Paul Strauss, the Democrat who has served as the District of Columbia's shadow U.S. senator since 1997, is running for reelection on Nov. 3, 2026.
Strauss faces Republican Robert Simmons in the general election, according to BallotReady election data and his Ballotpedia page. As shadow senator, Strauss lobbies the U.S. Senate and House on behalf of D.C. residents for full federal representation and statehood, according to his Wikipedia biography.
He first won the seat in 1996, succeeding Jesse Jackson. He took office Jan. 3, 1997, according to his Wikipedia biography.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: U.S. Senate Shadow Member, District of Columbia
- Born: April 11, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York; raised on the Upper East Side of Manhattan
- Education: Graduated from Dwight School in New York City; bachelor's degree and juris doctor from American University
- Bar memberships: District of Columbia Bar; U.S. Supreme Court Bar
- Other affiliations: Honorary member of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia's Global Committee for the Rule of Law; presidency member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Experience and public service
Strauss has held a range of elected, appointed and professional roles in the District, according to BallotReady profile data and his Wikipedia biography:
- Shadow U.S. senator, 1997 to present
- Chairperson, Democratic Party's D.C. Statehood Committee
- At-large member, D.C. Democratic State Committee
- Chairperson, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3E (1986–1996)
- Chairperson, District of Columbia Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals
- Legislative assistant, D.C. Council's Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
- Union organizer, Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union Local 25
- Adjunct professor, American University Department of Government
- Attorney, private practice
On the issues
D.C. statehood
Strauss has made statehood the central mission of his tenure. According to his Wikipedia biography, he lobbies the U.S. Senate and House on behalf of D.C. residents to gain full federal representation, self-determination and admission to the Union as the 51st state.
Strauss said he launched the "51 Stars" campaign, enlisting 51 celebrities to support D.C. statehood. He also said he testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in 2014 regarding the New Columbia Admission Act. In 2015, according to his Wikipedia biography, he petitioned for D.C. to become the first North American participant in the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.
No additional issue positions were available.
Candidate information was drawn from BallotReady election data, the candidate's Ballotpedia page and Wikipedia biography. The Capital City Post did not conduct an interview for this profile. Voters can find more information at their local Board of Elections site.
