History of Trayon White in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: August 19, 2024

Trayon White is a Democratic politician serving on the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 8. He first won the seat in 2016 after previously working as a community organizer and activist in the same area. His election followed the death of long-time councilmember Marion Barry, who previously held the seat.

May 11, 1984: Trayon White's Birth

Trayon White was born on May 11, 1984.

2002: Enrollment at University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Trayon White enrolled at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the fall of 2002 to pursue a bachelor's degree in business administration.

2002: Graduation from Ballou High School

Trayon White graduated from Ballou High School in 2002.

2006: Community Outreach Work

Around 2006, Trayon White became a paid community outreach worker for the East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership (ERCPCP).

2006: Graduation from University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Trayon White graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2006.

November 2007: Founding of Helping Inner City Kids Succeed (HICKS)

Trayon White founded Helping Inner City Kids Succeed (HICKS) in November 2007, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping poverty-stricken children east of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C.

2007: Impact of Violence and Injustice

In 2007, Trayon White experienced the impact of violence in his community, with a large number of his friends being robbed and five people he knew murdered. He also denounced the shooting of 14-year-old DeOnte Rawlings by an off-duty D.C. police officer as "injustice."

January 2008: Interview with The Washington Post

In January 2008, Trayon White was interviewed by The Washington Post, discussing the impact of violence on his community. He shared his struggles with witnessing friends being robbed and losing five people he knew to murder in 2007.

May 2008: Linowes Leadership Award

In May 2008, Trayon White received the Linowes Leadership Award from the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region for his work with at-risk youth.

2010: Enrollment at Southeastern University

Trayon White enrolled in a master's degree program in public administration at Southeastern University in Washington, D.C., around 2010. The school merged with Graduate School USA in 2010.

January 12, 2011: Death of Kwame R. Brown

Kwame R. Brown, a member of the D.C. Board of Education, died of congestive heart failure on January 12, 2011.

April 26, 2011: Special Election Victory for Board of Education

Trayon White won the special election for the D.C. Board of Education on April 26, 2011, filling the unexpired term of Kwame R. Brown.

2011: Recognition by The Washington Post

In 2011, The Washington Post published an editorial acknowledging Trayon White's nonprofit, Helping Inner City Kids Succeed (HICKS), for its impactful work with inner-city youth and recognizing White's insight into the challenges faced by students in Ward 8 schools.

November 2012: Re-election to Board of Education

Trayon White was re-elected to the D.C. Board of Education in November 2012.

December 2012: End of First Term on Board of Education

Trayon White's first term on the D.C. Board of Education ended in December 2012.

March 2013: Groundbreaking for New Ballou High School

In March 2013, Trayon White participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Ballou High School building. During this time, he expressed his views on education, praising charter schools for their positive impact while also criticizing Kaya Henderson, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools, for not having a concrete plan to enhance the education system for children attending traditional public schools.

February 2014: New Job at D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation

In late February 2014, Trayon White accepted a supervisory role in the "Roving Leaders" at-risk youth program within the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation.

March 5, 2014: Resignation from Board of Education

Trayon White resigned from his position on the Board of Education on March 5, 2014, due to a conflict of interest with his city employment.

April 2014: Disappearance of Relisha Rudd and Community Search Efforts

In April 2014, eight-year-old Relisha Rudd went missing while her family resided in a city-run homeless shelter, sparking widespread concern throughout the city. Trayon White, who had previously met Relisha, collaborated with various community organizations to coordinate three searches in the vicinity to locate her or any trace of her whereabouts.

November 23, 2014: Death of Marion Barry

Marion Barry passed away on November 23, 2014, at United Medical Center. Trayon White was one of the individuals Barry contacted shortly after being discharged from Howard University Hospital.

December 2014: Candidacy for Ward 8 Council Seat

Following Marion Barry's death, Trayon White was among those considering running for the vacant Ward 8 council seat. He officially filed his candidacy for the special election in late December 2014, aiming to complete Barry's unexpired term.

2014: Mayoral Primary Turnout

The voter turnout in the 2014 mayoral primary was a point of reference for the Ward 8 special election.

January 2015: Fundraising for Ward 8 Special Election

By January 2015, Trayon White had raised $2,562 in campaign donations for the Ward 8 special election. In contrast, LaRuby May had accumulated $177,405, and Sheila Bunn had raised $51,692. Despite trailing in fundraising, unnamed political insiders suggested that White was potentially in a leading position in the race alongside May.

April 28, 2015: Ward 8 Special Election Results

The Ward 8 special election took place on April 28, 2015, with a higher than anticipated voter turnout. LaRuby May secured victory with 1,711 votes, while Trayon White came in second with 1,559 votes. Although May significantly outspent White, observers noted that White's campaign gained momentum towards the end, attracting support as an "anti-establishment" candidate and consolidating votes from other contenders in the crowded race.

May 14, 2015: BOE Certifies Ward 8 Election, White Requests Recount

On May 14, 2015, the Board of Elections certified the Ward 8 special election, paving the way for LaRuby May to assume the council seat. Despite this, Trayon White requested a recount, which the BOE indicated would be addressed after May's certification and swearing-in.

June 18, 2015: White Begins Work as Community Development Specialist

Trayon White was hired on June 18, 2015, as a temporary Community Development Specialist within the District of Columbia's Office of the Attorney General. His role focused on engaging with communities and organizations, particularly regarding at-risk youth, juvenile justice, and outreach in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River.

September 30, 2015: White's Tenure as Community Development Specialist Concludes

On September 30, 2015, Trayon White's temporary employment as a Community Development Specialist in the Office of the Attorney General of the District of Columbia ended.

February 8, 2016: White Files Candidacy for Ward 8 Council Seat

On February 8, 2016, Trayon White officially filed as a candidate for the Ward 8 District Council seat in the Democratic primary. With few other anticipated candidates, he already secured endorsements from several prominent figures, including Jauhar Abraham, Stuart Anderson, Marion Christopher Barry, and Karl Racine.

April 2016: Relisha Rudd Still Missing

As of April 2016, Relisha Rudd remained missing.

June 14, 2016: White Defeats Incumbent May in Democratic Primary

In the June 14, 2016, Democratic primary for the Ward 8 District Council seat, Trayon White secured a victory against incumbent LaRuby May, receiving 51% of the vote. The election saw a turnout of approximately 8,700 out of a total voting age population of roughly 57,000 in Ward 8.

June 2016: White Supports Strict Campaign Finance Reform

In June 2016, Trayon White voiced his support for a campaign finance reform proposal in D.C. This proposal aimed to prevent individuals or corporations with city contracts exceeding $100,000 from making donations to District Council elections. The proposal, among the strictest of its kind, was introduced to combat corruption and ethical concerns within the Council.

November 8, 2016: White Wins Ward 8 Council Seat Unopposed

On November 8, 2016, Trayon White ran unopposed for the Ward 8 Council seat and won with a resounding 93.29% of the total votes cast, securing his position on the council.

2016: Election to Council of the District of Columbia

In 2016, Trayon White won his second election for the Ward 8 Council seat in the District of Columbia, previously held by Marion Barry.

2016: Ward 8 2016 Primary Election Sees Higher Voter Turnout

The 2016 primary election in Ward 8 witnessed a higher voter turnout compared to the 2020 primary, indicating greater voter engagement in the earlier election.

December 31, 2016: End of Marion Barry's Term

Marion Barry's term as Ward 8 council member was set to expire on December 31, 2016.

January 2, 2017: White Officially Takes Office as Ward 8 Councilmember

Trayon White was officially sworn into office at noon on January 2, 2017, marking the beginning of his tenure as the Ward 8 Councilmember.

June 2017: White Posts Bail for Friend, ANC Commissioner Kendall Simmons

In June 2017, Trayon White showed support for his friend and Ward 8 ANC commissioner, Kendall Simmons, by posting bail after Simmons was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. White drew a comparison between Simmons and Malcolm X, expressing doubts about the girlfriend's account of the events.

2017: Discussion on Missing Children

In 2017, Trayon White participated in a discussion on NPR about the efforts to find critically missing children, highlighting the work being done in his ward.

February 27, 2018: White Makes Claims About Rothschild Family at Event

During an event on February 27, 2018, Trayon White made statements alleging that the Rothschild family exerted control over institutions such as the World Bank and the U.S. government. These comments, though not immediately condemned, later contributed to the controversies surrounding White's views.

March 2018: White Leads Protests Against Development Project in Ward 8

During March 2018, Trayon White spearheaded protests against a development project within Ward 8. He specifically targeted developers Bozzuto and Chapman Development, criticizing their alleged lack of engagement with local labor and contractors for the project.

March 2018: White Sparks Controversy with Rothschild Family Weather Control Statement

Trayon White ignited controversy in March 2018 by publicly stating that the Rothschild family possessed the ability to control the weather. In response to the backlash from community members and leaders, White issued an apology, engaged in discussions with Jewish community leaders, and made a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. However, it was reported that he departed abruptly from the 90-minute tour midway through his visit on April 19.

March 2018: White's Anti-Semitic Statements Resurface During 2020 Primary

Trayon White's controversial anti-semitic statements from March 2018 resurfaced during the 2020 Democratic primary, becoming a point of contention. Challengers argued that White's focus on constituent services overshadowed his legislative duties, highlighting concerns about his priorities and approach to governance.

March 16, 2018: White Posts Video Alluding to Rothschild Weather Conspiracy

On March 16, 2018, Trayon White shared a video on his official Facebook page depicting snow flurries and suggesting a conspiracy theory about the Rothschild family manipulating the weather. His comments, widely reported as antisemitic, sparked significant controversy. In response, White apologized for the statement and expressed his intention to work with organizations like Jews United for Justice to gain a deeper understanding of antisemitism. Despite the controversy, several Jewish organizations acknowledged the sincerity of White's apology, suggesting his comments stemmed from ignorance rather than malice.

March 19, 2018: Footage Released of White's Remarks on Rothschild Control

On March 19, 2018, footage from a February 27, 2018, event surfaced, capturing Trayon White's claims about the Rothschild family's alleged control over the World Bank and the U.S. government. While those present, including Mayor Bowser and other city leaders, appeared puzzled by White's remarks, they did not immediately condemn them at the time.

2020: White Wins 2020 Democratic Primary Amidst Controversy

In the 2020 Democratic primary, Trayon White faced off against three challengers: Mike Austin, Stuart Anderson, and Yaida Ford. Despite the controversy surrounding his past anti-semitic remarks, White emerged victorious with 60.3% of the vote, according to unofficial overnight results. This election, however, saw a significant drop in voter turnout, with a 20% decrease compared to the 2016 primary in Ward 8.

2023: The Atlantic Reports on White's Role in Tree Removal on Xenia Street

In 2023, The Atlantic published an article shedding light on Trayon White's efforts to remove trees on Xenia Street in Ward 8. The article revealed that the opposition to the trees was not representative of the entire neighborhood's sentiment but was, in fact, driven by Darryl Ross, who held the belief that the trees negatively impacted home values. Notably, Ross, who was the treasurer of White's constituent services fund, did not reside in the neighborhood but owned a rental property there.