Position Sought
DC Councilmember, Ward 1
Party Affiliation
Democrat
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Date of Primary Election
June 16, 2026
Primary Election Donation Limit
$50
Date of General Election
November 3, 2026
General Election Donation Limit
$50
Race/Ethnicity
Asian/Pacific Islander
Gender Identity
Cisgender Woman
Sexual Orientation
Queer
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Connect with Aparna Raj
Aparna will be the first out LGBTQ+ woman to serve on the DC City Council!
Biography
Aparna Raj is a tenant organizer, union member, queer woman, and the proud daughter of immigrants, running for DC Council in Ward 1 to ensure that every Ward 1 resident can afford to build a life here and can live freely, without fear.
Aparna has dedicated her time in DC to making sure everyone has what they need to live a dignified life. She’s organized tenants in Ward 1 and across DC to take on their landlords, fight slum conditions, and win rent concessions. Aparna served on her unit’s bargaining committee to win pay increases and better benefits for her and her coworkers, fought to raise the tipped minimum wage in DC, and has been active in supporting DC’s workers in local union fights. She’s running to cap rents by expanding rent control to every multifamily building in DC, fund free childcare for every family, and fight for a free DC with protections for immigrants and queer and trans people, and support for federal workers.