Charles Allen
Ward 6 Councilmember — Democratic Primary, June 16, 2026
Participating in DC Fair Elections Program ✓Charles Allen (age 49) has represented Ward 6 on the DC Council since 2015 and is seeking a fourth term. Over three terms he has built a record as one of the Council's most active legislators. His first bill created Books From Birth, which has sent more than 3.6 million books to over 103,000 DC children in partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. As chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, he guided creation of the District's Fair Elections program in 2019, which matches small-dollar contributions from DC residents 5-to-1 so candidates can run without corporate or PAC money. Allen authored the STEER Act, a first-in-the-nation law giving the Attorney General authority to sue dangerous drivers regardless of what state their car is registered in and allowing DMV to install speed governors on the cars of repeat offenders. He helped steer DC, Maryland, and Virginia to a new WMATA funding formula that averted dramatic Metro service cuts, and he was one of three architects of the 2021 Hearts and Homes Amendment, which expanded childcare funding, doubled the Earned Income Tax Credit, and funded more than 1,000 housing vouchers — paid for with a modest tax increase on residents earning more than $250,000. He also wrote the law empowering MPD and the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration to shut down unlicensed cannabis shops, and the Safe at Home program that funds home modifications so seniors can age in place. Allen describes his approach to public safety as "both / and" — pairing strong laws and accountability with investments in violence prevention and second chances. He was a consistent critic of public financing for a new Commanders stadium at RFK, though he ultimately voted for the deal after securing changes. Concerns from critics that he was "soft on crime" during his time chairing the judiciary committee prompted an unsuccessful 2024 effort to recall him from office. He has been endorsed by a broad coalition of progressive groups, unions, and the DC Association of Realtors.
Endorsements (17)
Labor unions
- 32BJ SEIU
- UNITE HERE Local 25
- LIUNA — Baltimore/Washington Laborers' District Council
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689
- International Association of Fire Fighters Local 36
Advocacy & community organizations
- Sierra Club
- Jews United for Justice
- Greater Greater Washington
- Capital Stonewall Democrats
- Working Families Party
- DC YIMBYs
- Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
- District of Columbia Association of REALTORS
- Washington National Organization for Women (NOW)
- DC Voters for Animals
- Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund
- Opportunity DC
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.
Describes his public-safety approach as 'both / and' — combining strong laws with targeted investments in preventing crime and breaking cycles of violence 'that go beyond what law enforcement is suited to deliver.' Emphasizes reaching those most likely to use a gun, creating real opportunities for people returning from incarceration, and protecting victims' rights in law.
Hiring significantly more MPD officers is a priority for reducing crime in DC.
Frames public safety through a 'both / and' lens rather than prioritizing officer hiring as the primary solution, balancing strong enforcement and accountability with prevention investments. To counter critics who called him soft on crime, he notes he supported teen curfew zones and voted for a bill increasing pre-trial detention of people charged with violent crimes — but does not center significantly expanding MPD's ranks as his lead public-safety priority.
DC should enforce a curfew for minors as a tool to reduce youth crime.
Supported teen curfew zones to prevent 'teen takeovers' of areas like Navy Yard and voted in favor of the Juvenile Curfew Amendment Act, treating curfews as one tool in a broader public-safety mix. He has stressed that the city must pair any curfew with meaningful youth programming and alternatives.
Any youth curfew must be paired with substantial investment in alternative programming — jobs, recreation centers, mental health services — for young people.
Argues curfews are meaningless without robust alternatives. Introduced a bill to expand DPR recreation center hours to Saturdays and Sundays, praised programming run at Greenleaf and Randall Recreation Centers, and championed a curfew amendment requiring the city to provide and promote youth programming whenever a curfew zone is in effect.
Sources: [Your guide to the June 16 DC primary — The 51st], [Charles Allen for Ward 6 — Campaign Website]
Every DC public school should have a dedicated behavioral health clinician on staff.
Has fought to ensure every school has the teaching and support staff to meet students where they are, including increasing out-of-school-time grants and securing more than $1 billion for Ward 6 school modernizations. His framing centers support staff and resources broadly rather than a specific behavioral-health-clinician guarantee.
DC should increase funding for the Department of Parks and Recreation, including extended rec center hours and expanded youth and senior programming.
Introduced legislation to expand DPR recreation center hours to weekends and has pushed the city to invest in youth enrichment programming at rec centers. Authored the Safe at Home program funding home modifications so seniors can age in place, reflecting consistent support for expanded recreation and aging services.
Sources: [Charles Allen for Ward 6 — Campaign Website], [Department of Parks and Recreation Hours Expansion Amendment Act of 2025 — DC Council LIMS], [Department of Parks and Recreation Field Priority Access Amendment Act of 2025 — DC Council LIMS]
DC should build more protected bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes.
Calls great transit and safe streets 'central to the success of the District,' supporting funding and oversight to keep trains and buses reliable and passing laws to slow drivers so people feel safe biking and walking. Authored the STEER Act on traffic safety and led DC's funding rescue of WMATA.
DC should respond to Trump administration interference in city governance with an assertive, public stance — filing lawsuits, passing protective legislation, and refusing to comply with unlawful federal directives — rather than quiet diplomacy or pragmatic deal-making.
Urges an assertive posture against federal interference, saying 'this is the time for leadership' and that DC must 'stand up for our values and come out as a stronger community on the other side.' Frames the Trump administration and a hostile Congress as threats to DC autonomy that must be fought publicly rather than appeased.
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.
Helped create and later double the Small Retailer Property Tax Credit, created a grant program for in-store security, and pushed back on swipe fees and predatory delivery-app schemes. Introduced the RESALE Act to stop large resellers from marking up local tickets. Has written several laws to make it easier for local businesses to open and thrive.
DC should raise taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest residents to close the District's budget gap.
Co-architected the 2021 Hearts and Homes Amendment — expanding childcare funding, doubling the Earned Income Tax Credit, and funding more than 1,000 housing vouchers — paid for with a tax increase on residents earning more than $250,000. That revenue funded the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, demonstrating support for raising taxes on high earners to fund services.
DC should legalize apartments and 'missing-middle' housing (duplexes, triplexes, and small multifamily buildings) citywide by removing single-family-only zoning restrictions.
Pushed the Office of Zoning to make it easier to build alley homes that add 'gentle density,' and says Ward 6 has built more newly constructed affordable homes than anywhere else in the city. Endorsed by DC YIMBYs, consistent with support for legalizing more housing types citywide.
DC should significantly increase the Housing Production Trust Fund.
Has advocated for more affordable homes at every opportunity and helped fund more than 1,000 new housing vouchers through the Hearts and Homes Amendment. His record of prioritizing affordable-housing financing points to support for the District's affordable-housing funding tools, though his materials emphasize affordable production broadly rather than the Housing Production Trust Fund by name.
DC should aggressively accelerate its transition to 100% renewable energy, installing solar on public buildings and investing in geothermal and other clean sources.
Calls himself the Council's strongest advocate for bold clean-energy steps. His Healthy Homes Act helps lower-income families electrify — replacing gas ovens, water heaters, and home heating with modern electric appliances powered by solar — so the clean-energy transition is not limited to those who can afford it. Also champions protecting the urban tree canopy and river access.
Sources: [Charles Allen for Ward 6 — Campaign Website], [Solar Shade Expansion Amendment Act of 2025 — DC Council LIMS], [Guiding Renewable Interconnection and Distribution (GRID) Amendment Act of 2026 — DC Council LIMS]
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.
Voted Yes on multiple TOPA bills during Session 21, including the TOPA Bona Fide Offer of Sale Clarification Amendment Act of 2015 (B 21-0147), its Temporary Amendment Act (B 21-0223), and its Congressional Review Emergency version (B 21-0306), demonstrating consistent support for DC's tenant purchase rights framework across his council tenure.
Sources: [TOPA Bona Fide Offer of Sale Clarification Amendment Act of 2015 — DC Council LIMS]
General sources
- Charles Allen for Ward 6 — Campaign Website — Charles Allen Campaign. Accessed 2026-06-01.
- Your guide to the June 16 DC primary — The 51st — The 51st. Accessed 2026-06-01.