Vincent Orange needs to make up his mind. For his 2020 run at an at-large D.C. Council seat, Orange has branded himself an “Independent Progressive Democrat.” He’s touted his work bringing a $15 per hour minimum wage to the District as evidence of his progressive bonafides.

But in a text message blast from his campaign to D.C. Republicans, Orange refers to himself as “fiscally conservative,” and encourages recipients to also vote for Marya Pickering, the lone Republican in the at-large race.

“Vote Republican Marya Pickering, #5 on the Ballot,” the text message says. “And the Fiscally Conservative Independent, Vincent Orange, #2 on the Ballot!”

With less than 6 percent of D.C. voters registered as Republicans, LL wonders if VO is getting desperate. Asked about what appears to be a contradiction in his messaging, Orange says that everyone already knows he is fiscally conservative “when it comes to tax and spend.”

“But I have gotten more progressive legislation passed than anybody on that Council,” he claims, which made LL chuckle considering Orange’s opposition to D.C.’s paid family leave law. Orange has attacked his opponent Ed Lazere, a progressive budget wonk, throughout the campaign for supporting the law that Orange says unfairly provides benefits to people who work in D.C. but don’t live here.

Orange also points to his 2016 endorsement from the Washington Post editorial board, which at the time called him a “moderating force among the factions in government,” and a “voice for small businesses.”

LL will note that the Post snubbed Orange this time around in favor of a younger business-friendly candidate, Marcus Goodwin, and former Council staffer Christina Henderson.

“This is a general election,” Orange says. “Everyone gets to vote. I’m looking for common ground.”