Robert L. Gross is running for District of Columbia mayor as the Statehood Green Party candidate in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Janeese Lewis George and independent Rhonda Natalie Hamilton.

Gross, who DC News Now reported is the youngest candidate in the race, said on his campaign website he is running on what he calls the "Human Life Standard." Under that principle, Gross said, every government decision must improve quality of life for every D.C. resident. He described a city where "'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness' are not privileges but guarantees."

Candidate information

  • Party: Statehood Green
  • Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
  • Education: High school diploma, Cardozo Education Campus, 2015
  • Residence: Born and raised in Washington, D.C.; educated in D.C. public schools, according to his campaign's Facebook page

Experience and public service

Gross's background spans military service and information technology, according to his BallotReady profile:

  • Aircraft hydraulic specialist, U.S. Air Force (2016–2019)
  • Help desk specialist, U.S. Department of Defense (2018–2021)
  • Senior technical support specialist, EY (2022)
  • Catering assistant, Grassroots Catering (2023–2024)
  • Senior information technology specialist, RTI International (2024)
  • Information technology engineer, BP America Inc. (2025)

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Gross's campaign website and his responses to BallotReady's candidate questionnaire. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Government modernization and technology

Gross said he wants to integrate artificial intelligence across city government to improve budgeting accuracy, streamline permits and housing approvals, modernize outdated systems and provide real-time performance dashboards. "I believe that AI is an assistance, not a replacement," Gross told DC News Now.

Housing

Gross said he would create individual housing vouchers for single residents, seniors and workers, along with family housing vouchers prioritized for households with children. New construction and major renovations would follow what he calls a "Green Housing Modernization Standard" aligned with the District's climate and affordability goals, according to his campaign website. He also said he would integrate senior housing into mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods and expand support for aging in place.

Public safety

Gross said he would establish a citywide, tiered public safety response system so every call is answered by the responder best equipped to handle it. Police, fire, medical and mental health responders would coordinate through one command center using shared data and AI-assisted dispatch, according to his campaign website. Non-violent situations, including behavioral health incidents, would be handled by trained civilian crisis response teams. Co-responder units pairing officers with licensed mental health professionals would address behavioral health crises.

Education

Gross said he would place mental health counselors in every school, expand after-school programs and create transition programs for residents ages 18 through 27 that include workforce training, higher education guidance and mentorship. He said he would align investments with the District's existing Moonshot goal of achieving an 80 percent college graduation rate, according to his campaign website.

Climate and environment

Gross told DC News Now he would advance clean and electrified public transportation, green infrastructure, energy-efficient buildings and the urban tree canopy as part of his climate resiliency priorities. He also called for age-friendly public spaces with shaded seating, accessible paths and safe transit connections, according to his campaign website.

The D.C. mayor serves a four-year term and oversees the executive branch of District government, including agencies responsible for public safety, housing, education and transportation.

Candidate responses were collected from the candidate's official campaign website, Facebook page, BallotReady questionnaire and DC News Now coverage. The Capital City Post did not interview the candidate for this profile.