1994 United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia

On November 8, 1994, the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate, the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Two-term incumbent and inaugural office-holder Charles Moreland declined to run for reelection and was succeeded by fellow Democrat John Capozzi.

United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia, 1994

← 1992November 8, 19941996 →
Turnout51.5% pp[1]
 
NomineeJohn CapozziEdward D. Turpin
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Popular vote104,53218,756
Percentage68.7%12.3%

 
NomineePaul McAllisterKeith Mitchell
PartyDC StatehoodIndependent
Popular vote14,14713,190
Percentage9.3%8.7%

Shadow Representative before election

Charles Moreland
Democratic

Elected Shadow Representative

John Capozzi
Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 13.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Disqualified
Declined to run
  • Charles Moreland, incumbent Shadow Representative

Results

Two Democratic candidates filed to appear on the ballot. Keith Mitchell, director of a charity that worked with the homeless, was disqualified from the ballot because on his ballot petition, a number of homeless voters signed and gave their mailing addresses rather than the addresses where they were registered. After he was disqualified from the primary ballot, Mitchell announced he would run as an independent candidate in the general election[2]

District of Columbia Shadow Representative Democratic primary election, 1994[3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJohn Capozzi 85,366 94.36
Write-in5,1015.64
Total votes90,467 100.00

Other primaries

Primaries were held for the Republican and Statehood parties but no candidates were on the ballot and only write-in votes were cast.[3] Turpin and McAllister of the Republican and Statehood parties, respectively, both were nominated through write-in votes. McAllister was also nominated for delegate through write-ins but only accepted the nomination for Shadow Representative.[4][5]

Other candidates

General election

The general election took place on November 15. Keith Mitchell, who ran as an independent after being disqualified from the Democratic primary ballot, withdrew from the race prior to election day.[1] Turpin stated that he opposed statehood for DC and said that increased employment was more important than statehood. He also promised to create 1,000 jobs if elected.[5]

Results

General election results[1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticJohn Capozzi 104,532 68.65 -1.31
RepublicanEdward D. Turpin18,75612.32-0.60
DC StatehoodPaul McAllister14,1479.29-3.81
IndependentKeith Mitchell (withdrawn)13,1908.66+8.66
Write-in1,6441.08-2.94
Total votes152,269 100.00%

References