Candace Tiana Nelson

———— Democrat for DC Council At-Large

My Story

I’m Candace Tiana Nelson, and I’m running for DC Council At-Large because I believe leadership is about making people feel seen, heard, and valued.

I was born and raised in Winchester, Virginia, and you may hear a twang when I speak. The twang is loyal, and so am I.

I attended Apple Pie Ridge Elementary School, a sweet name, but a sour experience. In elementary school, I was often the only Black student in my class, sometimes in my grade. I did not have a Black teacher until college. I know what it feels like to feel invisible, left behind, and left out. Those experiences shaped the advocate in me and made me determined to help build a world where no one else feels unseen.

Thank the Lord for the example my parents gave me. My dad worked 12-hour shifts at Rubbermaid. My mom worked 12-hour shifts at the hospital while continuing her education, eventually earning a Master’s Degree in Nursing and traveling to Washington with her fellow union members to testify before Congress. From them, I learned dignity, perseverance, and the value of organized labor. I am a Legacy of Labor.

And every night, the District of Columbia was in my living room, on our television screen, with Bruce Johnson and Black leaders, people who looked like me, leading boldly. It showed me what was possible.

It is a big reason why I carry one core conviction to this day: representation matters.

That belief has guided my life of service.

For two decades, I have worked across DC government to improve how government performs, solve complex problems, and deliver results for residents. I’m running because I believe a District that thrives focuses on strong foundations: education, healthcare, and housing, making each affordable, accessible, and high quality.

I’m running because DC deserves leaders who listen, leaders who show up, and leaders who do not disappear once the election is over.

I believe DC can be a city where every person has a real chance to thrive.

A District where housing is affordable, schools are strong, healthcare is accessible, and government is accountable to the people.

A District where every resident feels seen, heard, and represented.

That’s the kind of leadership I believe in.
That’s why I’m running.
And that’s the future I want to build with you.

A Record of Service

I have spent two decades building relationships, trust, and a record of effective leadership across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of D.C. government. My past experience includes:

● Currently, Candace serves as the President of the DC Black Democratic Caucus

Past Experience and Roles

● Chief of Staff to Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George

● Transition Director and Chief of Staff to Brian Schwalb for the 2022 Attorney General Transition

● Special Projects Officer at the Department of Healthcare Finance, managing a $110 million contract that created District Direct, transforming the way residents access 1 Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF especially critical during the height of COVID-19.

● Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, organizing tenant associations, addressing quality-of-life issues, and delivering results for Ward 4 residents.

● Office of Women’s Policy & Initiatives, where she established D.C.’s partnership with Work Smart, a program still used to help women, especially returning citizens to negotiate fair wages.

● Policy Analyst, where she authored a key recommendation that helped lead to the creation of the Office of African American Affairs.

● Staff member for two Mayoral Transition Teams

In every role, I have stood for humanity, courage, dignity, integrity, and perseverance.