Robert White Jr. launches campaign to defend DC autonomy

Robert White Jr., the presumptive Democratic nominee for the District of Columbia’s nonvoting delegate to Congress, has launched the ‘Defend DC’ mobilization effort. The initiative aims to counter federal interventions in the city’s affairs by recruiting and transporting residents to campaign for candidates in neighboring states who support greater local autonomy and DC statehood.

White plans to target congressional districts in states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey. The strategy focuses on members of the U.S. House of Representatives up for reelection who have supported increased federal presence in the district or efforts to overhaul local governance. Additionally, White will establish a political action committee to support candidates advocating for DC statehood and local control.

While the Home Rule Act of 1973 allows residents to elect local officials, Congress retains significant authority over the District, including the power to approve its budget and all laws passed by the D.C. Council. The mobilization comes amid challenges to the city’s autonomy, including the extended deployment of the National Guard through 2029.