WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time in a generation, Washingtonians woke up to a general election lineup that doesn’t include Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.Norton, who served 18 terms as the District of Columbia’s nonvoting representative in Congress, chose not to run for reelection after mounting concerns that, at 89 years old, she was no longer capable of forcefully combating a Republican-led Congress and presidential administration constantly overriding the heavily Democratic city’s leadership. Voters choose their local leaders, but Congress has final say on the laws the city passes and its budget.Council member Robert White Jr. won the Democratic primary to replace Norton and is expected to win the general election in November. He will face Republican Denise Rosado, an immigration attorney who ran unopposed.
A D.C. native and lifelong resident, White is a lawyer and worked as Norton’s legislative counsel for five years, as well as serving at the attorney general’s office for the District of Columbia before winning the special election in 2016 for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council.
D.C. Council member Robert White Jr., accompanied by his wife, waves to supporters after casting his vote during the D.C. primary election. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
