Misplaced Pages

1994 Washington, D.C., mayoral election

← 1990 November 8, 1994 1998 →

Nominee Marion Barry Carol Schwartz Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 102,884 76,902 Percentage 56.0% 41.9%

Results by ward Barry:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Schwartz:      40–50%      60–70%      >90%

Mayor before election Sharon Pratt Kelly Democratic Elected mayor Marion Barry Democratic

Elections in the District of Columbia
Federal government Presidential elections 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential primaries Democratic 2004 2008 2020 2024 Republican 2008 2020 2024 U.S. House elections 1871 1872 1971 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Shadow Senator elections 1990 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2012 2014 2018 2020 2024 Shadow Representative elections 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
District government General elections 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Mayoral elections 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Council elections 1974 1976 1977 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1993 1994 1996 1997 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Attorney General elections 2014 2018 2022
Ballot measures 1998: Initiative 59 2014: Initiative 71 2016: Advisory Referendum B 2018: Initiative 77 2022: Initiative 82
v t e

On November 8, 1994, Washington, D.C., held an election for its mayor. It featured the return of Marion Barry, who served as mayor from 1979 until 1991.

Barry served six months in prison on a cocaine conviction. After his release from prison, Barry ran successfully for the Ward 8 city council seat in 1992, running under the slogan "He May Not Be Perfect, But He's Perfect for D.C." Upon this victory, Barry said he was "not interested in being mayor" again.

This was by far the smallest Democratic victory margin in a regularly scheduled partisan citywide election since the city was granted home rule.

Campaign

Democratic primary

Sharon Pratt Kelly succeeded Barry as mayor. In the second year of her term, Barry loyalists mounted a recall campaign, which, although unsuccessful, weakened her administration.

Councillor John Ray received the endorsement of The Washington Post and was favored to win the primary. However, Barry ran a grassroots campaign, touting his record balancing the budget in 10 of his 12 years as mayor.

General election

A major issue in the campaign was how to cut $140 million from the city budget, as mandated by Congress. Though Barry was seen by some as responsible for the bureaucracy and Schwartz criticized Barry's proposals as old and ineffective, Barry tied his personal redemption to the redemption of the city.

Results

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

See also

• Electoral history of Marion Barry

External links

• https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/09/us/1994-elections-nation-capital-barry-rebounds-disgrace-win-again-washington.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes+Topics%2FPeople%2FB%2FBarry%2C+Marion+S.+Jr.

References

1. "Former Mayor's Victory Worries Many in Capital". The New York Times. September 17, 1992. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
2. ^ "Marion Barry makes comeback, wins D.C. Democratic mayoral primary". Jet. 1994.
3. "Marion Barry May Be More Than Just An Embarrassment". Businessweek.com. October 3, 1994. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011.
4. Janofsky, Michael (November 9, 1994). "THE 1994 ELECTIONS: THE NATION THE CAPITAL; Barry Rebounds From Disgrace to Win Again in Washington". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
5. "November 8 General Election". District of Columbia Board of Elections. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.

• Mayoral elections in Washington, D.C.
• 1994 United States mayoral elections
• 1994 elections in Washington, D.C.
• November 1994 events in the United States