Doni Crawford

Doni Crawford serves as an At-Large Councilmember for the District of Columbia, appointed on January 20, 2026. She brings more than a decade of experience in public policy, economic development, and racial equity to her role on the Council. Doni came to the District with a simple belief: that government—done right—can help people build better lives. Prior to her appointment, Doni was Committee Director for the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development, where she led complex budget oversight and advanced legislation to strengthen small businesses, commercial corridors, and inclusive economic growth. She played a pivotal role in negotiating the Commanders stadium redevelopment deal, ensuring robust community benefits, local hiring requirements, and accountability measures. She also spearheaded landmark legislation addressing racial and economic inequities as a Legislative Director and Senior Policy Advisor at the Council.

Doni’s career reflects a deep commitment to equity and opportunity. At the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, she authored influential research and helped secure $41 million in pandemic relief for excluded workers. Prior to that, she drove community revitalization strategies at Neighborhood Allies in Pittsburgh, managing multi-million-dollar grant programs and shaping equitable development policies and practices. Doni holds a Master of Public and International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Hispanic Languages and Literatures from the University of Pittsburgh. Her work has been featured in Time Magazine, CNN, and The Washington Post. Outside of her professional life, Doni loves to read, plays a variety of sports, enjoys traveling, and cherishes spending time with her family and friends.

Compress biography