Oye Owolewa
Democratic · DC · United States Shadow Representative for the District of Columbia
The District's elected shadow U.S. representative since 2021 and a pharmacist with a doctorate from Northeastern University who volunteers as a science educator in D.C. classrooms. His priorities are affordable housing, restoring D.C. Medicaid, and tuition-free UDC.
Where Oye Owolewa stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (5 records), Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (3 records), Social Programs and Welfare (2 records),
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 5 support
Co-wrote an op-ed criticizing the planned Commanders stadium near the Anacostia River for lacking green building standards.
July 29, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Co-wrote an op-ed opposing D.C. Medicaid cuts and community pharmacy closures in Wards 7 and 8.
July 16, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Declared an unofficial health care emergency in D.C. to protest a proposed city budget cutting 25,000 residents from Medicaid.
June 2, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Spoke at a rally outside the Supreme Court against its ruling that limited the EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gases.
July 6, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Gave COVID-19 vaccines as a licensed pharmacist to residents of his mostly Black neighborhood in D.C.
March 19, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: news.northeastern.edu
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 3 support
Co-wrote an op-ed calling for an end to the National Guard deployment in D.C. and for local control of the city's budget.
December 10, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Organized free clinics with legal aid groups to help returning citizens seal or expunge their criminal records.
October 21, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Wrote an op-ed opposing more than $300 million for police recruitment and arguing for investment in housing and community care.
October 1, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 support
Co-wrote an op-ed opposing D.C. Medicaid cuts and community pharmacy closures in Wards 7 and 8.
July 16, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Declared an unofficial health care emergency in D.C. to protest a proposed city budget cutting 25,000 residents from Medicaid.
June 2, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 9 support
Co-wrote an op-ed calling for an end to the National Guard deployment in D.C. and for local control of the city's budget.
December 10, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Lobbied members of Congress for several weeks to pass a bill restoring $1.1 billion in D.C.'s own approved local funds for 2025.
April 23, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Spoke on a panel making the case for D.C. statehood at an event during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
August 20, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Publicly condemned a U.S. House amendment by Rep. Andy Ogles to repeal D.C.'s Home Rule Act, calling it an attempt to silence D.C.
July 12, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Worked with a local advocacy group to encourage noncitizen D.C. residents to register to vote in local elections.
May 1, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Led a car parade across D.C. to the U.S. Capitol to press Congress to pass D.C. statehood.
November 6, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Traveled to the West Virginia Capitol and worked with state House Democratic leaders on a resolution (HCR 86) urging Congress to give D.C. voting representation.
March 11, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: thedcline.org
Publicly criticized U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin for not supporting D.C. statehood.
September 1, 2021Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Co-wrote an op-ed in the Washington Blade opposing state bills that limit health care for transgender youth.
June 13, 2021Supports Civil Rights
Source: washingtonblade.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Called for better traffic safety in Ward 8 after he was badly hurt in a car crash on Alabama Avenue SE.
October 17, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: fox5dc.com
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Served as commissioner for single-member district 8E01 in 2019 and 2020. He was the commission's secretary both years and its parliamentarian in 2020.
October 6, 2026
Source: anc8e.dc.gov
Received the Capital Stonewall Democrats endorsement for D.C. Council at-large.
May 16, 2026
Source: metroweekly.com
Won a seat on Ward 8's Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 8E) in 2018, beating the sitting commissioner by one vote.
March 3, 2026
Source: news.northeastern.edu
Received the Working Families Party endorsement for D.C. Council at-large.
February 2, 2026
Source: workingfamilies.org
Hosted a Capital Business Seminar that taught small-business owners how to win government contracts, grants and certifications.
February 12, 2025
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Co-hosted an immigration town hall at Columbia Heights Education Campus to inform immigrant residents about their legal options.
January 17, 2025
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Won re-election as D.C.'s shadow U.S. representative with 90.8% of the vote (267,661 votes).
November 5, 2024
Source: electionresults.dcboe.org
Was named to the U.S. Black Chambers' 2024 Power 50 Under 40 list.
October 2, 2024
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Launched the Money Meetup Mixer, an event that teaches residents how to apply for city government grants.
March 22, 2023
Source: washingtoninformer.com
Won re-election as D.C.'s shadow U.S. representative with 83.6% of the vote (151,182 votes).
November 8, 2022
Source: electionresults.dcboe.org
Received the endorsement of Capital Stonewall Democrats, an LGBTQ Democratic club, for shadow U.S. representative.
May 18, 2022
Source: washingtonblade.com
Won election as D.C.'s shadow U.S. representative with 81.6% of the vote (240,533 votes).
November 3, 2020
Source: electionresults.dcboe.org
Past race Oye Owolewa ran in:
- At-Large Member of the Council · November 3, 2026 · Washington city, District of Columbia