Phil Mendelson

Wrote the Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act, which raised fees for cutting down large protected trees. It passed 13-0 on March 3, 2026.

March 3, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted against a ban on selling flavored e-cigarettes in D.C. It passed 8-5 on June 29, 2021.

June 29, 2021Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for a law letting children 11 and older consent to recommended vaccines without a parent. It passed 10-3 on Nov. 17, 2020.

November 17, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted against raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products in D.C. to 21. The bill passed 10-3 on Nov. 1, 2016.

November 1, 2016Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the HPV Vaccination and Reporting Act, which set HPV vaccination and reporting rules for school-age girls. It passed 7-3 on April 19, 2007.

April 19, 2007Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote the Inspector General Enhancement Act, which gave the Inspector General's criminal investigators power to make arrests and serve warrants. It passed 13-0 on Dec. 20, 2022.

December 20, 2022Supports Government Efficiency

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the False Claims Amendment Act, which let whistleblowers sue on the city's behalf over large tax fraud. It passed 12-1 on Dec. 1, 2020.

December 1, 2020Supports Government Efficiency

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Introduced the RFK Campus Redevelopment Act with Councilmember McDuffie to approve the city's deal and funding for a Commanders stadium at the RFK site. He voted against every proposed change, and the Council passed it 11-2 on Sept. 17, 2025.

September 17, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted against a July 14, 2025 budget amendment to pay for ranked choice voting (Initiative 83); it passed 8-4. He then voted for the final Fiscal Year 2026 local budget on July 28, 2025.

July 28, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted against an emergency law that capped costs for the new Nationals ballpark and approved its lease with conditions. It passed 9-4 on Feb. 7, 2006.

February 7, 2006Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted against the Ballpark Omnibus Financing and Revenue Act, which used public money to build a baseball stadium for the Nationals. It passed 7-6 on Dec. 14, 2004.

December 14, 2004Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Youth Curfew Amendment Act, a permanent youth curfew law proposed by the mayor. It passed 8-5 on May 5, 2026.

May 5, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Peace DC public safety law, which made permanent a rule that people charged with violent crimes are presumed to stay in jail before trial. It passed 12-0 on July 1, 2025.

July 1, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Secure DC public safety law, which passed 12-0 on March 5, 2024. Earlier he voted against removing expanded DNA collection at arrest, and on March 5 he backed a compromise allowing DNA collection before conviction in some cases.

March 5, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote a law requiring D.C. to fund a crime victimization survey every two years to measure crime that goes unreported. It passed 13-0 on Dec. 5, 2023.

December 5, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Peace DC public safety law, which made permanent a rule that people charged with violent crimes are presumed to stay in jail before trial. It passed 12-0 on July 1, 2025.

July 1, 2025Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Secure DC public safety law, which passed 12-0 on March 5, 2024. Earlier he voted against removing expanded DNA collection at arrest, and on March 5 he backed a compromise allowing DNA collection before conviction in some cases.

March 5, 2024Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on March 29, 2023, defending D.C.'s police accountability law as "not an attack on police."

March 29, 2023Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: news4jax.com

Introduced the Revised Criminal Code Act, a full rewrite of D.C.'s criminal laws drafted by the Criminal Code Reform Commission. It passed 13-0 on Nov. 15, 2022, and he voted to override the mayor's veto, which passed 12-1 on Jan. 17, 2023.

January 17, 2023Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Omnibus Public Safety and Justice Amendment Act, which let people who committed crimes before age 25 ask a court to shorten long sentences. It passed 12-1 on Dec. 15, 2020.

December 15, 2020Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote a law letting people applying for local rent vouchers certify their own eligibility and barring questions about immigration status or arrest records. It passed on Oct. 29, 2024.

October 29, 2024Supports Housing Affordability

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted to override Mayor Bowser's veto of an emergency law that eased eligibility rules for local rent vouchers. The override passed 10-1 on May 7, 2024.

May 7, 2024Supports Housing Affordability

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted against an emergency law that barred Pepco from shutting off power for unpaid bills after a court threw out its rate increase. It passed 8-5 on March 31, 2026.

March 31, 2026Opposes Social Programs and Welfare

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote a law letting people applying for local rent vouchers certify their own eligibility and barring questions about immigration status or arrest records. It passed on Oct. 29, 2024.

October 29, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Universal Paid Leave Act, which created paid family and medical leave for private-sector workers in D.C. It passed 9-4 on Dec. 20, 2016.

December 20, 2016Supports Social Programs and Welfare

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Sept. 19, 2019, in support of H.R. 51, a bill to make D.C. the 51st state.

September 19, 2019Supports Civil Rights

Source: govinfo.gov

Voted for the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in D.C. It passed 11-2 on Dec. 15, 2009.

December 15, 2009Supports Civil Rights

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Introduced the RFK Campus Redevelopment Act with Councilmember McDuffie to approve the city's deal and funding for a Commanders stadium at the RFK site. He voted against every proposed change, and the Council passed it 11-2 on Sept. 17, 2025.

September 17, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Received the endorsement of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, a grocery and retail workers union, for Council chairman in 2026.

June 22, 2026

Source: ufcw400.org

Wrote a law raising the minimum car insurance coverage D.C. drivers must carry for property damage and injuries to others. It passed 12-1 on June 2, 2026.

June 2, 2026

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Received the endorsement of the Capital Stonewall Democrats, an LGBTQ Democratic club, for Council chairman on May 14, 2026.

May 14, 2026

Source: washingtonblade.com

Wrote the Schools First Amendment Act, which changed how D.C. Public Schools sets each school's budget by counting average staff costs. It passed 13-0 on March 31, 2026.

March 31, 2026

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote the Seasonal Pricing and Price Gouging Amendment Act, which added public health emergencies to the events that trigger D.C.'s ban on price gouging. It passed 13-0 on March 31, 2026.

March 31, 2026

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Signed a Feb. 2, 2026 letter with Mayor Bowser telling congressional leaders that a resolution to block D.C.'s new tax law intruded on home rule.

February 2, 2026

Source: streetsensemedia.org

Voted for an emergency measure to delay ranked choice voting in D.C. until 2027. The Council rejected it 5-8 on Dec. 16, 2025.

December 16, 2025

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Introduced an emergency tax law that kept D.C. income tax from following several 2025 federal tax changes, such as new deductions for tips and overtime. It passed 13-0 on Nov. 4, 2025.

November 4, 2025

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Sept. 18, 2025, at a hearing on crime and federal oversight of D.C., alongside Mayor Bowser and Attorney General Schwalb.

September 18, 2025

Source: oversight.house.gov

Voted for the RENTAL Act, which exempted newer apartment buildings from tenants' right to buy and sped up evictions; it passed 10-3 on Sept. 17, 2025. He co-sponsored an amendment that kept that right for buildings with affordable-housing covenants.

September 17, 2025

Source: bisnow.com

Voted against a July 14, 2025 budget amendment to pay for ranked choice voting (Initiative 83); it passed 8-4. He then voted for the final Fiscal Year 2026 local budget on July 28, 2025.

July 28, 2025

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for a budget amendment that slowed raises in the tipped minimum wage under Initiative 82 and capped it at 75% of the full minimum wage by 2034. It passed 7-5 on July 28, 2025.

July 28, 2025

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Pushed through an emergency change to D.C.'s open meetings law that let the Council meet in private without public notice in some cases, such as meetings with the mayor. It passed 10-2 on April 1, 2025.

April 1, 2025

Source: wtop.com

Introduced the resolution to expel Councilmember Trayon White after a special Council committee investigated his federal bribery charge and recommended expulsion. He voted for it, and the Council expelled White 12-0 on Feb. 4, 2025.

February 4, 2025

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote the Amplified Sound Mitigation Act, which set limits on loud amplified sound in public spaces. It passed 11-1 on Dec. 17, 2024.

December 17, 2024

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote the General Contractor Licensing Amendment Act, which created a board to license residential and commercial contractors. It passed on Oct. 1, 2024.

October 1, 2024

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote a law lowering the cost level at which D.C. construction contracts must use project labor agreements with unions from $75 million to $50 million. It passed on May 7, 2024.

May 7, 2024

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote the Proactive Inspection Program Act, which required the Department of Buildings to inspect apartment buildings on a regular schedule. It passed 13-0 on Jan. 9, 2024.

January 9, 2024

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Withdrew D.C.'s rewritten criminal code from congressional review on March 6, 2023, just before a U.S. Senate vote to block it.

March 6, 2023

Source: news4jax.com

Voted for a temporary law that replaced the D.C. Housing Authority's board with a new reform board. It passed 9-4 on Jan. 3, 2023.

January 3, 2023

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote the Schools First in Budgeting Act, which required D.C. Public Schools to fund each school first, based on its prior-year budget, before central office costs. It passed 13-0 on Dec. 20, 2022.

December 20, 2022

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Wrote a law that covered all consumer debt under D.C.'s debt collection rules and banned debt collectors from deceptive practices and certain threats. It passed 13-0 on June 7, 2022.

June 7, 2022

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Received the endorsement of 1199SEIU, a health care workers union, for D.C. Council chairman on May 26, 2022.

May 26, 2022

Source: 1199seiu.org

Introduced an emergency law requiring D.C. government messages, including on apps that can auto-delete like WhatsApp, to be kept for public records requests. It passed 13-0 on March 1, 2022.

March 1, 2022

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Moved the Council's rewrite of the Comprehensive Plan, the city's long-range plan for land use and growth, through his Committee of the Whole. It passed 13-0 on May 18, 2021.

May 18, 2021

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Introduced the Comprehensive Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Act on March 1, 2021, to create a legal, taxed market for recreational marijuana sales. The Council did not pass it.

March 1, 2021

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted to approve the city's sports betting and lottery systems contract (Contract No. CFOPD-19-C-041). It passed 7-5 on July 9, 2019.

July 9, 2019

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Introduced a resolution to reprimand Councilmember Jack Evans for using his office for personal gain, and took away Evans's oversight of tax breaks and Events DC. The Council reprimanded Evans unanimously on March 19, 2019.

March 19, 2019

Source: wtop.com

Led the repeal of Initiative 77, the voter-approved measure to raise the tipped minimum wage to the full minimum wage. The Council voted 8-5 for repeal on Oct. 2, 2018.

October 2, 2018

Source: wtop.com

Sued Mayor Vincent Gray and the chief financial officer on behalf of the Council on April 17, 2014, to enforce the budget autonomy law that D.C. voters approved.

April 17, 2014

Source: washingtonian.com

Voted for the Large Retailer Accountability Act, which required big-box stores to pay a higher minimum wage; it passed 8-5. He also voted to override Mayor Gray's veto, which failed 7-6 on Sept. 17, 2013.

September 17, 2013

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted to censure Councilmember Marion Barry for taking cash gifts from city contractors. The censure passed 9-4 on Sept. 17, 2013.

September 17, 2013

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Was chosen by the Council as acting chairman on June 13, 2012, after Chairman Kwame Brown resigned.

June 13, 2012

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted against confirming Peter Nickles as D.C. attorney general. The Council confirmed him 7-5 on Nov. 18, 2008.

November 18, 2008

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the Hotel Development Projects Labor Peace Agreement Act, which set labor peace requirements for hotel projects that get city help. It passed 10-3 on Dec. 17, 2002.

December 17, 2002

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Voted for the School Governance Charter Amendment Act, which changed the elected school board to a mix of elected and mayor-appointed members, subject to voter approval. It passed 10-3 on Feb. 1, 2000.

February 1, 2000

Source: lims.dccouncil.gov

Was fined $4,000 by D.C.'s Office of Campaign Finance on May 19, 2026, for using government resources for his campaign. He admitted the violation in writing and was ordered to take ethics training.

May 19, 2026

Source: ocf.dc.gov