Paul Strauss

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Paul Strauss

| image = Paul Strauss, 2015.jpg

| office = United States Shadow Senator
from the District of Columbia

| alongside = Ankit Jain

| term_start = January 3, 1997

| term_end =

| predecessor = Jesse Jackson

| successor =

| birth_name = Paul Eric Strauss

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|4|11}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = American University (BA, JD)

| website = {{url|paulstrauss.org|Official website}}

}}

Paul Eric Strauss{{Cite web |title=District of Columbia v. Strauss, Paul Eric: Gerstein Affidavit |date=November 6, 2008 |work=Superior Court of the District of Columbia |publisher=via Washington City Paper |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/files/2008/11/1114strauss.pdf |access-date=July 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327151325/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/files/2008/11/1114strauss.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2016 |url-status=dead }} (born April 11, 1964){{Cite web|date=September 24, 2006|title=Voters Guide 2006 Supplement|url=http://www.washingtoninformer.com/Voters%20Guide%20REVISED%2006.pdf|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625021251/http://www.washingtoninformer.com/Voters%20Guide%20REVISED%2006.pdf|archivedate=June 25, 2008|work=The Washington Informer|df=mdy-all}} is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States shadow senator from the District of Columbia since 1997.{{Cite web |title=Congressional Delegation (Shadow) |work=Government of the District of Columbia |accessdate=February 15, 2008 |url=http://grc.dc.gov/grc/cwp/view,a,1203,q,447142.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617015741/http://grc.dc.gov/grc/cwp/view,a,1203,q,447142.asp |archive-date=June 17, 2010 |url-status=dead }} He succeeded Jesse Jackson, the first person to hold the elected position of a shadow senator for Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Democratic Party.{{cite web |title= WE ARE THE DOUGLASS COMMONWEALTH COALITION, INC.|url=https://douglasscommonwealth.us/about.php|website=douglasscommonwealth|access-date= 16 May 2023}}

Early life and education

Strauss was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, raised on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and graduated from Dwight School.{{cite tweet|number=407971793928847361|user=SenPaulStrauss|title=As the only Jewish District-wide elected official I'm pleased @mayorvincegray will be celebrating #Hanukkah today at Wilson Bldg w/@JCRCgw |date=December 3, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dwight.edu/dwight-global-online-school/community/alumni/stories/full-stories/~post/from-anglo-american-to-the-us-senate-20160815|title=From Anglo-American to the U.S. Senate: Paul Strauss '82, Senator|accessdate=May 16, 2019}} His father was a painting contractor for Yankee Stadium.{{Cite news|last=Vest|first=Jason|date=January 25, 2000|title=Shadow in Doubt|work=Village Voice|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-01-25/news/shadow-in-doubt/}} As a youth, Strauss was active in politics, volunteering for the election campaigns of Mario Biaggi, Hugh Carey, and Jimmy Carter. At 17, he interned for New York City mayor Ed Koch with his own desk and phone in the Tweed Courthouse. He moved to Washington, D.C., in 1982 at the age of 18, later earning his bachelor's degree (1986) and Juris Doctor (1993) at American University.{{Cite news|date=August 24, 2006|title=The Washington Informer Voter's Guide 2006 Supplement|page=10|work=The Washington Informer|url=http://www.washingtoninformer.com/Voters%20Guide%20REVISED%2006.pdf|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625021251/http://www.washingtoninformer.com/Voters%20Guide%20REVISED%2006.pdf|archivedate=June 25, 2008|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web|title=SPA Notable Alumni|url=http://www.american.edu/spa/alumni/notable-alumni.cfm|work=School of Public Affairs, American University}}

Career

Strauss is a former chairperson of the District's Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals.{{Cite web|title=Composition of the Board|url=http://brpaa.dc.gov/brpaa/cwp/view,A,3,Q,574185,brpaaNav,%7C32973%7C.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502132634/http://brpaa.dc.gov/brpaa/cwp/view%2CA%2C3%2CQ%2C574185%2CbrpaaNav%2C%7C32973%7C.asp|archive-date=May 2, 2009|accessdate=February 26, 2008|publisher=District of Columbia Board of Real Property Assessments and Appeals}} He has also been a union organizer for Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union Local 25. Strauss is an attorney and principal of the Law Offices of Paul Strauss & Associates, P.C., a law firm specializing in real estate, business, and family law.

In his first political campaign in Washington, D.C., he mobilized other college students to register to vote against raising the drinking age to 21.

= Shadow Senator =

Before being elected as a shadow senator in 1996, Strauss served in several locally elected government positions. He served as the at-large member of the D.C. Democratic State Committee, Chairperson of the Democratic Party's D.C. Statehood Committee, Chairperson of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3E, and Chairperson of Neighborhood Planning Council #3. Strauss was first elected to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in 1986 as the youngest chairperson and was a commissioner there until 1996.{{Cite web|title=Paul Strauss, Democratic candidate for shadow Senator, Flyer, August 2002|url=http://www.dcwatch.com/archives/election2002/strauss01.htm|access-date=July 6, 2020|website=www.dcwatch.com}}

As one of the District of Columbia's two shadow senators, Strauss lobbies the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the citizens of D.C. in their attempt to gain full federal representation, self-determination, and eventually admittance to the Union as the 51st state. Strauss cannot vote on matters before the Senate as a shadow senator.{{Cite news|last=Manteuffel|first=Rachel|date=May 29, 2018|title=D.C. shadow senator emerges from the shadows|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/dc-shadow-senator-emerges-from-the-shadows/2018/05/29/f61b3f5a-48a4-11e8-9072-f6d4bc32f223_story.html|access-date=|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en}}

In 2006, Strauss ran for the Council of the District of Columbia to represent Ward 3.{{Cite news|last=Dufour|first=Jeff|date=May 31, 2006|title=Paul Strauss: From senator to D.C. councilmember?|work=The Hill|url=http://thehill.com/under-the-dome/blackburn-the-fairest-of-them-all-2006-05-31.html|url-status=dead|access-date=February 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626140112/http://thehill.com/under-the-dome/blackburn-the-fairest-of-them-all-2006-05-31.html|archive-date=June 26, 2008}} He came in second place in the Democratic primary, receiving 15% of the vote, while Mary Cheh received 44% of the vote.{{Cite news|title=Democratic, Republican News, Elections and Results |work=NBC4 |publisher=NBCUniversal |date=February 26, 2006 |url=http://www.nbc4.com/politics/9828903/detail.html }}

Strauss was selected to be a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention where he endorsed Barack Obama.{{Cite news |title=The K-Street Superdelegates |first=Peter H. |last=Stone |work=National Journal |date=February 22, 2008 |url=http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/080222nj2.htm |access-date=February 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820102801/http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/080222nj2.htm |archive-date=August 20, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

Strauss was re-elected in 2008. Strauss received 65% of the vote in the September Democratic primary, while Democratic challenger Phil Pannell received 33%.[http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final.asp?userprev=1&electionid=1 "Election Night Unofficial Results"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911090833/http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final.asp?userprev=1&electionid=1 |date=September 11, 2008 }}. District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Elections. September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008. In the November general election, Strauss faced Republican Nelson F. Rimensnyder, D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate Keith Ware and Libertarian Party Candidate Damien Lincoln Ober. Strauss received 82% of the vote, giving him his most significant margin of victory ever.

Strauss was again re-elected in 2014, with 77.3% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dre/politics/local-election-results-2014|website=washingtonpost.com|title=The Washington Post|accessdate=December 21, 2020}}

In 2014, Strauss launched the "51 Stars" campaign, enlisting the help of 51 celebrities and public figures to support the initiative for D.C. Statehood and endorse the District of Columbia as the fifty-first star on the U.S. flag upon admittance to the Union.{{Cite web|title=A "shadow senator" recruits celebs in D.C. statehood push|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-shadow-senator-recruits-celebs-in-dc-statehood-push/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=March 29, 2014 |language=en-US}} Notable endorsers of the public service campaign included Dave Chappelle, Rosario Dawson, Jonathan Banks, and others.{{Cite web|date=June 21, 2018|title=Dave Chappelle Urges DC Statehood In New Video|url=https://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/dave-chappelle-urges-dc-statehood-new-video|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=Washington DC, DC Patch|language=en}}

Strauss testified to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs in 2014 regarding the New Columbia Admission Act of 2013.{{Cite web|last1=Homel|first1=U. S. Senate Committee on|last2=Security|last3=Washington|first3=Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building|last4=DC|last5=Committee|first5=20510224-4751 Get Directions Contact The|title=Hearings {{!}} Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee|url=http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/|access-date=July 12, 2020|website=www.hsgac.senate.gov|language=en}} His testimony argued the historical case for D.C. statehood, saying "We are all Americans. We all deserve to participate in the democracy our nation’s founders set before us. To deny basic rights to the citizens of the National Capital makes a mockery of our attempts to act as a model of democracy for the rest of the world."{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

In February 2015, Strauss traveled to Iowa to encourage Democratic and Republican party chapters to discuss D.C. statehood at their local caucuses and inspired the Polk County Democrats to pass a resolution supporting D.C. statehood in March.{{Cite news |last=Stein |first=Perry |date=February 2, 2016 |title=Can Iowans help D.C. statehood? A few of them are trying |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2016/02/02/can-iowans-help-d-c-statehood-a-few-of-them-are-trying/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202174817/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2016/02/02/can-iowans-help-d-c-statehood-a-few-of-them-are-trying/ |archive-date=2016-02-02}} He traveled there again the following year for the 2016 Iowa caucuses, after running political ads from the national "51 Stars" campaign.{{Cite news |last=Rojas |first=Warren |date=April 19, 2016 |title='Better Call Saul' Star Stumps for D.C. Statehood |work=Roll Call |url=https://rollcall.com/2016/04/19/better-call-saul-star-stumps-for-d-c-statehood/ |access-date=2022-11-17}} Working with a new bipartisan group called Iowans for D.C. Statehood, Strauss took the opportunity to address Democratic precincts in Iowa.

At the Iowa caucuses in 2020, Strauss and shadow Senator Michael Donald Brown took over the campaign bus left behind by John Delaney of Maryland, who had exited the presidential race.{{Cite news |last=Olorunippa |first=Toluse |date=February 3, 2020 |title='Quality control checks' delay results, Iowa Democrats say – 6:51 PM: John Delaney may have left the presidential race, but his campaign bus lives on |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A613114763/ITOF?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f12eeab6 |access-date=2022-11-17 |via=Gale OneFile}} Decorated with a banner and signs promoting D.C. as the 51st state, the bus was parked outside the Des Moines Marriott Hotel, where hundreds of journalists were staying. Strauss spoke to The Washington Post and said he expected nearly every precinct in every county to pass resolutions in favor of statehood for D.C.

= International diplomacy =

File:Paul Strauss (51814808794) (cropped).jpg

Strauss has engaged in various efforts on the international stage. In 2014, he visited Nagaland in India to participate in the 3rd biennial NER Agri Expo, an exposition attended by farmers, investors, agriculturists, business houses, and entrepreneurs.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/US-senator-to-visit-Nagaland/articleshow/17176744.cms|title=US senator to visit Nagaland | Guwahati News|website=The Times of India|date=November 11, 2012|accessdate=December 21, 2020}}

In 2015, Strauss appeared before a panel of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and, citing the lack of statehood for Washington, D.C., successfully petitioned for the District of Columbia to become the first and only North American participant in the international body.{{Cite web|date=December 4, 2015|title=DC Joins Underrepresented Territories Organization|url=https://thehoya.com/dc-joins-underrepresented-territories-organization/|access-date=June 18, 2020|language=en-US}}

In June 2018, Strauss addressed the European Union in Brussels, Belgium to discuss the issue of D.C. statehood.{{Cite web|title=UNPO: US Senator Paul Strauss Addresses the EU Parliament|url=https://unpo.org/article/20928|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=unpo.org|date=November 2, 2009 }} The event was classified as a formal "exchange of views", and was chaired by former Member of the European Parliament Alex Mayer of the United Kingdom in conjunction with the Secretariat of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the U.S. Lucia Parrucci, DC's advocacy officer from the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, and Richard Schiff, an Emmy Award-winning actor and democracy activist joined Strauss for the presentation.{{Cite web|title=Paul Strauss: Denial of democratic equality for DC violates international law|url=https://thedcline.org/2018/07/04/paul-strauss-denial-of-democratic-equality-for-dc-violates-international-law/|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=TheDCLine.org|date=July 4, 2018 |language=en-US}} Mayer, a former United Kingdom Labour Party member representing the East of England region, expressed support for D.C. Statehood at a plenary session in the European Union following Strauss's visit, saying "We in the European Parliament call out human rights violations across the world. I see no reason not to do so in this case too. The citizens of D.C. are denied the basic rights that others living in liberal democracies take for granted. It is time that this 200-year injustice was ended."{{Cite web|title=Member of European Parliament Calls for DC Statehood|url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/member-of-european-parliament-backs-dc-statehood/171843/|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=NBC4 Washington|date=September 14, 2018 |language=en-US}}

He is an honorary member of the Global Committee for the Rule of Law.{{Cite web|title=Paul Strauss|url=http://globalcommitteefortheruleoflaw.org/paul-strauss/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203213606/http://globalcommitteefortheruleoflaw.org/paul-strauss/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 3, 2019|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=GCRL|language=en-US}}

Personal life

On October 1, 2008, Strauss was arrested for drunken driving.{{Cite news|last=Yehle|first=Emily|date=October 31, 2008|title=Shadow Senator Arrested for Drunken Driving|work=Roll Call|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/29676-1.html|url-status=dead|accessdate=November 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204035131/http://www.rollcall.com/news/29676-1.html|archive-date=December 4, 2008}} He was found to have a blood-alcohol level at twice the legal level of intoxication.Cherkis, Jason and DeBonis, Mike. [http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Strauss_Flashed_Senate_ID_to_Cops_Before_Arrest.html "Strauss Flashed Senate ID to Cops Before Arrest"]. WRC-TV. November 14, 2008. Retrieved on November 30, 2008. On May 29, 2009, he pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a 60-day suspended jail sentence, 11 months of supervised probation, a $300 fine, and a $100 fine to be paid to the victims of violent crime compensation fund.{{Cite news|last=Cherkis|first=Jason|date=June 1, 2009|title=Shadow Senator Paul Strauss Pleads Guilty To DUI|work=Washington City Paper|place=Washington, D.C.|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/06/01/shadow-senator-paul-strauss-pleads-guilty-to-dui/|accessdate=June 3, 2009}}

Strauss lives in the Observatory Circle/Glover Park neighborhood in the District.{{Cite news|year=2006|title=D.C. Primaries: Paul Strauss|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2006/dc/candidates/Paul_Strauss.html|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Electoral history

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 1996 Shadow Senator election in Washington, D.C.{{Cite news |title=Final and Complete Election Results |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=September 10, 1996 |url=http://www.dcboee.org/Information/elec_1996/pri_elec_1996.shtm |access-date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319205912/http://www.dcboee.org/Information/elec_1996/pri_elec_1996.shtm |archive-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{Cite news |title=Final and Complete Election Results |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=November 5, 1996 |url=http://www.dcboee.org/Information/elec_1996/gen_elec_1996.shtm |access-date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319205920/http://www.dcboee.org/Information/elec_1996/gen_elec_1996.shtm |archive-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss

| votes = 23,265

| percentage = 73.45

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Eduardo Burkhart

| votes = 7,194

| percentage = 22.71

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,216

| percentage = 3.84

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 31,675

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss

| votes = 107,217

| percentage = 76.01

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Gloria R. Corn

| votes = 19,044

| percentage = 13.50

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Umoja Party

| candidate = George Pope

| votes = 13,148

| percentage = 9.32

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,653

| percentage = 1.17

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 141,062

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2002 Shadow Senator election in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=https://dcboe.org/Elections/Election-Results-Archives/Election-Year-2002/September-10-Primary-Election|title=Election Year 2002 September 10 Primary Election|website=District of Columbia Board of Elections|accessdate=5 April 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://dcboe.org/dcboe/media/ArchivedElectionResults/candidate.html|title= Certification Summary - Candidate|website=District of Columbia Board of Elections|accessdate=5 April 2021}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss (incumbent)

| votes = 47,787

| percentage = 65.87

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Pete Ross

| votes = 22,633

| percentage = 31.20

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 2,128

| percentage = 2.93

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 72,548

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss (incumbent)

| votes = 91,434

| percentage = 77.32

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma M. Sasaki

| votes = 13,966

| percentage = 11.81

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = D.C. Statehood Green Party

| candidate = Joyce Robinson-Paul

| votes = 11,277

| percentage = 9.54

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,582

| percentage = 1.34

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 118,259

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2006 Washington, D.C. City Council Ward 3 primary election{{cite web|url=https://dcboe.org/dcboe/media/PDFFiles/ey2006_primary_summary.pdf|title=Primary Election September 12, 2006|website=District of Columbia Board of Elections|accessdate=5 April 2021}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mary Cheh

| votes = 6,462

| percentage = 44.28

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss

| votes = 2,110

| percentage = 14.46

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Sam Brooks

| votes = 1,191

| percentage = 8.16

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Robert Gordon

| votes = 1,159

| percentage = 7.94

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Cathy Wiss

| votes = 1,158

| percentage = 7.93

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Erik S. Gaull

| votes = 1,023

| percentage = 7.01

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Bill Rice

| votes = 954

| percentage = 6.54

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Eric Goulet

| votes = 490

| percentage = 3.36

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Jonathan Rees

| votes = 32

| percentage = 0.22

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 15

| percentage = 0.10

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 14,594

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2008 Shadow Senator election in Washington, D.C.{{Cite news |title=Certified Election Results for the September 09, 2008 Primary Election |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=June 3, 2009 |url=http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final.asp?prev=0&electionid=1&result_type=3 |access-date=June 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608174928/http://dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final.asp?prev=0&electionid=1&result_type=3 |archive-date=June 8, 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |title=Final and Complete Election Results |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=June 3, 2008 |url=http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final_gen.asp?prev=0&electionid=2&result_type=3 |access-date=June 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125103741/http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final_gen.asp?prev=0&electionid=2&result_type=3 |archive-date=January 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss (incumbent)

| votes = 22,811

| percentage = 64.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Philip Pannell

| votes = 11,949

| percentage = 33.96

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 430

| percentage = 1.22

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 35,190

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss (incumbent)

| votes = 183,519

| percentage = 80.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Nelson F. Rimensnyder

| votes = 18,601

| percentage = 8.19

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = D.C. Statehood Green Party

| candidate = Keith Ware

| votes = 16,881

| percentage = 7.43

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Damien Lincoln Ober

| votes = 5,915

| percentage = 2.60

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 2,164

| percentage = 0.95

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 227,080

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2014 Shadow Senator election in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2014-Primary-Election|title=Primary Election 2014 - Certified Results|website=District of Columbia Board of Elections|accessdate=5 April 2021}}{{Cite web|title=DCBOE Election Results|url=https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2014-General-Election|access-date=June 21, 2020|website=electionresults.dcboe.org}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss (incumbent)

| votes = 41,292

| percentage = 59.02

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Pete Ross

| votes = 26,809

| percentage = 38.32

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,863

| percentage = 2.66

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 69,964

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss (incumbent)

| votes = 116,901

| percentage = 76.40

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = D.C. Statehood Green Party

| candidate = David Schwartzman

| votes = 15,710

| percentage = 10.27

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = independent (politician)

| candidate = Glenda Richmond

| votes = 10,702

| percentage = 6.99

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = John Daniel

| votes = 7,826

| percentage = 5.11

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,864

| percentage = 1.22

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 153,003

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2020 Shadow Senator election in Washington, D.C.{{Cite web|title=DCBOE Election Results|url=https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2020-Primary-Election|access-date=June 21, 2020|website=electionresults.dcboe.org}}{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2020-General-Election|title=General Election 2020 - Certified Results|website=District of Columbia Board of Elections|accessdate=5 April 2021}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Strauss (incumbent)

| votes = 86,014

| percentage = 96.78

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 2,860

| percentage = 3.22

}}

{{Election box total no change