1992 United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia

On November 3, 1992, the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate, the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. One-term incumbent and inaugural office-holder Charles Moreland ran for reelection and won.

1992 United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia

← 1990 November 3, 1992 1994 →
Turnout67.9% pp[1]
 
Nominee Charles Moreland Paul J. McAllister Gloria Corn
Party Democratic DC Statehood Republican
Popular vote 135,592 25,399 25,035
Percentage 70.0% 13.1% 12.9%

Results by ward:
  Moreland—40–50%
  Moreland—60–70%
  Moreland—70–80%
  Moreland—80-90%

Shadow Representative before election

Charles Moreland
Democratic

Elected Shadow Representative

Charles Moreland
Democratic

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on September 13.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • John Capozzi, IT professional and member of the Democratic Statehood Committee from Ward 6[2]
  • Charles Moreland, attorney and incumbent Shadow Representative from Ward 7[2]

Campaign

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Moreland, the incumbent Shadow Representative and inaugural office-holder, was challenged in the Democratic primary by John Capozzi. Moreland had been the subject of a number of controversies since he entered office. In September 1990, prior to his first election, news broke that Moreland had not filed federal or district taxes for at least five years. Moreland claimed this was a political statement intended to highlight the District's lack of representation. In February 1991, Moreland failed to appear at a court hearing over an unpaid loan made to purchase a 1983 Jaguar. Though a bench warrant was issued, Moreland was not taken into custody and during his reelection campaign he claimed to have resolved the loan issue.[3]

Capozzi entered the primary critical of Moreland. He claimed Moreland's focus on community organizing was unsuccessful and the cause of statehood would be better served with more time spent on Capitol Hill lobbying legislators. Capozzi was critical of Moreland's strategy of tax evasion saying that it alienated members of Congress. Capozzi even insinuated that Moreland's failure to pay taxes was meant primarily for personal gain by saying: "This is supposed to be about lobbying for statehood, not some kind of 'Don Quixote' ride to avoid paying taxes," During the primary campaign, Moreland was reprimanded by the Office of Campaign Finance and Ethics for submitting campaign finance reports weeks after they were due. Moreland was also ordered to take down nearly 200 campaign posters for having insufficient information on their financing.[2]

Results

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District of Columbia Shadow Representative Democratic primary election, 1992[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Moreland (incumbent) 30,561 59.40
Democratic John Capozzi 19,670 38.23
Write-in 1,216 2.36
Total votes 51,447 100.00
 
Democratic primary results by ward:
  Moreland—70–80%
  Moreland—60–70%
  Moreland—50–60%
  Moreland—40–50%
  Capozzi—50–60%
  Capozzi—70–80%

Results by ward

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Ward Turnout Charles J. Moreland John James Capozzi Write-ins Total Votes
Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes
Ward 1 12.4% 55.80% 1,857 41.68% 1,387 2.52% 84 3,328
Ward 2 17.1% 42.21% 1,534 54.84% 1,993 2.94% 107 3,634
Ward 3 13.0% 22.76% 735 73.62% 2,378 3.62% 117 3,230
Ward 4 37.8% 61.16% 7,833 36.84% 4,718 2.01% 257 12,808
Ward 5 17.3% 69.43% 4,006 28.42% 1,640 2.15% 124 5,770
Ward 6 15.8% 49.14% 2,346 48.01% 2,292 2.85% 136 4,774
Ward 7 33.5% 65.79% 6,827 32.25% 3,347 1.96% 203 10,377
Ward 8 38.6% 72.06% 5,423 25.45% 1,915 2.50% 188 7,526

Statehood Party primary

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Candidates

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  • Faith, activist from Ward 1[2]
  • Paul J. McAllister, party Secretary-Treasurer from Ward 5[2]

Campaign

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Both candidates said they would attempt to build grassroots support for statehood though Faith claimed she would build a multiethnic and multireligious coalition.[2]

Results

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Statehood primary results by ward:
  Tie
  McAllister—40–50%
  McAllister—50–60%
  McAllister—60–70%
District of Columbia Shadow Representative Statehood Party primary election, 1992[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
DC Statehood Paul J. McAllister 128 52.46
DC Statehood Faith 84 34.43
Write-in 32 13.11
Total votes 244 100.00

Republican primary

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No candidates appeared on the Republican primary ballot and only write-in votes were cast.[4]

Other candidates

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A Republican candidate achieved ballot access through write-ins in the primary.

General election

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The general election took place on November 3. Both challengers criticized Moreland's nonpayment of taxes as ineffective and insincere. During the campaign, Corn opposed statehood and said that if elected she would work to get more budget autonomy for DC as well as increased federal funding for anti-crime efforts.[5]

Results

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General election results by ward:
  Moreland—40–50%
  Moreland—60–70%
  Moreland—70–80%
  Moreland—80-90%
General election results[1][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Charles J. Moreland (incumbent) 135,592 69.96 −3.57
DC Statehood Paul J. McAllister 25,399 13.10 −0.79
Republican Gloria R. Corn 25,035 12.92 −1.24
Write-in 7,800 4.02
Total votes 193,826 100.00%

Results by ward

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Ward Turnout Charles J. Moreland
(Democratic)
Paul J. McAllister
(Statehood)
Gloria R. Corn
(Republican)
Write-ins Total Votes
Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes
Ward 1 59.62% 67.58% 14,982 16.47% 3,651 11.53% 2,555 4.42% 980 22,168
Ward 2 64.32% 60.83% 14,463 11.66% 2,773 21.92% 5,212 5.58% 1,327 23,775
Ward 3 72.08% 48.98% 14,846 9.09% 2,754 32.59% 9,878 9.34% 2,832 30,310
Ward 4 67.85% 77.29% 22,272 13.93% 4,015 6.00% 1,730 2.77% 799 28,816
Ward 5 63.10% 77.31% 19,543 15.27% 3,859 5.53% 1,399 1.89% 478 25,279
Ward 6 61.95% 70.25% 17,046 14.04% 3,406 11.54% 2,800 4.18% 1,014 24,266
Ward 7 62.93% 82.87% 20,127 12.17% 2,955 3.94% 957 1.02% 247 24,286
Ward 8 53.87 82.49% 12,313 13.31% 1,986 3.38% 504 0.82% 123 14,926
Totals 67.88% 69.96% 135,592 13.10% 25,399 12.92% 25,035 4.02% 7,800 231,445

References

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  1. ^ a b "Final and Complete Election Results" (PDF). DC Board of Elections. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Norris, Michele L. (September 10, 1992). "CLEAR DIVISION SEEN IN SHADOW SEAT RACE". Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  3. ^ Torry, Saundra (February 16, 1991). "D.C. SHADOW REPRESENTATIVE ORDERED ARRESTED". Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Final and Complete Election Results" (PDF). DC Board of Elections. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Ragl, James (October 29, 1992). "NORTON, MORELAND AREN'T TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED". Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "DC Shadow Representative". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 5, 2021.