Howard University senior Leah Peterson was elected advisory neighborhood commissioner in the District 1E05 election on the Nov. 3 general election, securing a seat in local government after running unopposed and campaigning to represent residents in the community surrounding campus.
Peterson is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 2, 2027, during a ceremony at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Under D.C. law, commissioners serve two-year terms beginning Jan. 2 following their election, provided their election results have been certified.
Peterson, an honors economic major from Fort Worth, Texas, expressed gratitude for the residents who supported her campaign and entrusted her with representing their community.
“I was certainly excited, but more than anything, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and responsibility in this historic race,” Peterson wrote to The Hilltop. “Winning an election is one thing, but knowing that people are trusting you to represent their homes, their families and their community is something I don’t take lightly.”
The victory also carries personal significance for her, Peterson said, as her great-aunt, June E. Johnson was involved in civic engagement and ran for an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) seat in 2004.
Peterson described her election as a full-circle moment, reflecting on her family’s history of political participation and the generations who fought to secure voting rights and opportunities for representation.
“I’m proud of the victory, but I’m even more excited about the work that comes next,” she said.
As commissioner-elect, Peterson is preparing to transition into her new responsibility by building relationships with neighborhood business owners, identifying available District resources and improving communication between residents and local government.
She also said she plans to provide regular updates to residents and ensure constituent concerns receive direct follow-up.
“I know these issues won’t be resolved overnight, and an ANC commissioner can’t address them alone,” she said. “But residents should expect someone who is willing to ask difficult questions, work across agencies and consistently advocate for their interests.”
