D.C.'s Incoming Delegate Takes Fight for Autonomy to Suburban Swing Districts

Robert White Jr., the Democratic nominee for the District of Columbia's nonvoting delegate to Congress, has announced a new strategy to push back against federal intervention in the city's affairs. The plan, called "Defend DC," will recruit and train local residents to travel to congressional districts in neighboring states and campaign for candidates who support D.C. statehood and local control.

Speaking at a downtown Washington plaza, White said the effort is a direct response to Congress's increasing willingness to override the city's Home Rule. "Congress has used its power over D.C. to attack us," he said. "So Washingtonians are banding together to use our collective power to change Congress."

The Constitution grants federal lawmakers authority over the district, though the Home Rule Act of 1973 allows residents to elect their own mayor, council, and neighborhood commissioners. Congress still approves the city's budget and can overturn its laws. The delegate position, while nonvoting, gives the district's nearly 700,000 residents a voice on the House floor and the ability to introduce legislation.

The initiative comes as the second Trump administration has taken several steps to assert federal control over the city, including the ongoing deployment of the National Guard, which has been extended into 2029. White's campaign will target House districts within driving distance of the capital in states like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey, focusing on lawmakers who have supported these federal actions or proposed changes to the city's governance.

The first target is Rep. John McGuire, a Virginia Republican who introduced legislation to codify Trump's executive order "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful." That order led to the deployment of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement onto D.C. streets, and Trump briefly federalized the city's police force.

D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson endorsed the strategy, arguing it is necessary to protect residents' constitutional rights. "Our current situation is one that was not imagined nor intended by the Founding Fathers," he said.

White's approach echoes the tactics of Walter Fauntroy Jr., the district's first delegate, who in the 1970s mobilized voters in key congressional races, notably helping defeat Rep. John McMillan of South Carolina, a vocal opponent of D.C. autonomy. Michael Fauntroy, a political scientist and Fauntroy's nephew, noted that the elder Fauntroy focused on districts where Black voters held the margin of victory. He cautioned that modern gerrymandering has left fewer competitive districts, making White's task more difficult without established networks in those areas.

White has discussed the strategy with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Susan DelBene, who chairs House Democrats' campaign arm. His victory in the June primary, following the retirement of 18-term incumbent Eleanor Holmes Norton, positions him to take the seat in November's general election.