By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
kmcneir@afro.com
As political rivals Sheila Bunn and Trayon White shook hands and exchanged pleasantries outside of the Player’s Lounge, a popular “grown folks” nightspot located on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Southeast Washington, D.C., it was hard to believe that White had crashed a party that was intended for Bunn.
Still, White had reason to celebrate after the Associated Press, shortly before 11 p.m. on July 15, declared him the winner in the City Council Ward 8 special election.
“I’m elated and encouraged because despite the naysayers, the voters have spoken,” said White, while surrounded by an equally excited group of supporters. “We sent a message to the D.C. Council that Trayon White is here to stay.”
Ward 8, according to the DC Board of Elections (February 2025), has 52,541 registered voters, of whom 41,177 are Democrats. In this race, as in most special elections, voter turnout was sparse. However, it only takes one vote to win, and by a slim margin of just over 350 votes, White fought his way back to the winner’s circle.
With 80 percent of the vote in, White garnered 1,987 votes (29.7 percent), followed by fellow Democrats Bunn with 1,627 votes (24.3 percent), Mike Austin (1,584 votes, 23.7 percent) and Salim Adolfo (1,495 votes, 22.3 percent).
Bunn, gracious in defeat, said she plans to continue to advocate for many of the issues outlined in her platform, and looks forward to sharing the needs of Ward 8 residents that she heard while on the campaign trail with the council member elect.
“Public safety, mental health services, better access to healthy food are the most pressing issues among those with whom I have spoken,” she said. “But we can ill afford to fight amongst ourselves when we have a president and members of Congress who are chipping away at D.C. Home Rule and our rights day after day.
“As for Trayon,” she added, “the voters have spoken, and we must honor that. That means he and the other council members need to work together and put aside their differences.”
Patrice Landcaster, a Ward 8 resident and single mother with two sons, said she had two reasons to celebrate. First, she was pleased that her candidate of choice had emerged victorious. In addition, the election marked the first time that her youngest son had been able to cast his ballot.
“I predicted this outcome and had warned city officials not to waste money on holding a special election,” she said. “I think the council suggesting that if Trayon won, they might vote to again eject him from his seat incensed a lot of people in our ward. We already must contend with Congress interfering in our affairs. We weren’t going to let the D.C. Council do the same.”
Damian Bascom, an environmental activist and entrepreneur, said now that the election is over, it’s time for people to unite.
“I think we can come together and pursue our common interests with Trayon White back in office,” Bascom said. “He can make that happen. We need healing in Ward 8, healing on every level including economically, educationally, and spiritually. When people believe that someone cares about them and is willing to invest in their minds, bodies and souls, they’ll put the guns down and stop the violence.”
Slow and steady wins the race
White acknowledged that he entered the race after other candidates had already begun their campaigns, and he noted that he had far less money in his war chest than most of his opponents. He further realized that with a cloud of federal corruption charges and alleged ethics violations hovering over him, some voters may have doubted his sincerity and ability to return to office and get the job done. Still, he said he believed in himself and feels confident that in the end, he will be vindicated of all charges.
“If you don’t believe in yourself, you may as well give up,” he said. “But that’s not me, and I think those who voted for me know that. Throughout everything I’ve faced, I have tried to remain humble, and I have never forgotten how blessed I am.”
White said he already has his agenda planned for the morning after the election in his role as council member elect.
“I want to meet with the other candidates because they all ran solid campaigns and have some great ideas for improving the lives of those who live in our ward,” he said. “Then, I’m going to meet with the members of the D.C. Council.
“I have some ideas about the budget, especially the RFK Stadium deal that’s still being negotiated. Councilmember (Wendell) Felder (Ward 7) has been on the frontline for D.C. residents who live East of the River. But he needs some help, and I’m going to give it to him. We can’t allow this deal to go through until we’re certain that we will get our fair share.”
