D.C. Bar voters reject Trump-linked candidates in record election
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In a record-breaking election turnout, D.C. Bar members overwhelmingly rejected candidates affiliated with the Trump administration.
Why it matters: Tens of thousands from Washington's legal community delivered the striking rebuke, signaling strong resistance to the Trump administration's perceived meddling in local and legal affairs.
Driving the news: Employment attorney Diane Seltzer beat Brad Bondi, the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, with 91% of the vote to become president-elect of the D.C. Bar.
- Meanwhile, Microsoft attorney Amanda Molina defeated another Trump administration affiliate, Justice Department attorney Alicia Long, in the race for treasurer-elect with nearly 75% of the votes.
Catch up quick: The D.C. Bar is the largest mandatory bar in the country with over 120,000 members — including five Supreme Court justices — and an apolitical and nonpartisan mission to manage, regulate and support them.
- Bondi and Long's bids for influential leadership positions sparked fears that their appointments could politicize and weaponize the organization at a time when the Trump administration is bringing Big Law to heel and escalating attacks on judges, despite the candidates' arguments otherwise.
The typically sleepy, low-turnout election made national headlines, stirred social media debates and garnered a record number of votes, despite D.C. Bar leaders' reminders that the organization does not handle disciplinary matters (meaning it could not bring retribution against President Trump's perceived foes, or unfairly bolster his allies, as some theorized).
By the numbers: Over 38,600 members voted in the election, a staggering 43% of the base, up from just 9% last year with fewer than 7,570 voters.
- Seltzer got around 35,000 votes compared to nearly 3,500 for Bondi.
What they're saying: Bondi, who runs the global white collar defense practice at Paul Hastings, said the election was unfairly hijacked.
- "I am disgusted by how rabid partisans lurched this election into the political gutter, turning a professional campaign into baseless attacks, identity politics, and partisan recrimination," Bondi said in a statement to Axios.
Seltzer, a longtime D.C. Bar leader and employment attorney, told Axios her mission is to support lawyers in a time of "governmental chaos."
- In a statement, Seltzer called her victory a win for D.C. Bar members who "care about making sure leadership reflects their values," which she said includes "maintaining the rule of law" and "being able to practice law without fear of retaliation."
What's next: Seltzer will begin her term as president on July 1 next year.