The Washington Post’s Local Endorsements Cannot Be Trusted

The Washington Post has a stellar reputation for national news, but its editorial page commentary on local issues is out-of-touch with DC voters and values, especially when it comes to endorsements in local races. This year, for example, they endorsed a candidate roundly renounced by Black Lives Matter and another who opposed paid sick days for some teachers. 

Many progressive DC voters consider the Washington Post endorsements in local races to be a signal of how NOT to vote. Progressive voters should check out the DC Working Families’ Voter Guide which compares the At-Large Council candidates in terms of endorsements and source of campaign finance.

The Post delegates its local endorsements largely to one person, Jo-Ann Armao, a Republican* who lives in Montgomery County. Armao typically joins corporate lobbyists in supporting candidates committed to limiting taxes on the very wealthy and blocking things like paid family leave. For example, she backed Brandon Todd against Janeese Lewis George in the 2020 primary, and Dionne Reeder over Elissa Silverman in 2018. In both instances she supported the corporate candidate over the progressive one. Armao also declined to endorse incumbents DC Council candidates Mary Cheh in 2018 and Robert White this year, despite their solid work on a range of issues. Her candidates lost by large margins, indicating that she is out of step with DC voters. 

Armao backed Jack Evans throughout his deeply corrupt career. 

This year she has supported Christina Henderson and Marcus Goodwin, both of whom are regarded with concern by DC public school teachers. Goodwin was a vocal opponent of the Paid Family Leave program and Henderson sought to exclude substitute teachers from the Paid Sick Days program. Neither candidate has a record of working with progressive movements or organizations in DC to advocate for things like affordable housing, parental leave, or stopping the eviction crisis at the local level.Additionally Black Lives Matter DC issued a statement denouncing Marcus Goodwin saying: “Marcus Goodwin is a corporate-backed opportunist who will say whatever he thinks sounds good to get elected. His real agenda is not Black empowerment; it’s serving DC’s big monied interests. https://youtu.be/p5A0J7tNMmY.”

Note: since this blogpost was published, Washington City Paper revealed that Armao is a registered as an independent.