Barring yet another hastily arranged special election, D.C. voters aren’t scheduled to return to their polling places until April 1, 2014, when they will vote in primaries in the D.C. Council and mayoral elections. But candidates might get a few more months if Council Chairman Phil Mendelson gets his way.

Mendelson today introduced legislation that would delay next year’s primaries from the first Tuesday in April to early June. Until 2010, the District had held its primary elections—usually the decisive contests in a city with a massive Democratic majority—in September. But a 2011 federal law requires local governments to schedule primaries early enough so that general election ballots can be printed in time to reach overseas voters, including deployed members of the military.

But Mendelson said April might be too early for a primary, especially for the candidates who need to collect ballot signatures and introduce themselves to voters. (News of the proposed rescheduling was first reported by NBC4.) Mendelson said a campaign period that does not extend through the spring leaves candidates to organize around the holidays and winter, which he said is more difficult and gives a natural advantage to incumbents with established campaign organizations. He also said it would shorten the “lame duck” period.

So far, only Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser has filed to run in next year’s Democratic mayoral primary. Bowser did not add her name as a co-sponsor to Mendelson’s bill, but Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), who is still exploring whether to jump in the race, did. He also expressed support last year for delaying the primary until June. Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who is also thought to be running for mayor, also added his name as a co-sponsor.