Jamal Holtz has been sworn in as interim at-large member of the District of Columbia Council, taking the seat vacated by Robert White.
The 28-year-old was appointed by the DC Democratic State Committee under emergency powers and formally took office on Monday, November 9, at the John A Wilson Building in Washington.
Holtz, president of the DC Young Democrats, is the youngest member of the council and its first Generation Z lawmaker. He will serve on an interim basis ahead of a special election scheduled for April 6, 2027.
A fourth-generation Washingtonian, Holtz grew up in Ward 8, attended high school in Ward 7 and now lives in Ward 6. He has led the city’s Young Democrats for the past four years.
Speaking after his swearing-in, Holtz said the length of his tenure did not diminish the significance of the appointment.
“It wouldn’t matter if I served for only one day, but the opportunity to represent the people of the District of Columbia will remain one of the greatest honours of my lifetime,” he said.
“Because for me, this is about investing in the city that invested in me. It’s about making sure that 14-year-old kid growing up in Ward 8, who takes pride in their neighbourhood, who cares deeply about their community, who sees challenges around them, but also sees possibilities, knows that circumstances do not have to define their future.”
Why Robert White resigned
White stepped down from the council on November 2 after winning the Democratic nomination for District of Columbia delegate to the US House of Representatives.
He resigned to preserve his eligibility under a 1970s law stating that the delegate cannot hold another paid public office on election day. White is expected to succeed Eleanor Holmes Norton, who has represented the District in Congress since 1991.
The DC Democratic State Committee said Holtz’s appointment was made to protect the party’s rights under the District’s Home Rule Charter while a permanent process is completed. It described his role as limited until voters choose a replacement in the special election.
“Jamal stepped up when an emergency scenario called for immediate election of a trusted leader to protect the Party’s rights under Home Rule,” the party said in a statement. “We know he will serve District residents with the same commitment he has shown his whole life.”
