Ward 8 voters on Tuesday were expected to return indicted incumbent Trayon White to the D.C. Council for a third term, even as the embattled lawmaker faces a federal bribery case.
Mr. White, the Democratic Party nominee in a ward that like the others in the District votes overwhelmingly for Democrats, was on the ballot against Republican challenger Nate Derenge. Both men faced challenges from several write-in candidates who jumped into the race after Mr. White’s arrest in August.
And though most observers expected Mr. White to win reelection handily, many also predict the councilman will have to step down or be forced out next year, either by federal prosecutors or by his colleagues on the council, which is conducting its own investigation of the bribery charges. The council’s probe is expected to conclude next month.
Mr. White, who is set to return to federal court in the bribery case next week, has been accused of agreeing to take $156,000 in exchange for influencing government contracts.
The arrest affidavit alleges to provide damning evidence against Mr. White — court documents appear to have photos of the lawmaker pocketing cash-stuffed envelopes from an FBI informant on multiple occasions this summer.
The filing also includes audio recordings that allegedly capture Mr. White, 40, discussing other potential fraud schemes with the informant.
The councilman pleaded not guilty to the charges in September and maintained his intent to run for a third term on the D.C. Council. He was first elected in 2016.
Financial support for the councilman’s campaign dried up after the bribery charges.
Mr. White contributed the only $2,000 his campaign received last month, according to campaign finance reports, making that $15,000 of his own money he put toward his reelection.
The campaign brought in $93,000 total but also took on $45,000 in debt. The campaign can pay back the roughly $30,000 owed to vendors who helped Mr. White on the campaign trail, but if not, the councilman will have to cover the bill himself.
Mr. White already racked up $80,000 in unpaid campaign debt from his failed 2022 mayoral bid and his 2020 reelection campaign. It’s not clear if he has paid down any of that balance.
The financial and legal troubles quieted Mr. White’s campaign in the closing weeks, though it didn’t affect Tuesday’s outcome.
Civic activists and advisory neighborhood commissioners have told The Washington Times that the best-case outcome is to return Mr. White to office. That way, there was no threat of Mr. Derenge, the Republican contender, winning a seat on a council that is almost entirely run by Democrats.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.