Robert Simmons, a Washington small-business owner and Republican, is running for U.S. Shadow Senator for the District of Columbia in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Simmons won the Republican nomination through write-in votes, collecting all 684 cast in the primary.

Simmons said he is running because he believes public service should focus on practical results, accountability and effective representation. He said he wants to ensure the District's interests are heard in Congress.

Candidate information

  • Office sought: U.S. Shadow Senator, District of Columbia
  • Party: Republican
  • Education: BA/BS, The City University of New York
  • Family: Father of two children, a son and a daughter. No immediate family members hold elected political office, according to his questionnaire response.

Experience and public service

Simmons has served as president and chairman of Alter Modus International Corporation since 2010. His career spans finance, higher education, international development, government contracting and real estate.

He has worked on international development projects, including work associated with USAID programs, and has taught finance and business-related subjects at the college level. BallotReady lists him as a professor at the University of the District of Columbia Community College and as the manager and founder of Global Alliance Inc.

In 2024, Simmons ran as the Republican candidate for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council. He received 24,760 votes.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Simmons' candidate questionnaire responses.

D.C. statehood and representation: Simmons called this his top priority. He said more than 700,000 District residents pay federal taxes and serve in the military yet lack voting representation in the Senate. He said he would advocate before Congress for legislation establishing full representation and work toward a permanent resolution of D.C.'s political status.

Economy and cost of living: Simmons said Washington families face rising costs for housing, food, energy and transportation. He supports what he described as a pro-growth approach: keeping taxes reasonable, reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses, expanding homeownership opportunities and encouraging private investment. He said the D.C. government should focus spending on essential services.

Housing: Housing is a serious challenge, Simmons said. He supports increasing housing supply, making it easier for first-time buyers, improving existing housing programs and encouraging development at different income levels.

Health care: Simmons supports greater price transparency, stronger competition among insurers and providers, protection for patients with preexisting conditions and efforts to reduce prescription-drug prices. He said Congress should examine the role of pharmacy benefit managers in driving up costs.

Federal spending and debt: Simmons said the federal government cannot continue spending more than it collects indefinitely. He supports responsible budgeting, greater oversight of federal programs and elimination of waste. He said he would back a bipartisan approach to long-term debt reduction combining spending discipline with policies encouraging economic growth.