Politics

Campaigners to raise tipped minimum wage began collecting signatures yesterday for a similar ballot initiative that voters approved in 2018 — only to be overruled by council members.

Details: Initiative 82 aims to gradually raise the minimum wage of tipped workers to full parity with minimum wage in D.C.

At-large Council member Robert White joined the D.C. mayor's race Wednesday, emphasizing the need to stem violent crime and fight poverty.

Why it matters: White's entry sets up a likely contest against Mayor Muriel Bowser to lead the nation's capital amid a spike in homicides and the pandemic's continued disruption to health and the economy.

D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said Tuesday he will not run for office next year, capping off two terms where the Democrat took on former President Donald Trump and corporate titans.

Why it matters: For years, Racine captured national attention and considered running for mayor, but now his exit sets the stage for a competitive race to fill his seat, and other candidates to run for mayor.

Former council member Vincent Orange tells Axios he plans to run in Ward 5, and a poll that includes potential candidates shows him leading the pack.

Why it matters: Ward 5 is the second-fastest-growing ward in the city, and the race to become its next council member has turned into a free-for-all due to incumbent council member Kenyan McDuffie not seeking reelection.

Democratic At-large Council member Robert White is considering jumping into the District’s mayoral race, his two-time campaign chair tells Axios.

Why it matters: White would immediately become the strongest rival to Mayor Muriel Bowser to lead the nation’s capital. He's taking a "hard look at a run for Mayor," Mathew Frumin, who chaired his two successful at-large campaigns, said in a text. "No more to add on that now."

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie will not seek re-election for his seat, his former campaign chairman tells Axios.

• “He has made a decision to not run for council anymore,” said Pierpont Morgan Mobley, who chaired his 2018 campaign.

D.C. Council members are debating a vaccine mandate for themselves and their staffers, and one lawmaker is mum on whether he received a shot.

• The new proposed mandate would require all council employees to receive a vaccine by the end of the month or face unpaid leave and potential termination.
• The policy says council members who don't get vaccinated would be subject to "appropriate discipline."
• The rule allows for medical or religious exemptions but would still mandate regular COVID-19 tests.

Yes, but: Ward 8 council member Trayon White has pushed back against any proposed reprimands for the unvaccinated, Axios' Cuneyt Dil reports.

A local leader and lawyer has thrown her hat in the ring for chair of the D.C. Council.

Democrat Erin Palmer, 40, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Takoma, announced on Sept. 25 that she is challenging chair Phil Mendelson for his seat.

• Palmer tells Axios' Chelsea Cirruzzo that her campaign expects to announce today that they've met the requirements to be certified as a participating candidate under D.C.'s Fair Elections Program.