Back in the day, people would gather to lobby, write letters and protest for a cause. These days, all it takes is access to a computer and a creative approach to using online tools. And while the fight for District voting rights has involved a good amount of old-school tactics, online activists have more resources at their disposal than ever before. Newly-elected Shadow Representative Mike Panetta has been leading this fight in recent years, employing... more ›

Update: Scratch everything -- no voting rights for D.C. this year. We're a step closer, yet still so far away. As the Post reported today, Utah has played its role in helping the District get a voting seat in the House of Representatives by agreeing to a re-districting plan that would give them one more seat in Congress. Their decision to do so has been the key to pushing the D.C. Fair and Equal House... more ›

Batten down the hatches, Washington. Proving that no good spell of weather goes unpunished, we've now got some major storms headed our way. Two separate storm lines, to be precise, are barreling down on the metro area as we speak, the first having just begun, and the second, more powerful system, expected between noon and 5 p.m. With winds at 30 mph, we'd suggest upgrading your umbrella to something more than cheap and crappy. District... more ›

Written by DCist contributor Alex Hogan and Martin Austermuhle D.C. Mayor, City Council: Ok, so the September Democratic primary kinda took the air out of the District's official mayoral election, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go vote. Look for a crushing Democratic sweep, but give a little time and check out what the Statehood Green and Republican candidates, Chris Otten and David Kranich, respectively, have to offer. We'd like to think that someday their... more ›

Written by DCist contributor Christopher Durocher In anticipation of the September 12 District primaries, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) of D.C. released its ratings for mayoral candidates last week. The ratings, which score candidates from +10 to -10 based on their support for the GLBT community and its issues, ranked D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp the top candidate with a +9.5 rating, while Councilmember Vincent Orange found himself at the bottom of the... more ›

It goes without saying -- the District is a town full of Democrats. They occupy the majority of the elected offices, have the most registered voters by a long shot, and reliably vote for Democratic presidential candidates. In the most recent analysis of the voter registry, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics reported that 73.5 percent of registered voters were Democrats. Republicans could only claim 8 percent, the Statehood Green Party 1.6 percent, and... more ›

We're three weeks from the September 12 District primaries, the contest that will decide who will square off against who in November's general election (even though Democrats invariably win the majority of contested seats, the Republican and Statehood Green parties also field candidates). And given the sheer number of candidates running in some races -- the Ward 5 seat is being contested by 13 people; Ward 3 by 10 -- getting all the information necessary... more ›

When it comes to fighting for District voting rights, activists face two main challengers -- the U.S. Congress and themselves. Members of Congress just either don't care much about whether or not the District's 600,000 residents have voting representation, or believe its a constitutional mandate written in stone that they shouldn't. They can be swayed. But many District-based voting right activists differ sharply on what the best approach to gaining voting rights is -- some... more ›

Ok, so we didn't win the Powerball drawing. At least not anything big. That $4 prize for matching two numbers isn't really consolation enough for the $40 dropped on tickets. But it was a busy week in the world of DCist, million dollar jackpot or not. more ›

Today we received an email from something we never thought existed -- a humble politician. It read: I am running for mayor of DC, on the Green Party ticket. I filed with the DC board of elections last Friday. So far no one has noticed and I am generally shy and having difficulty accepting that I need to draw attention to myself if I am to go anywhere with this. So here I am.And it... more ›

(Editor's Note: And for the first part of our Nationals opening day coverage, we start outside the stadium.) more ›

Matt Drudge is breathlessly reporting a local activist caused a "melee" at today's press conference to unveil the logo to the newly-named Washington Nationals. The activist in question was none other than D.C. Statehood Green Party member and failed candidate for D.C. Shadow Representative Adam Eidinger. Drudge reports: "Eidinger was jumped by several men, including former Washington Senators announcer Charlie Brotman. A tussle ensued, and the podium nearly fell over, before security managed to drag Eidinger off stage." more ›

D.C. statehood activists yesterday unfurled a giant District of Columbia flag on the Dumbarton Bridge yesterday. The image is from a short video posted to Mike Flugennock's website mikey 'zine. The video shows many people honking in support of the display of the massive flag. more ›

D.C.'s media outlets are reporting turnout for today's primary election is light across the District, even in the highly contested Ward 8, where supporters greeted former mayor and council candidate Marion Barry like "an ex-prize fighter stepping back into the ring." more ›

If you are a registered Democrat, Republican or Statehood Green in the District, today is primary day, so DCist encourages to get out and vote. There are some hotly contested city council races, including that of Marion Barry, the former mayor who is trying to regain his old city council seat in Anacostia. more ›

The green dragon which caught fire during of the United for Peace and Justice march at the Republican National Convention Sunday represented D.C. statehood, and was constructed and operated by District activists. more ›

The group behind the effort to build a massive video slots and entertainment complex on New York Avenue in Northeast D.C. is making a slight retreat as it has withdrawn about 10% of the 3,800-some petitions submitted to get a measure approving D.C. gambling on the Nov. 2 ballot. The Post reports that the group's lawyer, John Ray, listed 389 petitions that the initiative's pushers "would like to withdraw." Three petition circulators told the D.C.... more ›