Kesha Hodge Washington was sworn in as District 8 Councilwoman on April 17, 2023, she is the first African-American woman to be elected to the Phoenix City Council. Councilwoman Hodge Washington serves on the Audit Committee, the Economic Development and Housing and Transportation Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittees, and her top priorities in the district are homelessness, affordable and attainable housing, and economic development.

Within months of joining Council, Councilwoman Hodge Washington stepped up to co-chair the general obligation bond outreach campaign and worked diligently to ensure its successful passage, becoming the first bond package passed in over twenty years. With her leadership, the bond received overwhelming support to secure $500M investment for various city projects ranging from public safety and infrastructure/new and renovated facilities to economic development and sustainability measures.

On Council, Councilwoman Hodge Washington remains a vocal advocate for housing protection and combatting the devasting, long-lasting impacts that flow from an eviction and homelessness. Among other measures, she leads in calling for protective initiatives, such as right to counsel programs, that bring balance and fairness to the eviction process. Councilwoman Hodge Washington also values inclusivity and transparency in all aspects of government. She ensured those principles were extended to the City’s Civilian Review Board and successfully championed for the inclusion of ethical standards and procedural safeguards to ensure equal access for information, further fostering a more accountable and just system.