The 1998 Council of the District of Columbia election was held on November 3, with primaries taking place on September 15. Hilda Mason, the lone member of the D.C. Statehood Party on the council, lost re-election to her at-large seat after 21 years on the Council, marking the last time a member of the D.C. Statehood party or its successor Statehood Green party would have representation on the Council. In contrast, Republican David Catania held on to the seat he had won in the 1997 special election. The two at-large seats held by the District of Columbia Republican Party would begin an era of the high-water mark of Republicans in local District politics, achieving their maximum influence and electoral success. Frank Smith and Harry Thomas Sr., councilmembers from Wards 1 and 6 respectively, both lost their primary elections to challengers. All other incumbents were re-elected, with Democrats increasing their control over the Council to 11 of the 13 total seats.
Summary Democrats remained the largest party on the council, with no seats being lost to other parties or independents. The D.C. Statehood party lost their only elected member, Hilda Mason, while Republicans secured their two seats.
At-large PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirstelectedStatusChairpersonLinda Cropp 1997 (special)Incumbent re-elected. Linda Cropp 91.2% Joseph Romanow 7.6%At-largeDavid Catania 1997 (special)Incumbent re-elected. Phil Mendelson 37.3% David Catania 20.9% Hilda Mason 14.9% Beverly J. Wilbourn 11.9%% Malik Z. Shabazz 8.1% Mark Thompson 5.1% Sandra Seegars 1.4%Hilda Mason1977 (special)Incumbent lost re-election.New councilmember elected.Democratic gain.
Wards PositionIncumbentCandidatesMemberPartyFirst electedStatusWard 1Frank Smith 1982Incumbent lost re-election.New councilmember elected.Democratic hold. Jim Graham 72.4% Nik Eames 12.7% Scott McLarty 8.3% Mark Leventhal 5.7%Ward 3Kathleen Patterson 1994Incumbent re-elected. Kathleen Patterson 98.0%Ward 5Harry Thomas Sr. 1986Incumbent lost re-election.New councilmember elected.Democratic hold. Vincent Orange 89.1% Ian Alexander 9.9%Ward 6Sharon Ambrose 1997 (special)Incumbent re-elected. Sharon Ambrose 91.7% Richard de Beauvoir 7.3%
Chairperson
Incumbent chairwoman Linda Cropp was first elected in the 1997 special election, and easily won re-election against challenger Joseph Romanow.
Democratic primary Candidates Linda Cropp, incumbent Chairwoman
Endorsements
Statehood primary Candidates Joseph Romanow
General election
At-large
Following 21 years of service on the Council, questions about her health and a general desire for change following years of scandals and general malaise in the city led to Hilda Mason finally losing after a bid for a 6th full term. Democrat Phil Mendelson won her seat after an extremely contested primary in which he won a mere 17% plurality. Republican David Catania won re-election to his first full term in the other seat, which he had initially won a year earlier in the 1997 special election to replace Linda Cropp. Democratic primary Candidates William H. Bennett II, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Deanwood Charles Gaither, city employee Phil Mendelson, former Council staffer Linda Moody, Ward 8 member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education Phyllis J. Outlaw, lawyer Kathryn A. Pearson-West, activist and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Don Reeves, president of the District of Columbia State Board of Education Greg Rhett, community organizer Bill Rice, reporter for the Northwest Current Sabrina Sojourner, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Endorsements
Republican primary Candidates David Catania, incumbent At-large Councilmember
Statehood primary Candidates Hilda Mason, incumbent At-large Councilmember
Umoja primary Candidates Mark Thompson
Independents Candidates Sandra Seegars Malik Z. Shabazz Beverly J. Wilbourn
Endorsements
General election
Ward 1
16-year incumbent Frank Smith lost his primary to challenger Jim Graham, who won handily in the general election. Graham was the second gay person to be elected to the Council in as many years, following David Catania in 1997.
Democratic primary Candidates Jim Graham, Whitman-Walker Health executive director Baruti Jahi, community activist Lenwood Orlando Johnson, former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Todd Mosley, youth activist Frank Smith, incumbent Ward 1 Councilmember
Endorsements
Green party DC regulations require that in order for a party to have a primary ballot process for an election, a candidate running under the party banner must win at least 7,500 votes in an election to a major federal or city office in the previous election. In 1998 the DC branch of the Green Party of the United States did not meet these qualifications, so they did not have primary ballot access and as such had to register in a manner similar to an independent.
Candidates Scott McLarty, environmental activist
Republican primary No candidates filed for the primary, with Mark Leventhal winning the nomination through write-in votes.
Umoja primary Candidates Nik Eames, engineering student at Howard University and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner
General election
Ward 3
Incumbent councilmember Kathleen Patterson won re-election to a second term, easily beating primary challenger Jim Montgomery and winning an uncontested general election.
Democratic primary Candidates Jim Montgomery, lawyer Kathleen Patterson, incumbent Ward 3 Councilmember
Endorsements
General election
Ward 5
Incumbent Councilmember Harry Thomas Sr. lost re-election to challenger Vincent Orange in the primary, who cruised to victory against Republican candidate Ian Alexander in the general election. Orange had run against and lost to Thomas in the 1994 Council of the District of Columbia election.
Democratic primary Candidates William Boston, education activist Pat Mitchell, community activist Vincent Orange, lawyer and community activist Harry Thomas Sr., incumbent Ward 5 Councilmember Virgil Thompson, former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner
Endorsements
Republican party Candidates Ian Alexander, Catholic University of America student Edward Henry Wolterbeek, real estate broker
General election
Ward 6
After winning a plurality in the 1997 special election, incumbent Councilmember Sharon Ambrose easily won a rematch against main primary challenger George Augustus Stallings Jr. and cleaned up in the general election against independent Richard de Beauvoir.
Democratic primary Sharon Ambrose, incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember Benjamin Bonham, Ward 6 member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education George Augustus Stallings Jr., founder of the African-American Catholic Congregation
Endorsements
Independents Candidates Richard de Beauvoir, communications consultant
General election
References