Jamal Holtz, 28, sworn in to D.C. Council as its first Gen Z member

Jamal Holtz, 28, was sworn in on Monday afternoon (9 November) in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building as the interim at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, becoming the first Gen Z member of the council. He fills the seat left by Robert White, who resigned to run for election as the District's delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Appointed by D.C. Democrats; special election set for 6 April

Holtz was appointed by the D.C. Democratic State Committee under emergency authority, after a week of unexpected political drama over the seat. His appointment is only temporary: a special election to fill the seat will be held on 6 April. Holtz says he will not run in the special election and plans to step aside once the party has completed a formal process to identify another interim councilmember — meaning his tenure could last as little as a few weeks, and at most a few months, possibly one of the shortest in D.C. Council history.

Young Democrats leader and fourth-generation Washingtonian

Holtz is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, born and raised in Ward 8 and now living in Ward 6. As president of the DC Young Democrats, he grew membership by 140 percent and fundraising by 473 percent. He began in public service as a youth city administrator and deputy youth mayor, later worked in the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs and serves on the Mayor's Commission on Juvenile Justice. 'This has been an extraordinary few days, but I am here because I love this city,' Holtz said at his swearing-in.

Sources: Council of the District of Columbia, 6 November 2026; City Cast DC, 9 November 2026; The Washington Sun, 10 November 2026.