We Are Labor is an independent expenditure committee formed in 2022 by a group of unions whose members live and work in the District of Columbia. Contributors include UNITE HERE Local 25; the International Association of Firefighters Local 36; the Baltimore-DC Metro Building Trades Council; the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL CIO; the Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington Laborers’ District Council; the Working Families Party; 32BJ SEIU; UFCW Local 400; IUPAT District Council 51; IBEW Local 26; SEIU MD/DC State Council; Airport Concessions & In-Flight Local 23; and the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.
We Are Labor conducted this poll to identify the sentiment of D.C.’s likely 2026 Democratic primary voters toward D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. This poll shows that Mayor Bowser is a very vulnerable incumbent at this early stage of the election. Mayor Bowser is currently underwater in her favorable ratings and job approval, and voters indicate they do not want to re-elect her in a generic vote. The poll also demonstrates the strong standing that labor unions have among D.C. residents, and that D.C. residents value a mayor who works closely and productively with local labor.
About the Poll
Respondents: Likely D.C. Democratic Primary 2026 Voters
Mode: Phone, Email- & Text-to-Web
Conducted: October 7 – 9, 2025
Sample Details: n = 600, Margin of Error ±3.99 percentage points
Vendor: Workbench Strategy
Key Toplines
Do you feel that things in D.C. are…
Generally going in the right direction 45
Off on the wrong track 55
(DK/Refused) 1
Net Right Direction -10
What is your opinion of each of the following people and organizations?
How would you rate the job Muriel Bowser is doing as Mayor of D.C.?
Excellent 14
Good 32
Only fair 30
Poor 23
(DK/Refused) -
Total Positive 47
Total Negative 53
Now, if the June 2026 Democratic Primary election for Mayor of D.C. were today, who would you vote for if the candidates were:
Muriel Bowser 39
Someone else 59
(Undecided/DK/Refused) 1
Total Bowser 40
Total someone else 59
Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
You can view the full crosstabs here.