1994 United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia

On November 8, 1994, 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. Two-term incumbent and inaugural office-holder Charles Moreland declined to run for reelection and was succeeded by fellow Democrat John Capozzi.

United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia, 1994

← 1992 November 8, 1994 1996 →
Turnout51.5% pp[1]
 
Nominee John Capozzi Edward D. Turpin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 104,532 18,756
Percentage 68.7% 12.3%

 
Nominee Paul McAllister Keith Mitchell
Party DC Statehood Independent
Popular vote 14,147 13,190
Percentage 9.3% 8.7%

Shadow Representative before election

Charles Moreland
Democratic

Elected Shadow Representative

John Capozzi
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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Disqualified
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Declined to run
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  • Charles Moreland, incumbent Shadow Representative

Results

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Two Democratic candidates filed to appear on the ballot. Keith Mitchell, director of a charity that worked with the homeless, was disqualified from the ballot because on his ballot petition, a number of homeless voters signed and gave their mailing addresses rather than the addresses where they were registered. After he was disqualified from the primary ballot, Mitchell announced he would run as an independent candidate in the general election[2]

District of Columbia Shadow Representative Democratic primary election, 1994[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Capozzi 85,366 94.36
Write-in 5,101 5.64
Total votes 90,467 100.00

Other primaries

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Primaries were held for the Republican and Statehood parties but no candidates were on the ballot and only write-in votes were cast.[3] Turpin and McAllister of the Republican and Statehood parties, respectively, both were nominated through write-in votes. McAllister was also nominated for delegate through write-ins but only accepted the nomination for Shadow Representative.[4][5]

Other candidates

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General election

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The general election took place on November 15. Keith Mitchell, who ran as an independent after being disqualified from the Democratic primary ballot, withdrew from the race prior to election day.[1] Turpin stated that he opposed statehood for DC and said that increased employment was more important than statehood. He also promised to create 1,000 jobs if elected.[5]

Results

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General election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Capozzi 104,532 68.65 −1.31
Republican Edward D. Turpin 18,756 12.32 −0.60
DC Statehood Paul McAllister 14,147 9.29 −3.81
Independent Keith Mitchell (withdrawn) 13,190 8.66 +8.66
Write-in 1,644 1.08 -2.94
Total votes 152,269 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ a b c "November 8 General Election". DC Board of Elections. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c de Silva, D. Richard (August 11, 1994). "Addressing a Residence Issue". Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "September 13 Primary Election". DC Board of Elections. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  4. ^ Henderson, Nell; Woodlee, Yolanda (October 13, 1994). "The Handwrighting is on the Ballot". Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Harris, Hamil R. (November 3, 1994). "D.C.'S WRITTEN-IN CANDIDATES VARY IN ENERGY, EXPECTATIONS". Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2021.