2026 Mayoral Candidates

AARP’s 2025 Vital Voices survey of District residents age 45+ found that nearly half (48%) are concerned about being able to repair or modify their homes to live safely in them and the community they love as they grow older. Programs such as Safe at Home have received only flat funding year over year, even while demand for the program has grown.

Question: How would you work to ensure that older adults can remain safe in their homes?

Democratic Party

JLG- I will establish a “Right to Age in Place” to ensure access to accessibility upgrades and repairs—especially for low-income seniors and residents with disabilities. I’ll expand Safe at Home to eliminate waitlists and will require detailed annual reporting.

I will scale Senior Villages that provide social connection, navigation support, and help with daily needs. I’ll build more housing with senior set-asides in every ward for residents who want to leave their home but stay in their neighborhood.

Republican Party

No candidate listed on the ballot

Green Party

RG- I will expand "Safe at Home" with performance-based funding and AI-driven intake to reduce delays. My administration's Human Life Standard (HLS) will combine housing, health, and mobility services into one integrated pipeline. We will fund eco-friendly home modifications, expand caregiver support, and deploy mobile service teams so residents can remain safely and independently in their homes.

In 2025, 64% of respondents to an AARP survey reported feeling unheard, or their concerns dismissed, by their health care provider. Findings from a 2023 AARP survey showed that residents East of the Anacostia River faced disproportionate barriers to quality care, underscoring the need for targeted investments in these historically underserved communities. These gaps contribute to poorer health outcomes for many older residents.

Question: How would you address these health disparities and work to improve access to affordable, high‑quality, and culturally competent care for older adults?

Democratic Party

JLG- I will expand Medicaid home- and community-based services so seniors can stay out of institutions. I will strengthen Cedar Hill to meet the needs of seniors and others with chronic disease. I will hire more community health workers and create mobile clinics to engage seniors in their community. I will set high standards for cultural competency and patient-centered care. I will launch chronic disease initiatives for diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease in high-disparity neighborhoods.

Republican Party

No candidate listed on the ballot

Green Party

RG- Healthcare must deliver dignity and outcomes, I will integrate physical, mental, and community-based care under the HLS with real-time performance tracking. We will expand clinics East of the Anacostia River, enforce cultural competency standards, and deploy mobile and telehealth units. If providers fail to listen, measure, or improve outcomes, funding will shift to those who do.

The Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) is the District’s primary tool for creating and preserving affordable housing, a need that’s growing more urgent. In 2025, AARP research found that 58% of District residents age 45+ struggled to pay their rent or mortgage in the past year. More than one‑third had to take on debt, find extra work, or cutback on essentials like healthy food and saving for retirement in order to cover housing costs.

Question: How will you address the need for affordable housing for individuals 50+ and their families?

Democratic Party

JLG- I will expand the Housing Production Trust Fund with set-asides for seniors. I will expand rental assistance for seniors, including shallow subsidies for those just above eligibility thresholds who are struggling. I will promote alternative housing options, including accessory dwelling units and multigenerational housing, by streamlining permitting, offering technical assistance, and providing financial incentives. I’ll strengthen the ReMIT program to protect seniors who have reverse mortgages.

Republican Party

No candidate listed on the ballot

Green Party

RG- Housing affordability requires structural reform. I will expand HPTF with outcome-based funding tied to units delivered and stability achieved. My Administration will enact a "District Housing Utilization & Stability Act" where we will modernize voucher allocation. Matching seniors and families to the right units to reduce vacancies and stabilize households.

Many older and low‑income residents rely on Senior SmarTrip, Senior MedExpress, and ConnectorCard to reach essential services. Yet AARP research shows significant gaps in the system. Fewer than half of residents 45 and older rate public transit highly for affordability or maintenance and less than half say stops are safe and accessible for people with mobility challenges. Just one‑third believe specialized transportation for older adults and people with disabilities meets their needs.

Question: How would you work to ensure safe access to these transportation options for seniors and people with disabilities?

Democratic Party

JLG- First, I will expand and simplify access to Connector Card and Transport DC, including automatic enrollment for eligible seniors. I will require agencies to reduce administrative barriers. I will increase same-day and on-demand transportation options, particularly for medical appointments and essential trips. Infrastructure must also improve. I will invest in safer sidewalks, better lighting, and accessible crossings, prioritizing neighborhoods with the greatest need, including Wards 7 and 8.

Republican Party

No candidate listed on the ballot

Green Party

RG- I plan to create an “Integrated Mobility & Accessibility Act” of 2027, it will unify WMATA, paratransit, and local services into one system. We will upgrade stop safety, improve ADA accessibility, and deploy real-time tracking of transit services. Using AI optimization, we will reduce wait times and improve reliability so seniors and residents with disabilities can move safely and independently.

Despite District initiatives aimed at attracting full‑service grocery stores (i.e., stores that offer a wide selection of fresh produce, meats, dairy, and other essential staples) to underserved neighborhoods, many neighborhoods still lack adequate access to healthy, affordable produce and other food. Older adults, who often face mobility limitations, are on fixed incomes, and have health challenges are disproportionately affected, contributing to DC’s high rate of senior food insecurity.

Question: How would you work to ensure District residents age 50+ and their families can access affordable, quality food?

Democratic Party

JLG- I will increase SNAP participation among seniors through automatic enrollment pilots and simplified applications and recertification. I will expand home-delivered meals and congregate dining programs, focused on homebound seniors and underserved communities. I will expand “food as medicine” programs, so providers can prescribe healthy food for patients with chronic conditions. I will launch a multilingual outreach campaign to reduce stigma and ensure seniors can access available resources.

Republican Party

No candidate listed on the ballot

Green Party

RG- Food access should be a public health priority, my administration will expand healthy food access through the HLS by aligning incentives for grocery store development, mobile markets, and urban agriculture. We will integrate delivery for seniors, strengthen SNAP/WIC access, and use data to target food deserts. No resident should have to choose between food, medicine, and housing.