Markus Batchelor, the vice president of the State Board of Education, has announced his candidacy for an At-large seat on the D.C. Council on Thursday. He would be the youngest person ever elected to the Council if elected. 

Batchelor is running as an independent for one of the two open At-large seats, which are currently filled by Democrat Robert White and independent David Grosso. Voters can choose two At-large candidates out of all those running, but there’s one quirk: only one of those candidates can be from the majority party (aka the Democrats). Given that D.C. is heavily Democratic, At-large seat are often safe from independent challengers—meaning that Batchelor would effectively be duking it out with Grosso.

Batchelor was elected to his post on the State Board of Education in 2016, when he was just 23 years old, to represent Ward 8. He previously served as an ANC commissioner representing Congress Heights (where he grew up) and Washington Highlands. He attended and trained others at the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute.

“We need bold leadership on the DC Council, with both the experience and perspective needed to urgently address the real needs of our neighborhoods and families. We deserve an independent voice, rooted in our communities, that is willing to fight for the opportunity all Washingtonians need to thrive,” Batchelor said in a fundraising email.

Grosso, who has not yet filed paperwork to run, was elected to his post in 2016. He serves as the chair of the Committee on Education, and is among the D.C. Council’s most liberal members. He’s pushed for paid family leave, sex work decriminalization, and the legalization of marijuana sales.

Batchelor did not respond to a request for comment from DCist by press time.