Former Washington, D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8), who is currently facing a federal bribery indictment, launched a reelection campaign for his former seat March 31.
White announced his candidacy in a March 31 Instagram post, which depicted him filing the paperwork to run in the Ward 8 special election July 15. If elected, White would be the first councilmember to regain their former seat after being expelled from the D.C. Council.
In a press conference, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) said White is within his right to run for office.
“He, as a registered voter, is entitled to take out petitions and seek to get on the ballot for election,” Mendelson said. “I realize that to a lot of members of the public that seems shocking, but the law — which is the Home Rule Act, in other words legislation that we cannot change — is quite clear that the disqualification is if one is convicted while in office.”
White’s campaign comes after the Council unanimously expelled him Feb. 4 following an investigation that found substantial evidence that White violated the Council’s code of official conduct. In August 2024, the FBI charged White with one count of bribery for allegedly accepting cash bribes in exchange for influence over grant allocation. White pleaded not guilty but could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Despite the charges, White remains a popular figure in Ward 8, winning his seat in November 2024 with more than 80% of the vote, even after the indictment.
Joe Massaua (SFS ’25), the former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for 2E04, the south side of Georgetown’s campus, said he thinks if White is reelected, it should fall to the court system to proceed.
“At that point when somebody’s allegations are so well known and they continue to win reelection, I think you would just go to the courts,” Massaua told The Hoya.
White said in a video posted on Instagram that Mendelson told him the Council would not expel him again were he to win reelection.
“Phil Mendelson said that I have the opportunity to run again, but they have the opportunity to vote me out again,” White said. “And Phil assured me that that was not going to be the case, man, I hope you ain’t lying to me.”
Mendelson declined to comment on whether the Council would expel White if reelected.
Salwa Sheikh (CAS ’28), a student from the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area, said she thinks White’s reelection would have negative consequences on the District.
“If the people want to elect him, I think that does bring him some legitimacy, but I don’t think it promotes a healthy democracy at all to have someone charged with a crime such as bribery in office,” Sheikh told The Hoya.
The Council has previously taken action against similar reelection campaigns — in 2020, former Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans resigned from the Council to avoid expulsion following multiple investigations into ethics violations. When Evans decided to run in the special election for his own seat, the Council unanimously denounced his candidacy, leading him to voluntarily end his campaign.
Massaua said he hopes the council will take similar steps amid White’s reelection campaign.“In Jack Evans’ case it was less severe, so if they did it for that case I think they can do it again for this one,” Massaua said.
White said in a video posted on Instagram he was determined to fight the allegations and continue to serve his community.
“I’m not gonna be in the house depressed and lay down and cry,” White said. “I’m not doing that. As a man I’m gonna stand up and I’m gonna stand ten toes down and deal with whatever’s coming my way.”
Massaua said considering the bribery allegations against White, he feels sympathetic for White’s former constituents who rely on assistance from the Council.
“It’s just difficult for residents and those who rely on community services and nonprofits because there’s a question as to who their elected representation is and if their elected representation has their best interest in mind,” Massaua said.