Metro D.C. DSA Endorses Ed Lazere for D.C. Council At-Large
DATE: Jun 23, 2020
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Metro D.C. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) voted to endorse at-large D.C. Council candidate Ed Lazere for the 2020 election. At the close of the four-day voting period, Metro D.C. DSA members voted overwhelmingly to support Lazere’s candidacy, with 97 percent of votes cast in favor of endorsement. The D.C. general election will take place on November 3, 2020.
Ed Lazere, a lifelong progressive and D.C. resident for more than three decades, has consistently impressed our chapter with his commitment to racial, environmental, and economic justice and his firm belief that the D.C. government should work for all of its residents, not just the wealthy or well-connected few. As director of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute for two decades, Lazere developed expertise in D.C.’s budget and policymaking processes and, through this work, saw firsthand how D.C. councilmembers and mayors have failed to address skyrocketing inequality. Lazere understands that our political and economic systems are fundamentally flawed and that we need a system that shifts power back into the hands of D.C. workers.
If elected to the Council, Lazere has said he will prioritize affordable housing, equitable funding in education, and quality jobs in D.C., among a host of critical issues facing D.C. residents. In addition to pushing for an end to homelessness and building more publicly owned social housing units, Lazere has committed to introducing a Council bill that includes the full Reclaim Rent Control platform, which seeks to expand and strengthen rent control throughout the district. As a Fair Elections candidate, Lazere is participating in the District’s public campaign financing program and will not be accepting any corporate contributions. This approach to campaign fundraising stands in contrast with other D.C. candidates and elected officials, who readily accept large donations from lobbying firms, banks, and luxury real estate development companies.
Metro D.C. DSA chapter members are excited to support a people-powered, grassroots campaign and help canvass, fundraise, and organize for Ed Lazere over the next several months. After making more than 5,000 calls to voters during the primary elections on behalf of victorious Ward 4 Council candidate Janeese Lewis George—who Metro D.C. DSA endorsed in November 2019—our chapter looks forward to continuing this momentum into the general election.