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Ward 6 Councilmember

Democratic Primary — June 16, 2026

What's at stake

Ward 6 is the only ward with neighborhoods in all four quadrants of the city — Capitol Hill, Southwest Waterfront and the Wharf, Navy Yard and Capitol Riverfront, NoMa, Penn Quarter, Gallery Place-Chinatown, and Buzzard Point. Three-term incumbent Charles Allen, a progressive who chaired the Council's judiciary and public safety committee, is seeking re-election. Public safety — including disputes over crime data and the city's response to "teen takeovers" — is the central issue dividing him from challengers Gloria Nauden and Michael Murphy. Three Democrats are on the primary ballot, and ranked choice voting applies for the first time in June 2026.

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Candidates

Each candidate's full set of positions is listed on their profile page.

Charles Allen

Fair Elections ✓

Three-term incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember and former chair of the Council's Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. Authored the STEER Act to hold dangerous out-of-state drivers accountable, created the Books From Birth early literacy program and the District's Fair Elections public-financing program, led DC's rescue of WMATA from a fiscal cliff, and co-architected the 2021 Hearts and Homes budget amendment funded by a tax increase on high earners. A progressive who survived a 2024 recall effort, he is endorsed by the Sierra Club, Jews United for Justice, Greater Greater Washington, and major unions.

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
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Gloria Nauden

Three-decade Ward 6 resident, former ANC commissioner (ANC6A), and interim CEO of Philanthropy DMV. A community economic development strategist who has helped nearly 1,000 DC small businesses access capital and led the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Running on public safety, affordability, strong small businesses and schools, and a more responsive city government. Would rebuild MPD to full staffing while expanding youth workforce and violence-prevention programs.

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Michael Murphy

Litigator at Bailey & Glasser LLP and 30-year Capitol Hill resident running on transparency and public safety. Was the first to publicly allege that MPD manipulated violent-crime statistics, and has built his campaign around honest crime data, rebuilding MPD, youth accountability and opportunity, faster housing approvals, and fully funding the open primaries voters approved in Initiative 83. Wants more police officers and to revisit the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

Endorsements (1)

Elected/Appointed Officials

  • Denise Rucker Krepp, former Ward 6 ANC commissioner and victims' rights advocate
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Sources