Commissioner Howard Endorses Rashida Brown and Miguel Trindade Deramo

Commissioner & political leader touts historic cross-endorsement as model for coalition-building under ranked choice voting, urges voters to to rank both Brown and Deramo in Ward 1 race

WASHINGTON — Commissioner Brad Howard today announced his endorsement of Ward 1 Council candidates Rashida Brown and Miguel Trindade Deramo, strongly supporting their joint ticket and urging voters to rank both candidates in the upcoming June 2026 Democratic primary.

NOTE: The title of ‘Commissioner’ is provided for identification purposes only. This endorsement is made in a personal capacity does not represent the views of any Commission(s), Committee(s), or any other governmental entity.

Brown and Trindade Deramo have formed a first-of-its-kind alliance in the Ward 1 race, encouraging voters to rank them first and second under the District’s new ranked choice voting system. Their partnership reflects a shared commitment to affordability, tenant protections, and delivering strong neighborhood services across Ward 1.

“I’m a Commissioner, a Ward One Democrats officer, and a vice president of the Capital Stonewall Democrats,” said Howard. “In those roles, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with both Rashida Brown and Miguel Trindade Deramo. They are thoughtful, effective leaders who understand our neighborhoods, will fight for the LGBTQ+ community, and know how to get results. I’m incredibly excited to endorse them and strongly support this cross-rank strategy.”

Howard emphasized that the joint endorsement is not just a campaign tactic, but a reflection of the kind of leadership Ward 1 needs.

“This partnership is exactly what ranked choice voting was designed to encourage — coalition-building, shared purpose, and a focus on earning broad support across communities,” Howard added. “Rashida and Miguel are showing voters they don’t have to choose between two strong candidates who share their values. You can support both — and help reward those candidates committed to coalition building and uniting our party in this historic moment.”

Howard, a Capitol Hill staffer and former Obama administration official who has nearly two decades of experience in public service and Democratic politics, is active throughout Ward 1 politics and is a homeowner in Ward 1’s Park View neighborhood.

The Ward 1 Democratic primary is expected to be one of the most closely watched races in the District, with multiple candidates competing to succeed outgoing Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau.

Learn more at BradHoward.us.

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