# Patrick Mara

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{{short description|American politician}}
{{notability|Biography|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name        = Pat Mara
|image       = Marahs.jpg
|office      = Chair of the [District of Columbia Republican Party](/source/District_of_Columbia_Republican_Party)
|term_start  = January 14, 2021
|term_end    = 
|predecessor = [Darlene Glymph](/source/Darlene_Glymph)
|successor   = 
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1975|3|1}}
|birth_place = 
|death_date  = 
|death_place = 
|party       = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) 
|education   = [Marist College](/source/Marist_College) ([BS](/source/Bachelor_of_Science))<br>[Babson College](/source/Babson_College) ([MBA](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration))
|website     = {{URL|patrickmara.com|Official website}}
}}
'''Patrick Mara''' is an American politician, who has served as Chair of the [District of Columbia Republican Party](/source/District_of_Columbia_Republican_Party) since 2021. He previously served as an elected member of the [District of Columbia Board of Education](/source/District_of_Columbia_Public_Schools) from 2010 to 2014.<ref name= election2010/><ref>{{cite news |title= D.C. State Board of Education has three new members |first= Michael Alison |last=Chandler |date= November 5, 2014 |work= The Washington Post |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-state-board-of-education-has-three-new-members/2014/11/05/531b5e18-6502-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html }}</ref>

==Early years==
Mara is originally from [Rhode Island](/source/Rhode_Island).<ref name=torun/> He earned a [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) in political science and environmental science at [Marist College](/source/Marist_College).<ref name= canpat>{{cite news |title= Try and Try and Try Again|first= Alan |last= Suderman |work= Washington City Paper |date= April 3, 2013 |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2013/04/03/try-and-try-and-try-again/ }}</ref> While at Marist, Mara was student body president<ref>{{cite news |title=Mara administration takes helm with transition dinner |first=Daryl |last=Richard |work=The Circle |date=April 18, 1996 |publisher=Marist College |url=http://library.marist.edu/archives/Circle/1996/1996_4_18.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806112658/http://library.marist.edu/archives/Circle/1996/1996_4_18.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mara later served as President of the Marist College Alumni Executive Board and the Alumni Representative to the Marist College Board of Trustees.<ref>{{citation |title=Alumni Association Executive Board |work=Marist College |accessdate=January 20, 2011 |url=http://www.marist.edu/alumni/board.html }}</ref> He graduated with a [Master of Business Administration](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration) in entrepreneurship from [Babson College](/source/Babson_College).<ref name= canpat/>

==Political career==
Mara was a staffer for [Senator](/source/United_States_Senate) [John H. Chafee](/source/John_H._Chafee), working on environmental issues.<ref name= canpat/>

In 2008, Mara defeated<ref>{{citation |title=Schwartz falls to Mara |work=The Examiner |location=Washington, D.C. |first=Michael |last=Neibauer |date=September 10, 2008 |url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/schwartz-falls-mara }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> incumbent [Carol Schwartz](/source/Carol_Schwartz) in the Republican primary for an at-large seat on the [Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia). The ''[Washington Blade](/source/Washington_Blade)'' endorsed Mara, noting his support for same-sex marriage and other stands in support of civil rights.<ref name="washblade.com">[http://www.washblade.com/2008/10-31/view/columns/13533.cfm ]{{dead link|date=June 2020}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' endorsed Mara in the Republican primary<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090202444.html | work=The Washington Post | title=The D.C. Council Primary | date=2008-09-03 | accessdate=2010-05-22}}</ref> and in the General Election.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/22/AR2008102202987.html | work=The Washington Post | title=For D.C. Council | date=2008-10-23 | accessdate=2010-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/30/AR2008103003632.html | work=The Washington Post | title=Bucking a Tide in D.C | date=2008-10-31 | accessdate=2010-05-22}}</ref> Democrat [Kwame R. Brown](/source/Kwame_R._Brown) and independent [Michael A. Brown](/source/Michael_A._Brown_(Washington_D.C._politician)) won the general election.

In 2010, Mara won the Ward One seat on the District of Columbia [State Board of Education](/source/Board_of_Education) with 53 percent of the vote.<ref>{{citation |work=DC BOEE |title=DC Board Of Elections And Ethics: Election Results |url=http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010 |accessdate=November 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106010504/http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010 |archive-date=November 6, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' endorsed Mara in the election.<ref>{{citation |title=For D.C. State Board of Education |work=The Washington Post |format=editorial |date=October 25, 2010 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/24/AR2010102402494.html }}</ref>

In 2011, Mara ran in a [special election](/source/special_election) for the [at-large](/source/at-large) seat on the Council of the District of Columbia.<ref name=torun>{{cite news |title=Patrick Mara to run for D.C. Council at-large seat |first=Mike |last=DeBonis |work=The Washington Post |date=January 19, 2011|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/debonis/2011/01/patrick_mara_to_run_for_dc_cou.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009174204/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/debonis/2011/01/patrick_mara_to_run_for_dc_cou.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 9, 2012 }}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' endorsed Mara in the 2011 special election for At-Large D.C. Council.<ref>{{citation |title=Patrick Mara for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council |work=The Washington Post |format=editorial |date=April 12, 2011 |url=https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-04-12/opinions/35261845_1_council-member-charter-schools-school-reforms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730060304/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-04-12/opinions/35261845_1_council-member-charter-schools-school-reforms |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 30, 2013 }}</ref> Mara came in second behind [Vincent Orange](/source/Vincent_Orange).<ref name= 2011s/>

Mara was a board member at DC Vote from 2011 to 2013.

Mara was a candidate in the special election for the at-large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia in 2013. He was endorsed by ''The Washington Post''.<ref name="Board">{{citation |work=Washington Post |title=Patrick Mara for D.C. Council |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/patrick-mara-for-dc-council/2013/03/21/e9beda84-8db8-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html |accessdate=March 21, 2013 |author=Editorial Board |date=March 21, 2013}}</ref> [New Jersey Governor](/source/New_Jersey_Governor) [Chris Christie](/source/Chris_Christie) [robocall](/source/robocall)ed Republicans in the District for Mara.<ref>{{cite news |title= Opening Act: Pat Mara |first= David |last= Weigel |work= Slate |date= April 24, 2013 |url= http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/04/24/opening_act_pat_mara.html }}</ref> The D.C. chapter of the [Sierra Club](/source/Sierra_Club) and the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce endorsed Mara in the special election. Democratic Councilmember [Anita Bonds](/source/Anita_Bonds) won the election; Mara lost with 10% of the vote.<ref name= 2013s/>

In 2014, Mara decided not to run for reelection to the District of Columbia State Board of Education.<ref>{{cite news |title= Meet the Ward 1 candidates for D.C. State Board of Education |first= Michael Alison |last= Chandler |date= October 29, 2014 |work= The Washington Post |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2014/10/29/meet-the-ward-1-candidates-for-d-c-state-board-of-education/ }}</ref>

In January 2015, Mara was appointed executive director of the [District of Columbia Republican Committee](/source/District_of_Columbia_Republican_Committee).<ref>{{cite web |title= State GOP Leadership: District of Columbia Leadership: Patrick Mara, Executive Director |work= Republican National Committee |accessdate= September 19, 2015 |url= https://gop.com/leaders/executive-director-patrick-mara-dc |archive-date= April 16, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160416105547/https://gop.com/leaders/executive-director-patrick-mara-dc |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Other ventures==
Mara owns The Dolan Group LLC,<ref>{{cite web |title= Dolan Group, LLC (The) - Initial File Number: L42183 |work= District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs |publisher= Government of the District of Columbia |accessdate= September 19, 2015 |url= https://corp.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewContact?bizEntityContactId=436564&currentTabConfigurationId=468 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> a business consulting firm in Washington, D.C.<ref name= election2010>{{citation |work=Washington Post |title=Election 2010: D.C. Board of Education, Ward 1 |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/elections/2010/dc/board-member/1757/ |accessdate=November 7, 2010 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101105204541/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/elections/2010/dc/board-member/1757 |archivedate= November 5, 2010 }}</ref>

Mara has served on the [board of directors](/source/board_of_directors) of One World Education<ref>{{citation |title=Board of Directors |work=One World Education |accessdate=January 20, 2011 |url=http://www.oneworldeducation.org/about-owed/board-of-directors }}</ref> and the Columbia Heights Day Initiative.<ref>{{citation |title=About the Annual Columbia Heights Day Festival |work=Columbia Heights Day Initiative |accessdate=January 20, 2011 |url=http://www.cohiday.org/about.html |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120309221750/http://www.cohiday.org/about.html |archivedate= March 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=livechat>{{cite web |title= Live chat with Patrick Mara |first= David |last= Alpert |date= February 2, 2011 |work= Greater Greater Washington |url= http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9076/live-chat-with-patrick-mara/ }}</ref>

Mara is a board member of College & Career Connections<ref>{{cite web |url= http://collegeandcareerconnections.org/about/leadership_board.shtml |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101002162337/http://collegeandcareerconnections.org/about/leadership_board.shtml |archivedate= October 2, 2010 |work= College & Career Connections |title= Leadership: Board of Directors }}</ref> and previously served on the board of [Washington Latin Public Charter School](/source/Washington_Latin_Public_Charter_School).<ref name= latin>{{cite web |work= Washington Latin Public Charter School |accessdate= September 19, 2015 |title= Board of Governors |url= http://latinpcs.org/about/our-team/board/ |archive-date= October 6, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151006104006/http://latinpcs.org/about/our-team/board/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Election results==
===2008===
{{Election box begin no change
  | title     = '''2008 [Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia), [At Large](/source/At-large), [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) [Primary](/source/Partisan_primary)'''<ref name=2008p>{{cite web |title=Certified Results, Primary Election, 2008  |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=September 26, 2008 |url= https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final.asp?electionid=1&prev=0&result_type=3&party=-87 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Patrick Mara
  |votes      = 2,370
  |percentage = 59
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Carol Schwartz](/source/Carol_Schwartz)
  |votes      = 1,646
  |percentage = 41
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Write-in
  |votes      = 19
  |percentage = 0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
  | title     = 2008 [Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia), [At Large](/source/At-large), [General Election](/source/General_Election)<ref name=2008g>{{cite web |title=Certified Results, Primary Election, 2008  |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=November 24, 2008 |url= https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final.asp?electionid=1&prev=0&result_type=3&party=-87 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Kwame R. Brown](/source/Kwame_R._Brown)
  |votes      = 172,272
  |percentage = 48
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = [Michael A. Brown](/source/Michael_A._Brown_(Washington_D.C._politician))
  |votes      = 71,720
  |percentage = 20
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Patrick Mara
  |votes      = 37,447
  |percentage = 10
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = D.C. Statehood Green Party
  |candidate  = David Schwartzman
  |votes      = 18,596
  |percentage = 5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change  
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Mark H. Long
  |votes      = 14,603
  |percentage = 4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Independent (politician)  
  |candidate  = Dee Hunter
  |votes      = 7,311
  |percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
  |party      = 
  |candidate  = Write-in ''(including Carol Schwartz)''
  |votes      = 39,493
  |percentage = 11
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2010===
{{Election box begin no change
  | title     = 2010 State Board of Education, Ward One, [General Election](/source/General_Election)<ref name=2010g>{{cite web |title=Certified Results, General Election, 2010 |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=November 19, 2010 |url=https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010 |access-date=September 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123024236/https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010 |archive-date=November 23, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = Patrick Mara
  |votes      = 6,731
  |percentage = 53
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = Dotti Love Wade
  |votes      = 5,856
  |percentage = 46
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = Write-in
  |votes      = 150
  |percentage = 1
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2011===
{{Election box begin no change
  | title     = 2011 [Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia), [At Large](/source/At-large), [Special Election](/source/Special_Election)<ref name=2011s>{{cite web |title=Certified Results, Special Election, 2011 |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=April 26, 2011 |url=https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2011/April-26-Special-Election/ |access-date=September 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624072536/https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2011/April-26-Special-Election/ |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= April 26, 2011 Special Election Voter Guide |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections |date= April 13, 2011 |url= https://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_963.pdf }}</ref> }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Vincent Orange](/source/Vincent_Orange)
  |votes      = 13,583
  |percentage = 29
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Patrick Mara
  |votes      = 11,851
  |percentage = 25
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Sekou Biddle](/source/Sekou_Biddle)
  |votes      = 9,373
  |percentage = 20
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bryan Weaver
  |votes      = 6,069
  |percentage = 13
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Joshua Lopez
  |votes      = 3,343
  |percentage = 7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Tom Brown
  |votes      = 1,036
  |percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dorothy Douglas
  |votes      = 787
  |percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = D.C. Statehood Green Party
  |candidate  = Alan Page
  |votes      = 610
  |percentage = 1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Arkan Haile
  |votes      = 137
  |percentage = 0
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
  |party      = 
  |candidate  = Write-in
  |votes      = 178
  |percentage = 0
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2013===
{{Election box begin no change
  | title     = 2013 [Council of the District of Columbia](/source/Council_of_the_District_of_Columbia), [At Large](/source/At-large), [Special Election](/source/Special_Election)<ref name=2013s>{{cite web |title=Certified Results, Special Election, 2013 |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date=May 10, 2013 |url=https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2013/April-23-Special-Election |access-date=September 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121151738/https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2013/April-23-Special-Election |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Anita Bonds](/source/Anita_Bonds)
  |votes      = 18,027
  |percentage = 31
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Elissa Silverman](/source/Elissa_Silverman)
  |votes      = 15,228
  |percentage = 27
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Patrick Mara
  |votes      = 13,698
  |percentage = 24
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Matthew Frumin](/source/Matthew_Frumin)
  |votes      = 6,307
  |percentage = 11
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Paul Zuckerberg
  |votes      = 1,195
  |percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Michael A. Brown](/source/Michael_A._Brown_(Washington%2C_D.C._politician))
  |votes      = 1,100
  |percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = D.C. Statehood Green Party
  |candidate  = Perry Redd
  |votes      = 1,090
  |percentage = 2
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
  |party      = 
  |candidate  = Write-in
  |votes      = 187
  |percentage = 0
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[Darlene Glymph](/source/Darlene_Glymph)}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [District of Columbia Republican Party](/source/District_of_Columbia_Republican_Party)|years=2021–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Republican State Chairs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mara, Patrick}}
Category:Babson College alumni
Category:Living people
Category:Marist University alumni
Category:Members of the District of Columbia Board of Education
Category:People from Rhode Island
Category:Washington, D.C., Republicans
Category:1975 births

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Patrick Mara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Mara) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Mara?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.