DC’s delegate candidate plans to target federal lawmakers challenging the city’s autonomy

Robert White Jr., the Democratic nominee to represent the District of Columbia in Congress, introduced a "Defend DC" mobilization effort to counter Republican attempts to limit the city's autonomy. The strategy involves sending local residents to nearby congressional districts to campaign for candidates supporting greater self-governance for the nation's capital.

White aims to recruit, train, and transport city supporters to knock on doors in states like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey, where Trump-backed incumbents and local control advocates are up for re-election. The effort will target U.S. House districts that have received federal agents and proposed legislation to alter the district's governance.

White's plan follows multiple challenges to D.C.'s autonomy during the second Trump administration, including the deployment of the National Guard, which has been extended until 2029, and the introduction of legislation to consolidate Trump's executive order on city safety. D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson praised White's strategy as necessary to protect residents' constitutional rights, noting that the current situation was not imagined nor intended by the Founding Fathers.

The strategy aligns with White's goal of using collective power to change Congress, following a precedent set by the district's first delegate, Walter Fauntroy. White has also sought advice from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Susan DelBene on the plan.