Brooke Pinto

In February 2020, Pinto announced her candidacy for Ward 2 Councilmember. Pinto was the last entrant into a crowded field that included Jack Evans, who resigned following multiple ethics violations. Pinto touted that she was the only candidate with business, tax, and legislative experience, which was needed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Karl Racine endorsed her campaign.[3]

Pinto garnered support from Congressmen Richard Blumenthal and Joe Kennedy III, who previously received $7,500 and $12,800 in donations, respectively, from her father James Pinto. [3][8] She was also endorsed by former US Senator Tom Daschle and DC's Shadow Senator Michael Brown.[9] The Washington Post editorial board endorsed Pinto, claiming that she would provide a "needed new start".[10]

Pinto's platform included opposition to outside interest groups. Following her June 2020 primary election victory, Washington City Paper reported that Pinto had never previously voted in a DC election. Among Ward 2 candidates, she had the lowest share of D.C. contributors and the most money from out of state donors. Pinto was the only candidate who did not participate in D.C.'s Fair Elections public financing program, which allowed her to self-fund $45,000 for her campaign.[3][11]

In the Democratic Party primary election for a full term in the Ward 2 Council seat, there were reports of long lines and complaints that many voters who had requested ballots by mail did not receive them.[1] Pinto earned 28 percent of the vote in a field of eight candidates listed on the ballot, ultimately winning the Democratic primary by about 300 votes.[12][7]

In the June 16 special election to finish the remaining term on the vacant Ward 2 Council seat, Pinto won with 43 percent of the vote in a field of seven candidates.[13][14][2]

In June, following Pinto's primary win, attorney Lauren Wolfe filed a complaint with the Office of Campaign Finance (OCF) that alleged Pinto failed to report $975,000 in campaign expenditures towards her campaign headquarters, which was rented by her parents shortly after she announced her candidacy in February. OCF dismissed the complaint in September, stating Wolfe did not provide evidence that Pinto used the property as a headquarters. Wolfe appealed the dismissal.[15]

In September, Eve Zhurbinskiy, a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 2, filed an OCF complaint alleging Pinto violated five campaign regulations, including excessive contributions. As of October 20, OCF is not investigating the complaint.[16]

Pinto faced multiple challengers in the general election, in part motivated by her unexpected primary win and concerns about her finances and local expertise. Opponents included Peter Bolton, the D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate, and independents Martín Miguel Fernández and Randy Downs.[17][18][12][19][16]