Michael D. Brown (Washington Politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Donald Brown (b. August 5, 1952) is a shadow senator from the District of Columbia.
As a shadow senator, Brown receives no pay from the government, receives no budget from the government, and cannot vote on matters before the Senate. While he does not have an office in the United States Senate, the Government of the District provides the position with an office. Brown lobbies the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives on behalf of the citizens of the District in their attempt to gain full representation in Congress
, self-determination
, and eventually admittance to the union as a state
. As shadow senator, Brown also works with the District's delegate
, mayor, and council
to advance the interest of local residents on Federal issues. Brown is a member of the Democratic Party.
"shadowsenator.com" for his website. Brown opposed a bill to give the District a full representative in the House of Representatives because it did not make the District a state. In the Democratic primary in September, he received 73 percent of the vote, defeating his opponent, Ward 8 activist Philip Pannell. Incumbent shadow senator Florence Pendleton
was not on the primary ballot after Pannell challenged her nominating ballots. Of her required 2,000 ballots, only 1,559 were found to be valid. She campaigned as a write-in, but received only 2 percent of the vote. Pannell blamed his loss at least partly on voter confusion, since the better-known Michael A. Brown was running for mayor at the same time; others, including Michael A. Brown himself, agreed.
In the November general election, Brown received 86 percent of the votes, while Joyce Robinson-Paul, a member of the D.C. Statehood Green Party
, received 14 percent. There was no Republican candidate running for the position.
. Other Democrats running for the same position included Clark Ray and incumbent Phil Mendelson
, who was comfortably re-elected.
, Democratic
Primary Election
2006 Shadow Senator, D.C.
, General Election
. Brown is also the president and founder of Horizon Communications Corp., which provides direct-mail services to political organizations and non-profit organizations.
As a shadow senator, Brown receives no pay from the government, receives no budget from the government, and cannot vote on matters before the Senate. While he does not have an office in the United States Senate, the Government of the District provides the position with an office. Brown lobbies the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives on behalf of the citizens of the District in their attempt to gain full representation in Congress
District of Columbia voting rights
Voting rights of citizens in the District of Columbia differ from those of United States citizens in each of the fifty states. District of Columbia residents do not have voting representation in the United States Senate, but D.C. is entitled to three electoral votes for President. In the U.S...
, self-determination
District of Columbia home rule
District of Columbia home rule is a term to describe the various means by which residents of the District of Columbia are able to govern their local affairs...
, and eventually admittance to the union as a state
D.C. Statehood
The District of Columbia statehood movement is a political movement that advocates making the District of Columbia a U.S. state. Statehood would give the citizens of Washington, D.C. full representation in the United States Congress and full control over their own local affairs.Full statehood for D.C...
. As shadow senator, Brown also works with the District's delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
, mayor, and council
Council of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
to advance the interest of local residents on Federal issues. Brown is a member of the Democratic Party.
2006 election
Brown ran for the position of shadow senator in 2006, using campaign posters with the slogan "the last Shadow Senator you'll ever need" and registering the domain nameDomain name
A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System ....
"shadowsenator.com" for his website. Brown opposed a bill to give the District a full representative in the House of Representatives because it did not make the District a state. In the Democratic primary in September, he received 73 percent of the vote, defeating his opponent, Ward 8 activist Philip Pannell. Incumbent shadow senator Florence Pendleton
Florence Pendleton
Florence H. Pendleton is a former shadow senator from the District of Columbia.-Political career:* November 6, 1990 — elected shadow senator when office was created* November 8, 1994 — reelected shadow senator...
was not on the primary ballot after Pannell challenged her nominating ballots. Of her required 2,000 ballots, only 1,559 were found to be valid. She campaigned as a write-in, but received only 2 percent of the vote. Pannell blamed his loss at least partly on voter confusion, since the better-known Michael A. Brown was running for mayor at the same time; others, including Michael A. Brown himself, agreed.
In the November general election, Brown received 86 percent of the votes, while Joyce Robinson-Paul, a member of the D.C. Statehood Green Party
D.C. Statehood Green Party
The D.C. Statehood Green Party, also known as the D.C. Statehood Party, is a political party in Washington, D.C. The party is the D.C. affiliate of the national Green Party, but has traditionally been involved primarily with issues related to D.C. Statehood...
, received 14 percent. There was no Republican candidate running for the position.
2010 election
Brown was a candidate for at-large member of the Council of the District of ColumbiaCouncil of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
. Other Democrats running for the same position included Clark Ray and incumbent Phil Mendelson
Phil Mendelson
Philip Heath Mendelson is a politician from Washington, D.C.-Political career:In 1998, Mendelson was elected as a Democrat to be an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, and he has been reelected twice....
, who was comfortably re-elected.
Election history
2006 Shadow Senator, D.C.Shadow congressperson
The offices of shadow U.S. Representative and shadow U.S. Senator are elective offices created by the District of Columbia as part of their efforts to gain full admittance to the Union as a State. The office originated with the election of the first Shadow Senators in 1796, and the position of...
, Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Primary Election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
| Michael D. Brown (D Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... ) 73% |
| Philip Pannell (D Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... ) 25% |
| Write-in 2% |
2006 Shadow Senator, D.C.
Shadow congressperson
The offices of shadow U.S. Representative and shadow U.S. Senator are elective offices created by the District of Columbia as part of their efforts to gain full admittance to the Union as a State. The office originated with the election of the first Shadow Senators in 1796, and the position of...
, General Election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
| Michael D. Brown (D Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... ) 84% |
| Joyce Robinson-Paul (Statehood-Green D.C. Statehood Green Party The D.C. Statehood Green Party, also known as the D.C. Statehood Party, is a political party in Washington, D.C. The party is the D.C. affiliate of the national Green Party, but has traditionally been involved primarily with issues related to D.C. Statehood... ) 14% |
| Write-in 2% |
Personal life
Brown was born in Newark, New Jersey, and moved to Montgomery County, Maryland, as a teenager. Brown received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in public policy from the University of Maryland. Brown has lived in the District since 1984, and he currently lives in the neighborhood of American University ParkAmerican University Park
American University Park is a neighborhood of Washington, DC, named for the American University. AU Park, as it is often abbreviated, is situated against the Maryland border in the Northwest quadrant, bounded by Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Western Avenues...
. Brown is also the president and founder of Horizon Communications Corp., which provides direct-mail services to political organizations and non-profit organizations.