita Carmichael
Ward 5 Councilmember — Democratic Primary, June 16, 2026
Participating in DC Fair Elections Program ✓Bernita Carmichael is a proud Washington, DC native. Born at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Ward 4 and raised in Brightwood and Riggs Park, she is a graduate of Phelps High School and the University of the District of Columbia. As the daughter of a Gulf War Army Medic, she learned the value of community service early. With over 15 years of experience in DC government, she secured the first accreditation for the DC Department of Corrections under the DC Jail Improvement Act of 2004 and enhanced emergency response capabilities for DC Child Care Centers at OSSE. She holds credentials as a pro-board fire inspector and a general industry occupational safety and health trainer. A civic leader, Carmichael currently serves as a DC Democratic Party Committeewoman and member of the Ward 5 Leadership Council. She organized the National Federation of Democratic Women's virtual conference during COVID-19, served as an At-Large Delegate for President Biden in 2020, and mobilized five charter buses from Ward 5 in support of Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. She is also an active member of the Junior League of Washington. Her campaign participates in the DC Fair Elections program, where contributions from DC donors are matched 5-to-1. Her centerpiece proposal is the "Future of Ward 5 Legislation," a package of bills that would increase standards for Community Benefits Agreements negotiated between developers and residents when large projects are built, spur revitalization of Ward 5's commercial corridors, and provide more workforce development and job opportunities for native Washingtonians. On housing, she has set an ambitious goal of building 36,000 units per year citywide, with 20,000 of them for low- and moderate-income residents. (For context, Mayor Bowser built roughly 36,000 units over five years.) Her other priorities include increasing affordable homeownership, senior advocacy, and strengthening Ward 5's local and global business ecosystem.
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 treat violence as a public health problem, investing heavily in violence interruption programs and community-based solutions.
Would expand funding for violence interrupter programs and credible messenger organizations; partner with Cure the Streets, ONSE, and local nonprofits; and create Ward 5-specific Community Violence Intervention hubs in Edgewood, Trinidad, and Langdon. Also supports CPTED investments (lighting, cameras, park maintenance) and youth violence prevention through mentorship programs at Ward 5 high schools.
DC should expand rent stabilization to cover more housing, including buildings constructed after 1975.
Supports strengthening tenant protections including TOPA enforcement, expanding emergency rental assistance for Ward 5 households through community organizations, and working with DHCD to bring more Ward 5 buildings under Affordable Dwelling Unit covenants. Focused on enforcement and assistance mechanisms rather than explicitly expanding coverage to newer buildings.
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.
Explicitly calls for strengthening enforcement of TOPA in Ward 5. Also supports emergency rental assistance expansions through community organizations and working with DHCD to bring more Ward 5 buildings under ADU covenants. Focused on enforcement of existing protections rather than full restoration of rolled-back TOPA coverage.
DC should significantly increase the Housing Production Trust Fund.
Would advocate for dedicated Ward 5 allocations from the DC HPTF and support government-owned mixed-income development on DC-owned land parcels throughout Ward 5. Calls for a minimum of 30–60% affordable units (at AMIs of 30–80%) in all new large developments and champions workforce housing for teachers, police officers, and the medical community.
Any youth curfew must be paired with substantial investment in alternative programming — jobs, recreation centers, mental health services — for young people.
Would heighten awareness of the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, fund after-school and mentorship programs at Ward 5 high schools, and advocate for recreation center upgrades within her first term. Frames youth programming as a core public safety strategy alongside violence interruption.
DC should increase funding for the Department of Parks and Recreation, including extended rec center hours and expanded youth and senior programming.
Would advocate for recreation center upgrades in Ward 5 within the first term, fund after-school and mentorship programs at Ward 5 high schools, and invest in upgrading and expanding programming at Ward 5 senior wellness centers in partnership with DPR and DACL.
DC should cut taxes and fees on small and local businesses — and offer relief such as the small retailer property tax credit — to help them open, survive, and grow.
Would establish a Ward 5 Small Business Navigator (a dedicated DSLBD liaison embedded in the ward), create a Ward 5 Storefront Activation Grant program, and advocate for commercial rent stabilization pilots for small businesses in major corridors. Emphasizes navigation and grant support alongside her call for global and manufacturing business attraction to bring jobs to Ward 5.
Every DC public school should have a dedicated behavioral health clinician on staff.
Would support increased school-based mental health counselor ratios in all Ward 5 DCPS schools, fund after-school therapeutic programming in collaboration with DYRS for students and parents, and create partnerships with HBCU and university psychology programs for training clinics serving Ward 5 youth. Also supports establishing a Ward 5 Community Mental Health Hub with walk-in counseling, peer support, and crisis stabilization.
Hiring significantly more MPD officers is a priority for reducing crime in DC.
Would advocate for MPD deployment strategies prioritizing Ward 5 crime hot spots and increase police presence at Ward 5 Metro stations. Pairs this with accountability measures — body camera transparency, independent use-of-force oversight, and a Ward 5 Community Policing Liaison — framing police deployment as one part of a broader public safety mix alongside violence interruption.
DC should legalize apartments and 'missing-middle' housing (duplexes, triplexes, and small multifamily buildings) citywide by removing single-family-only zoning restrictions.
Has set an extremely ambitious housing production goal of 36,000 units per year citywide, with 20,000 of them for low- and moderate-income residents. For context, Mayor Bowser built roughly 36,000 units over five years. Reaching that pace would require dramatically expanding zoning capacity and density across the District. Her Future of Ward 5 Legislation also calls for increased Community Benefits Agreement standards in large developments, pairing density with stronger community protections.
DC should strengthen worker protections — expanding paid family and medical leave and raising the minimum wage — even if it raises costs for employers.
Carmichael would enforce the DC Living Wage Act so government contractors pay a living wage and would build workforce-development and local-hiring pathways for Ward 5 residents. Supportive of stronger worker protections, with an emphasis on living-wage enforcement and job access.
General sources
- Bernita Carmichael for Ward 5 — Campaign Website — Carmichael 2026 Campaign. Accessed 2026-05-31.
- Your guide to the June 16 DC primary — The 51st — The 51st. Accessed 2026-05-31.