Hilda Mason Special Election Campaign

This pinback button urges Washington, DC residents to “vote July 19th” to elect Hilda Mason as “Councilwoman At-Large.” Mason’s last name appears most prominently on the black-and-white button, which hails from her campaign in a special election held July 19, 1977. Just three months earlier, Mason had been appointed to the At-Large seat held by the DC Statehood Party following incumbent Julius Hobson, Sr.’s death in March 1977. The former public school teacher and DC Board of Education member prevailed in the special election and won reelection in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994.