Washington, D.C

The most-searched issues by DC voters ahead of the 2024 election – Washington Examiner

Published

1 year ago

October 13, 2024

The most-searched issues by DC voters ahead of the 2024 election – Washington Examiner

Washington, D.C., has had some of the most reliably blue voters in the nation since its allowance of three Electoral College votes in 1961. Yet, the Washington Examiner’s swing-state project covers the surrounding local area as well as competitive states, taking into account what voters in this region are concerned about.

Artists and activists from CPD Action and Spaces In Action head to the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi/AP Images for CPD Action)

The Washington Examiner is following the key issues voters care about as they prepare to vote for the next president of the United States. The specific issues being tracked are Social Security, crime, abortion, the economy, and immigration.

The issues were chosen with the help of the Associated Press issues tracker. The Washington Examiner subsequently compared five of the key issues in Google Trends on a state-by-state basis, revealing which topics are most important to voters in swing contests, as well as the local contests of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Here, you can track how important these various concerns are to the voters in the district on a rolling 30-day basis.

Crime

Crime was the top issue for district voters. As of October, crime rates are down by 17% compared to 2023, according to reports from the Metropolitan Police Department. There have been 144 homicides in Washington this year, which is a 33% decrease from October 2023.

Assault with a dangerous weapon is down by 27%, and robbery is down by 39%. Violent crime in total is down by 35%, and motor vehicle theft dropped by 31%.

This is a steep change from last year, though, which saw a general increase in crime throughout the district.

2024 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS ON THE TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Social Security

Social Security came in second place for voters. In the district, Social Security benefits are not taxed — even Social Security income that is taxed at the federal level is not taxed in Washington.

It was reported in Sept. 2024 that the Social Security Administration in Washington was experiencing IT issues both online and in person, restricting people’s access to the administration. The district has also added a warning on its government website about Social Security scams.

In May 2024, the Ways and Means Committee heard comments from the SSA’s commissioner, Martin O’Malley, about reforms to protect seniors and taxpayers. Many problems were highlighted, including improper payments from the SSA, the disability application backlog of over 1 million, and customer service phone calls that leave residents waiting for hours without getting issues resolved.

With steps being taken toward amending the SSA for the betterment of beneficiaries, it’s now a waiting game to see when changes will be made.

Abortion

Abortion ranked third for voters in the district despite the procedure being protected at every stage of pregnancy for both residents and visitors. Minors do not need parental notice or permission to receive an abortion, and there is no mandatory waiting period or counseling sessions.

Economy

Worries over the economy came in second-to-last for voters in the district. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Economic Analysis, the district’s gross domestic production has seen limited growth since 2022. Its GDP rate of 2.4% amounted to $179.2 billion in goods and services as of November 2023. The growth rate places the district 49th in the nation for economic growth.

Also in November 2023, Washington’s unemployment rate was higher than the national average, coming it at 5% and placing it as the second-highest unemployment rate in the country.

The local economy accounts for 0.65% of the nation’s economy, and unsurprisingly, the district’s highest-grossing industry was government enterprises, amounting to $55.347 billion, followed by professional, scientific, and technical services, valuing at $39.06 billion. Educational services saw 5.1% growth, and real estate grew by 16.9%.

Immigration

Immigration ranks last for voters. With 1 in 7 district residents being immigrants themselves and 1 in 9 having at least one immigrant parent, it’s an unsurprising ranking.

Statistics from the American Immigration Council show that of the 98,500 immigrants in the district, 71,700 are in the workforce, accounting for 17.9% of it. The STEM industry consists of 21.1% immigrant workers, preceded only by the finance industry with 21.6%. There are 11,457 international students studying in Washington, D.C., with an economic contribution of $525.5 million.

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As of 2018, immigrants almost outpace U.S.-born district residents in higher education as 58% of immigrants hold a college or higher degree and 61% of U.S.-born adults hold degrees. Immigrants also make up 30% of entrepreneurs, seeing $172.4 million in business income. As of 2022, immigrants paid $2.2 billion in taxes and had just under $5 billion in spending power.

Of all the immigrants in the district, 52.5% are naturalized, 18,300 are eligible for naturalization, and 13.3% are undocumented.

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Washington, D.C

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night

Published

16 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night

4 things to know about the weather:

Grab the umbrella
Big temperature ranges
Thunder possible Thursday night
Warmer days on the way

Heads up commuters! For Thursday morning, there will be some thick fog in spots with some rain possible, especially around the Mason-Dixon line. The fog should clear out by 10 a.m.

Throughout the day, some sunshine should develop with highs warming into the low 60s. Those in Northern Maryland could see some showers throughout the day but those near the D.C. area will stay relatively dry except for a stray shower or two.

Some rain and evening storms by 8 p.m. will impact the area Thursday night. Although it’s a bit unusual for this time of year, don’t be surprised if you hear thunder Thursday evening.

Warmer temperatures coming this weekend

These next few days will come with some major forecast challenges.

Much, much warmer air is just to our south and cold, high pressure is moving into New England. The front separating the 40s from the 70s will be laying right across our region for the next two to three days.

So keep in mind, when you’re looking at the forecast highs in the text below, that it will be warmest in Fredericksburg, VA and coolest in northern Maryland.

Friday’s weather will be similar as a front system remains just over the area, separating chilly air to the north and warmer air to the south. There might be a stray shower or two, too.

For the weekend, Saturday looks to be the warmer of the two days with highs in the low to mid 70s. Some rain overnight Saturday will lead to cooler temperatures on Sunday.

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

QuickCast

THURSDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Stray Shower Possible
Big Temperature Range
Wind: Southeast 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 62° to 72°

THURSDAY NIGHT:
Cloudy And Chilly
Rain Likely
Some Thunder Possible
Wind: Northeast 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 70%
LOWS: 44° to 54°

FRIDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler For Most
Isolated Shower Or Two
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 52° to 68°

SATURDAY:
Partly Sunny
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Shower
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 66° to 78°

SUNDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler
Few Showers Possible
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°

Sunrise: 6:35 Sunset: 6:05
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

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Washington, D.C

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute

WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. taxpayers may be confused by back-and-forth between the D.C. City Council and Congress over taxprovision. The city’s financial officer sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, that said the District’s tax laws will not change, despite recent actions by Congress.

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy.

“The short answer is, nothing changes. Filing Season can continue as it has been, continue as planned, and according to the laws as we understood them in January,” said Husak.

“If you’ve already filed your taxes, you don’t have to change anything. And if you want to file your taxes, the rules are still the same as they were on the books before,” said Husak.

RELATED | DC Council Chairman talks taxes, budget, bodycams, federal surge

Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s revenue estimate issued Friday does not include an estimated $180 million expected this fiscal year from the city’s decoupling law, “due to the uncertainty of the associated revenue as a result of Joint Resolution 142,” according to a released letter.

“The CFO was in a tough spot here. If he agreed with Congress, then businesses and overtime workers will get bigger refunds. But if he agreed with the Mayor and the Attorney General, then families with children and lower income workers would get bigger tax cuts,” said Husak.

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“We as District residents can’t control, you know what happens in the courts, what happens in, you know, what Congress does in the future,” said Husak. “But for now, the CFO has said, you know this is, this is a law as it stands, and the law that I’m going to enforce so, you know, file your legally obligated taxes, and maybe in the future, there’ll be a surprise.”

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy (7News).{ }

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Washington, D.C

CHERRY BLOSSOM COUNTDOWN: Peak Bloom prediction drops Thursday

Published

2 days ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

CHERRY BLOSSOM COUNTDOWN: Peak Bloom prediction drops Thursday

WASHINGTON (7News) — The nation’s capital is just about ready to be transformed into a breathtaking pastel landscape of cherry trees in bloom. The famed blossoms around the Tidal Basin are not only a symbol of spring’s arrival, but also of a long-standing friendship — a gift of more than 3,000 trees from Tokyo, Japan, to the United States in 1912.

So what is considered “Peak Bloom”?

The National Park Service (NPS) defines peak bloom as the time when at least 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin have opened their blossoms. This is the period when the blossoms appear most full and spectacular and most ideal for photos, and soaking up spring’s beauty here in DC.

Because cherry trees respond to the cumulative effects of winter and spring weather, especially daily temperatures, it’s very difficult to predict peak bloom more than about 10 days in advance. Warm spells accelerate blooming; cold snaps slow it down.

Average Timing — What History Shows

Since 1921 overall, national data indicate peak bloom typically fell around early April (April 4), based on historical averages.

Average date peak bloom – cherry blossom trees Washington DC Tidal Basin

Since 1990, the average has kept shifting earlier and earlier. In fact, the last 6 years our peak has occurred in late March.

These shifts reflect how warmer springs have nudged peak bloom earlier over the decades.

Earliest & Latest Blooms on Record

Earliest peak bloom: March 15 — recorded in 1990.

Latest peak bloom: April 18 — recorded in 1958.

Of course, most years fall between those dates, with the last week of March to the first week of April historically being the most consistent window for peak bloom.

Earliest Peak Bloom Washington DC

Recent peak blooms show how variable and climate-dependent the timing can be:

2025: The National Park Service predicted peak bloom between March 28–31 (and confirmed the official peak around March 28).

2024: Peak bloom arrived very early, on March 17, several days ahead of NPS projections — tied for one of the earliest peaks in decades.

These examples demonstrate not only how much each season can differ, but also a trend toward earlier spring blossoms in recent years.

What to Expect for Spring 2026

As of early March 2026, the cherry trees are still dormant. The buds haven’t begun significant growth yet. The weather will become more critical in the weeks leading up to the bloom will be the biggest factor in determining when peak bloom happens in 2026.

Heavy winter cold, as experienced this year, tends to delay bloom compared with recent early springs. In contrast, an early warm stretch could push peak bloom earlier — as long as it doesn’t come with subsequent frost.

Look for the green bud stage first. This is when the buds are small, tight, and green, with no sign of petals yet. Trees are still several weeks from blooming.

Tips for Cherry Blossom Visitors

Plan in the “sweet spot” — peak bloom often lasts a few days to about a week, but weather (rain, wind, heat) can shorten that window.

Visit slightly before or after the predicted peak dates for smaller crowds and extended color. Blossoms can be gorgeous even before 70% bloom or as petals begin falling.

Check NPS updates and First Alert Weather forecasts in late March for tweaked peak bloom dates.

The cherry blossoms of Washington, D.C. remain one of the most iconic harbingers of spring in the U.S., and while exact bloom dates vary year-to-year, history and natural patterns point to late March through early April as your best bet for seeing the Tidal Basin in full floral glory.

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