Yilin Zhang

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Yilin Zhang

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 16, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Graduate

London School of Economics and Political Science

Personal

Profession

Business development

Yilin Zhang (Democratic Party) (also known as Ellen) ran for election to the Washington D.C. City Council to represent Ward 2. Zhang lost in the Democratic primary on June 2, 2020.

Zhang also ran in a special election to the Washington D.C. City Council to represent Ward 2. Zhang lost in the special general election on June 16, 2020.

Zhang completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Yilin Zhang earned a B.A. in anthropology and international relations/global health from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and an M.Sc. in health policy and health economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her professional experience includes working as a business development executive. Zhang has served as a board member for the American College of Healthcare Executives and as a member of the League of Women Voters.

Elections

Ward 2 (Special election)

See also: City elections in Washington, D.C. (2020)

General election

Special general election for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2 on June 16, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brooke Pinto (D)	42.7	4,554
	Submit photo	Patrick Kennedy (D)	20.2	2,159
	Submit photo	Jordan Grossman (D)	14.6	1,563
		Kishan Putta (D)	8.4	895
	Submit photo	Katherine Venice (R) (Unofficially withdrew)	5.1	549
	Submit photo	John Fanning (D)	4.6	488
		Yilin Zhang (D)	3.6	382
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	82

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,672
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jack Evans (D)

Ward 2 (Regular election)

See also: City elections in Washington, D.C. (2020)

General election

General election for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2

Incumbent Brooke Pinto defeated Randy Downs, Martín Fernandez, and Peter Bolton in the general election for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brooke Pinto (D)	68.3	20,364
	Submit photo	Randy Downs (Independent)	20.6	6,141
	Submit photo	Martín Fernandez (Independent)	7.2	2,137
	Submit photo	Peter Bolton (G)	2.9	873
		Other/Write-in votes	1.0	302

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,817
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Katherine Venice (R)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brooke Pinto	28.4	3,142
	Submit photo	Patrick Kennedy	25.0	2,763
	Submit photo	Jordan Grossman	21.5	2,385
		Kishan Putta	9.9	1,100
	Submit photo	John Fanning	6.3	695
		Yilin Zhang	4.3	473
		Jack Evans	3.4	376
	Submit photo	Daniel Hernandez	1.2	129
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	8

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,071
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2

Katherine Venice advanced from the Republican primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 2 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Katherine Venice	84.7	359
		Other/Write-in votes	15.3	65

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 424
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Yilin Zhang completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Zhang's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I first came to DC more than 10 years ago, am from Michigan, and a first-generation immigrant. Born in Beijing, I moved to the U.S. with my mother at the age of three. My mother, who was a teacher in China, did not speak English at the time. To help support the family, she worked in a deli store and cleaned houses. From my parents, I learned what it means to navigate cultural, class, and linguistic differences. It is critical to me that everyone has a voice in their democracy, and a voice that is heard. An elected official's only priority should be her constituents, and that priority should be expressed through better communication, education and awareness campaigns in collaboration with organizations, developing comprehensive and equitable legislation, and oversight over implementation of legislation. Professionally, I have spent the last 10 years working in the health care industry, in policy research, operations, and business development, and am a published researcher. I am currently a business development executive at an integrated health care delivery organization. I went into health care as a researcher, community advocate, and organizer, and am deeply passionate about equitable access to quality health care and health information.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Equitable access to quality health care across all eight wards in DC.
• Truly affordable homes for individuals and families.
• We should have voting representation in Congress; we need DC Statehood.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about creating proactive public policies that are comprehensive, representative, and help build a strong infrastructure. These policies are important to creating a resilient society, especially critical when we are faced with public health crisis.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

DC residents pay the most in federal taxes per capita and DC has a larger population than two states; however, DC does not have voting representation in Congress and is not a state. Because we do not have DC Statehood, DC received $750 M less - compared to states - in COVID-19 relief funding from Congress.

The Mayor and DC Councilmembers create and pass legislation and the DC budget, with oversight from Congress.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my younger brother. He is compassionate and works hard to pursue his dreams. I am very proud that he will be an officer in the U.S. Army.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A Councilmember's only priority should be to serve the community.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Listener, persistent, and willing to go the extra mile to get things done.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A Councilmember whose only priority was to serve the community, worked authentically with individuals and organizations representing different perspectives, and fostered a new generation of leaders.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I've held different jobs to help pay for school. This included tutoring, working in the cafeteria as a dishwasher and server, working as a hospital registrar, conducting health care research and organizing health fairs, and working as a cashier.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Pride and Prejudice. I'm a Jane Austen fan.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Every Breath You Take, The Police. Love '80s music.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

DC Councilmembers' responsibilities can be divided into three primary categories:

- Drafting, reviewing, and passing legislation
- Overseeing implementation of the law, with oversight of the correlating government agencies
- Providing constituent services

Above all, a Councilmember and any elected official's responsibility is to maintain transparency and accountability.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

It is important for the individual to be transparent and accountable, and someone who gets things done. This individual will have a blend of policy and business experience, and an ability to critically assess varying perspectives on issues.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Yilin Zhang did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

See also

• Washington, D.C.
• Municipal elections in Washington, D.C. (2020)

External links

• Search Google News for this topic