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Oye Owolewa

Democratic candidate for At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia · Challenger

Pharmacist; U.S. Shadow Representative for the District of Columbia

Oye Owolewa is a pharmacist who has been the District of Columbia's U.S. Shadow Representative since January 2021, and he also serves as an elected neighborhood official. He ran for the at-large D.C. Council seat held by Anita Bonds, who later chose not to seek reelection, and he won the June 16, 2026 Democratic primary. He is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot for one of two at-large seats.

Where Owolewa stands

Public safety

Supports a community-first approach to safety: expanding violence interruption, youth employment and community-based prevention, and having trained responders rather than armed officers handle mental health emergencies whenever possible.

Health care

Proposes fully restoring and permanently funding DC Medicaid and the DC Healthcare Alliance, reversing budget cuts he says remove care for 25,000 residents, and raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for clinics, doctors and pharmacies.

Housing

Supports putting preservation of existing affordable housing first, including dedicating a significant share of the Housing Production Trust Fund to preservation, such as TOPA transactions.

Arts and culture

Supports fair pay, stable funding and affordable space for artists and cultural workers, and protecting neighborhood cultural institutions from displacement.

D.C. statehood

As Shadow Representative, has lobbied Congress for D.C. statehood.

Background

• U.S. Shadow Representative, District of Columbia (2021–present; term ends January 2027)
• Elected neighborhood official in D.C. (Advisory Neighborhood Commission)
• Pharmacist
• Education: Northeastern University, B.S. and PharmD
• Born 1989 in Boston, Massachusetts
• Won the 2026 Democratic primary for D.C. Council At-Large

In the news

• One Choice Per Ballot for Two At-Large Seats in November Hill Rag, October 12, 2026

Also running for At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia

• Darryl Moch DC Statehood Green
• Darrell Green Republican
• Elissa Silverman Independent

Sources

• BallotReady candidate profile
• Wikipedia: Oye Owolewa
• Ballotpedia: Oye Owolewa
• WUSA9: Oye Owolewa wins Council Member At-Large primary
• Northeastern Global News profile
• Hill Rag, Oct. 12, 2026

Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.