Aparna Raj
Democrat · Candidate for District of Columbia Ward 1 Member of the Council · November 3, 2026
About this race
Your city's legislative body. Passes local ordinances, sets the city budget and property-tax rate, and makes zoning and development decisions; often hires the city manager.
4 candidates are running for District of Columbia Ward 1 Member of the Council in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Only voters in this district.
How you vote in this race: ranked choice
DC uses ranked-choice voting when three or more candidates are on the ballot. You can rank up to five candidates in order of preference, including a write-in; you don't have to rank more than one. If no one has more than half of the first choices, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots count for their next choice, until someone has a majority.
About Aparna Raj
Tenant and community organizer. A tenant and community organizer, the daughter of immigrants and a renter, who won the Ward 1 Democratic primary in June 2026. She is a former chair of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America.
What they say they'll focus on:
- Stable housing and expanded rent control
- Free, universal childcare
- Good public schools and union jobs
- Strong public transit
- Protect immigrants and defend DC's autonomy
In their own words: WTOP questionnaire
Where they stand
Strongly left, AI estimate from their own website and Wikipedia article (99% confidence).
Issue by issue
| Economy, taxes & spending | Strongly left |
| Immigration | Strongly left |
| Abortion | Strongly left |
Funding
$378K raised, $304K of it in public matching funds, $150 self-funded.
| Largest donors | Amount |
|---|---|
| Jordan Thompson | $104 |
| Walter Lewis | $100 |
| Swati Karandikar | $100 |
| Samantha Bertocchi | $100 |
| Philip Dodson | $100 |
| Pedro Dana | $100 |
| Nell Geiser | $100 |
| Michelle Healy | $100 |
More about Aparna Raj
Campaign website · Instagram · Facebook · X · Ballotpedia
Also running
Quick answers
- What party is Aparna Raj?
- Aparna Raj is running as a Democrat.
- What does the Ward 1 Member of the Council seat do?
- Your city's legislative body. Passes local ordinances, sets the city budget and property-tax rate, and makes zoning and development decisions; often hires the city manager.
- Who is Aparna Raj running against?
- Jett James Jasper, Ryan Prince and Jude Crannitch, for District of Columbia Ward 1 Member of the Council.
- How much money has Aparna Raj raised?
- $378K as of the latest state campaign-finance filings.
- Is Aparna Raj liberal or conservative?
- On SpectrumVote's left–right scale, Aparna Raj is strongly left, AI estimate from their own website and Wikipedia article (99% confidence). This is an AI estimate and less certain than a published score.
- Should I vote for Aparna Raj?
- SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare Aparna Raj's record, funding and endorsements with the other candidates in this race and decide based on what matters to you.