Local
Biddle wins ‘gay’ precincts, trails Orange in close race
Gay Republican wins GOP committeeman post
Sekou Biddle meets with supporters in an election after party at D.C. Reynolds. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Challenger Sekou Biddle beat incumbent D.C. Council member Vincent Orange in 12 of 14 voter precincts considered to have high concentrations of LGBT residents but was trailing Orange by 523 votes in a hotly contested at-large Council race considered too close to call Tuesday night.
Orange was leading with 39.8 percent of the vote compared to Biddle’s 38.8 percent in a Democratic primary election in which only 15.5 percent of registered Democrats turned out to vote.
Democratic contenders Peter Shapiro and E. Gail Anderson Holness received 10.5 percent and 7.3 percent respectively. Some of Biddle’s supporters in the LGBT community called the two “spoilers” for taking away votes that likely would have gone to Biddle and enabled him to win the race.
Officials with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics said the final outcome of the race was not expected to be known until absentee and provisional ballots are counted on April 13.
Holness, while expressing general support on LGBT-related issues, alienated many of the city’s LGBT activists by calling for the city’s same-sex marriage law to go before voters in a referendum.
Biddle had the support of the largest number of LGBT activists, with Orange and Shapiro also lining up support in the LGBT community.
The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the city’s largest LGBT political group, did not endorse a candidate in the at-large race because club members were divided in their support between Biddle, Orange and Shapiro and none of the candidates could obtain a required 60 percent of the vote from the club’s membership to secure an endorsement.
Another four Council members running in the primary, including two who voted against the same-sex marriage law in 2009, easily won their races, enabling them to advance to the general election in November.
On the Republican side of the primary, gay Republican activist Robert Kabel, the current chair of the D.C. Republican Party, beat challenger Jordan Gehrke for the post of National Republican Committeeman.
Kabel, who couldn’t seek another term as party chair due to a term limit rule, will continue his tenure as a member of the Republican National Committee in his new role as committeeman. As chair of the D.C. Republican Party, Kabel also served on the RNC.
Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), one of the Council’s strongest supporters of LGBT rights, ran unopposed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), another strong supporter on LGBT issues, captured 65.4 percent of the vote in her primary contest against five challengers.
Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), who voted against the same-sex marriage law, captured 72.6 percent of the vote, trouncing four opponents who received a combined vote of 27 percent
In the Ward 7 Council race, incumbent Democrat Yvette Alexander, who also voted against the same-sex marriage law, won the primary with 42 percent of the vote. She ran against five challengers who split the remaining 58 percent of the Ward 7 Democratic vote.
The Stein Club endorsed challenger Tom Brown in the Ward 7 race, who received 22.5 percent of the vote. Club President Lateefah Williams was among the LGBT activists expressing concern that Alexander would clearly benefit from a divided opposition vote.
In other races, D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, ran unopposed in the primary. Incumbent D.C. shadow senator Michael D. Brown beat challenger Pete Ross by a margin of 58.5 percent to 25.1 percent.
Nate Bennett-Fleming (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Nate Bennett-Fleming, who received the Stein Club endorsement, ran unopposed for the shadow House seat. The so-called shadow posts were created by the city as unpaid advocates for D.C. statehood and voting rights in Congress.
On the Republican side of the primary, LGBT supportive candidate Ron Moten beat challenger Don Folden Sr. by a margin of 57.5 percent to 24.5 percent, capturing the GOP nomination in Ward 7. Moten received the endorsement of the D.C. Log Cabin Republicans, as did Kabel.
Moten has said he plans to wage a vigorous campaign against Alexander in the November general election.
But Alexander, along with all other Democrats running for Council seats, is considered the odds-on favorite to win in the general election in a city where registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans.
In the Statehood-Green Party primary, Ann Wilcox, an attorney who has represented the LGBT direct action group Get Equal, beat challenger G. Lee Aikin in the at-large Council race. Wilcox will run against either Orange or Biddle in the general election.
Statehood-Green candidate Natale Lino Stracuzzi ran unopposed for her party’s nomination for the congressional delegate seat, emerging as the only challenger to Norton in the November general election.
In the voter precincts considered to have large numbers of LGBT voters, Biddle beat Orange by lopsided margins in Precincts 14 and 15 (Dupont Circle); 16 and 17 (Logan Circle); 23 and 36 (Columbia Heights); 22 (U Street, N.W. corridor); 89 and 90 (Capitol Hill); 24 and 25 (Adams Morgan); and 127 (Southwest Waterfront).
Orange beat Biddle in Precinct 18 (Shaw) by a 190 to 130 vote margin. He also beat Biddle in Precinct 112 (Anacostia) by a margin of 236 votes to 57 votes. The two precincts, which are in majority black neighborhoods, are believed to have a large concentration of black LGBT voters.
Rehoboth Beach
HISTORIC: Susan Stewart elected Rehoboth’s first out mayor
Thanks LGBTQ supporters and vows to protect city’s small town charm
Residents of Rehoboth Beach elected City Commissioner Susan Stewart with 61% of the vote on Aug. 8, making her the city’s first openly gay mayor.
Stewart beat fellow commissioners Craig Their and Suzanne Goode in the race, as well as newcomer Jake Raak.
The final mayoral vote results were:
- Susan Stewart: 632
- Craig Their: 203
- Suzanne Goode: 177
- William “Jake” Raak: 23
“I’m very grateful because the LGBTQ+ community not only voted for me, but also supported me,” said Stewart.
Stewart said that she is particularly grateful for the support she received on social media from members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’ve had incredible support,” said Stewart.
Stewart said that her campaign showed her just how much residents of Rehoboth are engaged and care about the city.
“They really want to see what’s best for the community,” said Stewart.
Stewart spoke about the master planning initiative she has been working on as a commissioner, which she plans to continue as mayor.
“We’ve undertaken rewriting the commercial zoning code, and that’s foundational to the next step of the initiative,” said Stewart.
She said that she was proud of the results of charette week that was held last month where residents and business owners had the opportunity to speak with hired urban planners to give feedback for a zoning code update.
Stewart said that Rehoboth is at a tipping point as the city must find a way to balance the growth of the commercial district while improving the quality of life for residents.
“I don’t believe there needs to be tension between the business community and the residential experience,” said Stewart.
“I’m excited about a new master plan because we have a couple hotels coming, and we also have Clear Space Theatre looking for a new home, and we’re working with them,” said Stewart. “We want businesses to stay here.”
Stewart also said that she aims to embrace the concept of a ‘15-minute city,’ making the city much more accessible in terms of transportation in the downtown area for residents.
“The goal is to protect the small town charm and natural beauty of Rehoboth,” said Stewart. “I want to keep the momentum going.”
The Blade asked Stewart about any concerns she might have working with Commissioner Goode, whom she has criticized for sending inappropriate and offensive emails to city staff. Goode finished a distant third in the mayoral race and her husband fell short in his bid for a Commissioner’s seat. In that race, Jeffrey Goode received 239 votes; Patrick Gossett, who’s gay, received 813 votes and Mark Saunders 852. Saunders and Gossett will be sworn in next month.
“I’m really eager to move past this issue with Commissioner Goode,” said Stewart.
She said that she’s heard ‘loud and clear’ from the city that they want to move past this situation as best as they can while Goode remains in her seat as commissioner.
“There are no mechanisms for us to remove a sitting commissioner. Our laws don’t allow it,” said Stewart.
Stewart clarified that she has always focused on Goode’s behavior toward city staff.
“One thing I feel really passionate about is that the city employees have to know that they are heard. They are real people with real jobs, real professional reputations, and they’ve been harmed,” said Stewart.
The Blade also asked if Stewart had made a final decision on whom she plans to nominate to fill her Commissioner seat.
“I’m considering who to appoint and I have not made any final decisions,” said Stewart.
She noted that, as mayor, she only has the power to nominate a candidate and that the board of commissioners will have the final vote on whom to appoint to the board.
Stewart shared that she has received interest from a number of people and finds that to be a good sign.
“I think that’s a great sign because people want to serve. I’m eager to have someone in that seat who’s smart and has the best interests of the city,” said Stewart.
Stewart will be sworn in during the Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 18.
District of Columbia
D.C.’s Mary’s House For Older Adults names new executive director
Charlene Leach to succeed Imani Woody as leader of LGBTQ-supportive seniors home
The board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, the D.C.-based home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, has announced it has named longtime nonprofit organization leader A. Charlene Leach as its new executive director.
Leach, who is now serving in the executive director’s position, is succeeding Dr. Imani Woody, the Mary’s House founding president and CEO, who announced her retirement from her official leadership role at Mary’s House on July 7.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing the lead role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort DuPont neighborhood.
“With over three decades of nonprofit experience and 15 years serving as an executive director, Charlene brings a wealth of knowledge in organizational leadership, program development, and community engagement,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Her proven track record of building impactful programs and leading mission-driven organizations makes her uniquely suited to guide Mary’s House into its next phase of growth,” the statement continues. “Charlene is deeply aligned with the mission of Mary’s House and is committed to advancing its work to provide safe, inclusive housing and supportive services for LGBTQ+ older adults,” it says. “Under her leadership, the organization will continue to expand its impact while remaining grounded in the values that define our community.”
Leach’s LinkedIn page shows she has most recently served since 2022 as executive director of the African American AIDS Task Force in Minneapolis. Prior to that, it shows she served as executive director of the Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services organization in Fredericksburg, Va., and before that as director of development for the D.C.-Baltimore area Women’s Collective.
Her LinkedIn page says she has been involved with Mary’s House as a volunteer and grant writer since 2016.
The newly built and enlarged Mary’s House, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025 attended by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, includes 15 single-occupancy residential apartments and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
An earlier statement released by the Mary’s House board announcing Woody’s retirement said Woody would continue to be involved with the organization as a member of the board. The earlier statement and board’s more recent statement on July 29 announcing Leach’s appointment as executive director did not say whether the board plans to name someone else as president and CEO, the title that Woody held before her retirement. But the latest statement says Leach will be running Mary’s House’s day-to-day operations as Woody did.
Virginia
Doug Ollivant to face Eugene Vindman in Va. 7th Congressional District
Republican defeated challengers in Tuesday’s primary
Republican Doug Ollivant will face off against incumbent U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
Ollivant defeated his Republican opponents in Tuesday’s primary. Vindman ran unopposed.
Vindman in 2024 ran to succeed then-Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in the U.S. House of Representatives after she ran for governor. Spanberger succeeded Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2025.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Tuesday easily won his primary. All other Democratic incumbent members of Congress from Northern Virginia also won their respective primaries.
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