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Paul Strauss

Democratic candidate for United States Senator, District of Columbia · Incumbent

U.S. Shadow Senator for the District of Columbia; attorney

Paul Strauss is a Democrat who has served as the District of Columbia's U.S. Shadow Senator, a non-voting position listed on the ballot as United States Senator, since January 1997. He is seeking a sixth six-year term. Reports say he was unopposed in the June 16, 2026 Democratic primary after Markus Batchelor was denied ballot access, and he faces Republican Robert Simmons in the November 3, 2026 general election.

Where Strauss stands

DC statehood

Supports admitting the District of Columbia as the 51st state. He advocates in the U.S. Senate and House for DC residents' full federal representation and self-determination.

Congressional representation for DC

Supports full voting representation in Congress for DC residents and greater self-government for the District.

Background

• U.S. Shadow Senator, District of Columbia, 1997–present (term ends January 3, 2027)
• Attorney in private practice
• Adjunct professor, American University Department of Government
• J.D., American University
• Superdelegate from DC at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Also running for United States Senator

• Robert Simmons Republican

Sources

• Ballotpedia: Paul Strauss
• Ballotpedia: United States Senate election in the District of Columbia, 2026
• BallotReady: Paul Strauss
• Wikipedia: Paul Strauss
• Yahoo News: Washington DC 2026 midterm election overview

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