DOGE'd federal worker runs for mayor

The big picture: Solomon, a Dupont resident who grew up in Burleith, worked as a contractor at DHS until mid-July, and previously at DOD and the FBI.

• She tells Axios she's running to make local government more efficient for residents and businesses — she says she'd audit all agencies to stem overspending.
• And she wants to rethink the public schools' lottery system. Solomon is 42, no kids herself.
• "What connects us all right now is affordability," she says in a launch video.

State of play: Two leading mayoral contenders include Council member Janeese Lewis George and former council member Kenyan McDuffie.

• Former council member Vincent Orange and Army veteran Gary Goodweather are also running.

What's next: Solomon will need to collect 2,000 signatures from voters to qualify for the ballot by mid-March.

• "I'm not backed by any big machine," she tells Axios. "I will be transparent and talk directly to the residents of the city."