Josh Lopez

On the evening in early January that the D.C. Democratic State Committee gathered in a crowded conference room to select an At-Large councilmember to hold the seat until the April 26 Special Election, Ward 4 resident Josh Lopez arrived as the contested balloting was wrapping up. It didn’t really matter, though — Lopez wasn’t seeking the appointment.

But the way he slipped in without attracting much attention belied the fact that the 27-year-old had already finished gathering the 3,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot, putting him weeks ahead of the many competitors he’s facing in the April contest. Lopez filed his signatures with the Board of Elections and Ethics on January 11; no one has yet followed suit. Being that far ahead is just part of the challenges he faces in winning the seat, though.

“It’s the only way I can win,” Lopez told DCist last week, describing a punishing full-time campaign schedule that includes gathering more signatures, introducing himself to would-be voters, attending community and ANC meetings and raising money.”There are 85 days left. It’s a relatively short amount of time to get my name out there, to get my message out there.”