Committee advances bill to shorten D.C. special-election window for delegate to 49 days

Councilmember Anita Bonds, chair of the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, opened an additional committee meeting on March 25 and moved to advance Bill 26-136, the "special election in the office of delegate amendment act of 2025." She told the committee the bill would conform District law to federal law and would require a special election be held within 49 days if the office of delegate is vacant and the U.S. House speaker declares extraordinary circumstances after more than 100 vacancies.

Bonds said the change shortens the current District window, which now allows 70 to 174 days between a vacancy and the special election. After asking for questions and noting that Chairman Phil Mendelson and Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Fruman had joined the meeting, Bonds moved "the committee report in print for bill 26-136 with leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes after we vote." The committee signified approval by vocal "Aye" responses and Bonds declared both the print (and the related report steps) passed; she thanked colleagues and adjourned the meeting at 12:21 p.m.

The measure was advanced without a recorded roll-call vote in the transcript; vocal aye responses were recorded and the chair announced the measure passed. The committee left staff able to make technical and conforming edits before further processing of the bill.