Republican · U.S. Senator ("shadow"), District of Columbia
General election Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026
← District of Columbia U.S. Senator ("shadow") race · All District of Columbia races
I bring more than three decades of experience spanning public service, international affairs, business, finance, education, and community leadership. My professional background includes service as a U.S. government international development contractor, work on Wall Street, teaching finance at New York University, and leading a Washington, D.C.-based small business since 2010. Education: MBA. As submitted by the candidate to VOTE411, the League of Women Voters guide.
Also running: Paul Strauss (D)
Topic headings are Vote Book’s; quoted words are each candidate’s own, with the source under each one. “As reported” items are a news outlet’s description, not an exact quote.
In the past two years, what two important things have you done to help make DC a state?
I have worked to strengthen civic participation and bring a broader range of District residents into the conversation about DC's future. Through my public-service, business, and community activities, I have emphasized that more than 700,000 District residents deserve meaningful representation and a strong voice in the federal decisions that affect them. I have also used my candidacy to engage voters who may not traditionally participate in the statehood debate and to encourage a more bipartisan discussion of representation, local self-government, and DC's relationship with Congress.
How will you show people across the country that DC does not have full and fair voting rights?
I will make the issue understandable to Americans outside Washington by focusing on the facts: District residents pay federal taxes, serve in the military, and fulfill the responsibilities of American citizenship, yet DC does not have voting representation in the U.S. Senate or House. I will engage civic organizations, elected officials, universities, businesses, veterans, and media throughout the country to explain this unique situation and encourage informed discussion about representation and self-government.
What will you do to improve the chances of DC statehood?
I will treat statehood as a national issue requiring sustained engagement beyond the District. I will meet with members of Congress from both parties, build relationships with state and local leaders, and engage civic, business, veterans, academic, and community organizations across the country. I will also work with the other members of DC's Statehood Delegation and the New Columbia Statehood Commission to educate Americans about DC's status and keep the issue before Congress. DC law specifically assigns the delegation responsibility for informing Congress and monitoring the statehood effort.
D.C. representation
I, Rob Simmons, am running for the position of D.C. Senator to ensure that Washington, D.C. has a voice in the U.S. Senate. We deserve full representation and the ability to govern ourselves without overreach from Washington, D.C.
Robert Simmons is not a current member of Congress, so there is no congressional roll-call record to show. State legislative or local records are not yet compiled.
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