District of Columbia Republican Committee
Encyclopedia
The District of Columbia Republican Committee (DCRC) is the Republican Party
organization of Washington, District of Columbia, the rough equivalent to the fifty state-level parties. The DCRC is made up of registered
Republican voters living in the District of Columbia elected to serve as the committee.
and located at 1275 K Street, NW Suite 102 in Washington, D.C.
. The DC Republican National Committee
man is Anthony W. Parker and the DC Republican National Committee woman is Betsy W. Werronen. The Executive Director is Paul D. Craney.
Members of the DCRC Committee elect its Chairman every two years. The Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman are elected at the same time as the DC Republican Presidential primary every four years, which is open to all Republican voters. The Chairman appoints Executive Committee with the approval of the Committee. Election to the DCRC Committee requires nomination by an existing DCRC member and confirmation by the DCRC Nominations Committee.
(D.C. Code 1-221(d)(2)), "at no time shall there be more than three members (including the Chairman) serving at large on the Council who are affiliated with the same political party." This gives the DC Republicans their largest opportunity, and their main efforts are usually directed at this race. Rather than defeat the Democrats, a Republican candidate for an at-large seat need only defeat any independents in the race.
Carol Schwartz
(At-Large). First elected in 1984, she served one term before deciding not to seek re-election in 1988. Voters returned her to the At-Large seat in 1996
. She was re-elected in 2000 and 2004, but lost the Republican primary election in 2008. Schwartz ran for mayor of the District of Columbia
four times (1986, 1994, 1998 and 2002), all unsuccessfully.
In 2008, Patrick Mara defeated Schwartz for the Republican nomination. Mara was backed by an endorsement from The Washington Post
and anger from the business community at Schwartz's support of a mandatory sick-leave bill. Schwartz continued to run as a write-in candidate, and both received approximately 10% of the vote. This was not enough to stop Democrat-turned-independent Michael A. Brown from collecting the largest vote share of the non-Democrats up for election, leaving the D.C. city council with no Republican members since 2009.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
organization of Washington, District of Columbia, the rough equivalent to the fifty state-level parties. The DCRC is made up of registered
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
Republican voters living in the District of Columbia elected to serve as the committee.
Leadership and organization
The District of Columbia Republican Committee is Chaired by Robert J. KabelRobert J. Kabel
Robert J. Kabel is an American lawyer. He is a Republican attorney, lobbyist, and current chairman of the District of Columbia Republican Committee. In this capacity, he is also a member of the Republican National Committee....
and located at 1275 K Street, NW Suite 102 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The DC Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
man is Anthony W. Parker and the DC Republican National Committee woman is Betsy W. Werronen. The Executive Director is Paul D. Craney.
Members of the DCRC Committee elect its Chairman every two years. The Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman are elected at the same time as the DC Republican Presidential primary every four years, which is open to all Republican voters. The Chairman appoints Executive Committee with the approval of the Committee. Election to the DCRC Committee requires nomination by an existing DCRC member and confirmation by the DCRC Nominations Committee.
Electoral strategy
According to the District of Columbia Home Rule ActDistrict of Columbia Home Rule Act
The District of Columbia Home Rule Act is a United States federal law passed on December 24, 1973 which devolved certain congressional powers of the District of Columbia to local government, furthering District of Columbia home rule...
(D.C. Code 1-221(d)(2)), "at no time shall there be more than three members (including the Chairman) serving at large on the Council who are affiliated with the same political party." This gives the DC Republicans their largest opportunity, and their main efforts are usually directed at this race. Rather than defeat the Democrats, a Republican candidate for an at-large seat need only defeat any independents in the race.
Recent history
The most successful and high-profile Republican in elected office of recent years is former city councilwomanCouncil of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
Carol Schwartz
Carol Schwartz
Carol Schwartz is a politician from Washington, D.C., who served as an at-large member on the Council of the District of Columbia from 1985 to 1989 and again from 1997 to 2009.-Early life:...
(At-Large). First elected in 1984, she served one term before deciding not to seek re-election in 1988. Voters returned her to the At-Large seat in 1996
Council of the District of Columbia Period 13
Period 13 of the Council of the District of Columbia was the period from 1999 to 2000. Seven Councilmembers were elected in November 1998 and six Councilmembers were elected in November 1996. Linda W. Cropp was elected Chair in a special election in 1997 and re-elected in 1998.-Council members:*...
. She was re-elected in 2000 and 2004, but lost the Republican primary election in 2008. Schwartz ran for mayor of the District of Columbia
Mayor of the District of Columbia
The Mayor of the District of Columbia is the head of the executive branch of the government of Washington, D.C. The Mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Council of the District of Columbia...
four times (1986, 1994, 1998 and 2002), all unsuccessfully.
In 2008, Patrick Mara defeated Schwartz for the Republican nomination. Mara was backed by an endorsement from The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
and anger from the business community at Schwartz's support of a mandatory sick-leave bill. Schwartz continued to run as a write-in candidate, and both received approximately 10% of the vote. This was not enough to stop Democrat-turned-independent Michael A. Brown from collecting the largest vote share of the non-Democrats up for election, leaving the D.C. city council with no Republican members since 2009.