Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, has held the seat since 1991 and was up for reelection in 2010. Her Democratic opponent in the primary election was Douglass Sloan, who is only the second candidate to ever challenge Holmes Norton in a primary since she took office in 1991.[1]
Missy Reilly Smith, an anti-abortion activist, was the Republican candidate. She ran unopposed in the primary election. Smith caused a controversy by running television ads featuring graphic images of aborted fetuses. Smith herself had undergone two abortions in the past.[2]
Primary
The primary election took place on for September 14[3] for both the offices of Delegate and Shadow Representative. Incumbent Eleanor Norton Holmes faced only the second primary challenge since she took office in 1991.[1]