Theatre Washington invited all current candidates in the 2026 DC mayoral race to respond to questions about arts funding, cultural policy, and the role of the arts in the District. The questions reflect issues consistently raised by artists, arts workers, and cultural organizations across DC.
We received responses from Kenyan McDuffie, Janeese Lewis George, Gary Goodweather, Robert L. Gross, Rini Sampath, and Ernest Johnson. We did not receive responses from Hope Solomon or Vincent Orange. Responses are published as submitted, with only minor edits for formatting.
Theatre Washington does not endorse candidates for public office. Our goal is to help the arts community better understand where candidates stand on issues affecting DC’s cultural sector.
The Primary and Special Elections will take place on June 16, 2026.
Candidates Submitted:
Gary Goodweather | Democrat | Candidate Website
Robert L. Gross | DC Statehood Green Party | Candidate Website
Ernest Johnson | Democrat | Candidate Website
Janeese Lewis George | Democrat | Candidate Website
Kenyan McDuffie | Democrat | Candidate Website
Rini Sampath | Democrat | Candidate Website
Read survey responses organized by question
Read Survey Responses organized by candidate
Survey questions are:
- If elected, what specific annual funding commitment would you make to DC’s arts and culture ecosystem, and what steps would you take in your first budget cycle to meet it? As CAH continues to expand the pool of grant recipients, how would you ensure funding grows accordingly?
- How do the arts, and specifically DC’s theatre sector, fit into your top priorities as Mayor or Councilmember, such as jobs, education, public safety, downtown recovery, and neighborhood vitality? Please name one concrete outcome you would aim to achieve in your first year.
- Economic recovery across business districts will require more than office-to-residential conversion. What three actions would you take in your first 12 to 18 months to position arts and theatre as anchors of nightlife activity, such as through safety and cleanliness, permitting, marketing, incentives, partnerships, or targeted investment?
- What role should the Mayor and Council play in addressing the workforce, tourism, and audience impacts of recent Kennedy Center disruptions? Please outline how you would coordinate with federal and regional partners and what practical supports you would pursue for impacted workers and organizations.
- Arts and culture helped shape the redevelopment of many DC neighborhoods, yet creative spaces are increasingly being displaced. What is your plan to preserve and expand affordable rehearsal, performance, and workspace for independent artists and small organizations, especially in neighborhoods, using tools such as city-owned property, incentives, or zoning and preservation strategies?