Election Context and Controversy
On July 15, Trayon White Sr. narrowly won reelection to the D.C. Council, defeating Sheila Bunn, Mike Austin, and Salim Adofo in a four-way, low-turnout race with fewer than 6,800 ballots cast. White received 2,277 votes (28.1%), just ahead of Bunn with 2,019 (24.9%), Austin with 1,986 (24.5%), and Adofo with 1,818 (22.4%). His margin over Bunn was only 258 votes, making it a slim victory.
His win follows just five months after he was expelled from the council for his involvement in a federal bribery investigation. The FBI alleges that White pocketed tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from a businessperson-turned-informant, in exchange for helping him win contracts in the D.C. government. While White’s prior council experience set him apart, his opponents also demonstrated community involvement—but not with the same level of visibility or direct presence that residents associated with White.
White has also drawn criticism for spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories. In 2018, he posted a Facebook video claiming the Rothschild family “controls the weather” and later said they “control the federal government.” Though he apologized, promoting such rhetoric and relying on unreliable sources raises serious concerns about his judgment.
How then was he able to win over the votes of Ward 8 residents?
Many residents appear to see the charges against him as politically or racially motivated. White has openly aligned himself with critics of the D.C. Council’s investigation, and comparisons have been drawn to his mentor, former Mayor Marion Barry. Barry also faced allegations—most famously his cocaine trial—that many in the community viewed as racially charged. In this context, White’s scandals may be interpreted less as evidence of corruption and more as part of a broader pattern of Black leaders being unfairly targeted.
Considering that the Ward is closely tied to racial inequality, as it is mostly made up of African Americans and lacks public resources in comparison to other Wards, it’s plausible that Ward 8 residents feel they are consistently being targeted or treated unfairly. Thus, allowing them to overlook White’s scandal.
Additionally, Salim Adofo faced a controversy last summer while he was running against White in the Ward 8 D.C. council Democratic primary. It was alleged that he misused ANC funds for campaign activities. However, it has not gained as much notoriety in the media as White’s bribery scandal. According to many voters, they voted for White because of his hands-on community engagement.
I met up with Sade Wright, a local resident and founder of the Wright Family Foundation, which helps mothers who lost children to gun violence, youth rehabilitation, returning citizens and homelessness in Wards 7 and 8 to learn more about the local perspective of Trayon White in Ward 8 from someone who has supported him and engaged with him throughout the years. Considering Wright is the founder of such a community-driven organization, I was curious why Wright supported White over the other candidates and if she felt that White was most aligned with her foundation’s values.
White’s visibility during D.C.’s desperate and violent times
She stated that the summer of 2020 was one of the worst periods for gun violence D.C. has experienced. “Children were dropping left and right,” she said. Wright didn’t recall Mayor Bowser ever coming out to speak to grieving parents. She notes that people were calling on Councilmember Trayon White from outside his own ward, placing high expectations on him despite his official duty being to Ward 8. Still, he showed up—specifically for Karon Hylton-Brown, who died following a reckless police pursuit. The officer involved, Terence Sutton, was later convicted of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
“Trayon was not only for Ward 8, he was for the city. He’s the most active; he knew children on a first-name basis. He comes out, he knows if a child is not having a good day, a child knows if they need something, they can come to Trayon, (even if he’s not there) he can get someone who can help. We did not know how important health and wellness were until Trayon started pushing health and wellness. I don’t even have enough faith that any of the other candidates would love seniors the way Trayon does. He goes to the senior buildings. He makes sure they have transportation, especially when it pertains to getting things that they need. He has a connection with Martha’s Table, which helps them get perishable groceries. A lot of my parents would not have known about Martha’s Table if it wasn’t for Trayon. He was bringing people out that were volunteers to do cooking classes to show us how we can eat without spending so much money and having so much sugar.”
From Wright’s statements, I gathered that because White is deeply involved in the community, his presence is widely recognized and praised. She noted that while the other candidates also held important roles, they tended to work more behind the scenes. This visibility was both a strength and a weakness for White as his presence became expected amongst locals across D.C. outside of Ward 8. However, it ultimately helped him win the election, as people recognized his face and were aware of the impact he had made in the community.
Low voter turnout, what does it mean?
While White won the election, less than 14% of the electorate participated. That means while White was able to win a slim majority, just 2,277 votes. It doesn’t reflect most Ward 8 residents, only those who voted.
The election reflects a bigger issue: voter accessibility, or maybe the lack of excitement that their vote would create any real change in the district. Historically, Ward 8 has the highest rates of poverty of all of D.C., and throughout each election, this hasn’t changed. This sense of frustration is echoed online. In a Reddit thread titled “Ward 8 special election—thoughts on candidates?” one resident wrote: “As an 8 resident (who has already voted), none of the candidates bring anything to make me believe that they can fix the systemic issues of Ward 8.”
Some observers have raised concerns that corruption is becoming more normalized in U.S. politics, especially since Trump’s presidency. In that sense, White’s reelection may not just reflect Ward 8’s unique history, but also a broader trend in American politics where corruption feels increasingly overlooked.
For many, voting for a familiar face may be the simplest option. Besides that, Ward 8 is waiting for someone who truly cares and will make a difference. Hopefully, it’s Trayon White.
Featured image courtesy of White’s website.