District of Columbia

RESULTS: Trayon White wins first back Ward 8 DC Council seat in special election caused by his expulsion

Mike Murillo | mmurillo@wtop.com
July 15, 2025, 7:32 PM

At the Anacostia Library on Tuesday, voters filed in and out of the building as they made their choice for who should become D.C.’s next Ward 8 council member.

The special election comes after former Ward 8 council member Trayon White was expelled following the council’s investigation into the federal bribery charge against him.

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the Washington, DC, city council special election
Despite scandal and a looming corruption trial, Trayon White wins vote to return to the DC Council.

White, 41, is accused by the FBI of accepting bribes in return for providing influence in the city’s contract selection process. He maintains his innocence and pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to begin in January.

White is going up against three other candidates for the seat — Salim Adofo, Mike Austin and Sheila Bunn. All three boast experience either working as staffers for D.C. Council members or in the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions — hyper-local bodies that frequently serve as training grounds for future council members. Adofo lost to White in the 2024 Democratic primary, securing 28% of the vote.

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