Zachary Parker
Who will win the 2026 DC Democratic Mayoral Primary?
$141.5K
JUN 17, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleCouncil Member
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationDistrict of Columbia
BackgroundPolitician
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EducationNorthwestern University (BS, Speech and Language Pathology)
Notable personal detailsZachary Parker is an educator and public official serving on the Council of the District of Columbia as the Ward 5 councilmember (2023–present). He previously represented Ward 5 on the D.C. State Board of Education and was selected by colleagues to serve as State Board president in 2021. Before holding elected office, he worked in education, including as a Teach For America math teacher and in roles supporting D.C. public school leaders.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax increases on high-income residents (including a proposed capital gains surcharge and closing pass-through income loopholes) paired with refundable child tax credits and expanded family supports. Has introduced and advocated for a District Child Tax Credit and proposed using those revenue changes to fund benefits for low- and middle-income families.
Healthcare
Zachary Parker supports expanding public health and behavioral health services and has sponsored local legislation to strengthen school health services, maternal health supports tied to housing, HIV prevention (PrEP) access, and child behavioral health data and services. His record as Ward 5 Councilmember emphasizes addressing health disparities and using local government programs and legislation to broaden access to care.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protections for immigrants and opposes expanded local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement; has joined council actions aimed at strengthening immigrant safety and limiting police collaboration with ICE. Emphasizes concerns about federal enforcement operations in D.C. and their chilling effects on communities.
Climate & Energy
Supports District-level climate and clean-energy actions including expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, residential electrification (removing indoor natural gas), and environmental justice measures to hold polluters accountable. Favors investment and policies to reduce emissions and improve local air quality while enabling a transition from fossil-fuel use in homes and transportation.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports treating gun violence as a public‑health crisis and advancing “common sense” gun policy, including legislation to hold firearm industry actors accountable for trafficking and unsafe practices; favors prevention, community resources, and police reform measures while opposing broad stop‑and‑frisk style proposals.
News
Zachary Parker is in the news as a D.C. Democratic mayoral candidate ahead of the June 16 primary, with the campaign now focused on juvenile curfew policy after another weekend of reported disturbances in Navy Yard. The race is also being shaped by broader fights over President Donald Trump’s actions in Washington, including federal control, home rule, and statehood. A separate Supreme Court case on mail-in ballot deadlines could also affect how D.C. elections are run.
DC mayoral candidates to debate after another weekend with 'teen takeovers'
President of Parks and Rec? Trump asserts authority over public spaces in DC
Supreme Court case could tighten mail-in ballot deadline
Endorsements
Endorsers of Zachary Parker for Who will win the 2026 DC Democratic Mayoral Primary?
Washington Teachers' Union
Labor organization
Washington Teachers' Union endorsed Zachary Parker for Ward 5 D.C. Council.
ElectED DC
Public endorsement
ElectED DC endorsed Zachary Parker in the 2026 D.C. Council races.
DC Voters for Animals
Public endorsement
DC Voters for Animals endorsed Zachary Parker for Ward 5 D.C. Council.
GGWash
Public endorsement
GGWash endorsed Zachary Parker in the 2026 D.C. Council Democratic primary.
DC Latino Caucus
Advocacy group
DC Latino Caucus endorsed Zachary Parker for Ward 5 D.C. Council.
Sierra Club
Public figure
Sierra Club endorsed Zachary Parker for the 2026 D.C. Council race.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising