D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson said she will remain an independent, days after saying she would change her party affiliation to become a Democrat.
Henderson’s initial announcement of a switch was expected to set up a legal fight over how the D.C. Council fills the vacancy left by Robert White, who was just elected D.C.’s delegate in Congress, replacing Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.
The D.C. Democratic State Committee appointed Jamal Holtz as interim at-large councilmember Thursday and called for him to be sworn in immediately.
Henderson said in a lengthy statement Friday that she was informed that the council and D.C. Board of Elections would not adhere to what she called precedent over how a vacancy is filled.
“Had I known that the regulations and precedence would not be followed, I would not have proceeded as I did,” she said.
The D.C. Council consists of the chair, eight members who each represent a ward and four at-large members. The law says only two at-large members can be from the same party. In heavily Democratic D.C., that generally means the council has two Democrats and two independents.
White was a Democratic at-large member. His permanent replacement will be filled through a special election.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
