Kenyan R. McDuffie, who spent more than 13 years on the D.C. Council, has entered the race for D.C. mayor, promising a vision of “economic growth with guardrails” and to protect home rule during a precarious time for the nation’s capital.
McDuffie’s entrance into the race Wednesday sets up a competitive contest for an open mayoral seat for the first time in two decades after Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) opted not to seek a fourth term. Now, the District is slated for fresh leadership amid major challenges as it faces ongoing pressure from President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, and as Trump’s federal job cuts have put the city’s unemployment rate at an all-time high.
McDuffie, a former prosecutor, will face off against council member Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4), a democratic socialist — and also a former prosecutor — seeking to leverage her liberal bona fides to energize voters in the deep-blue city.
McDuffie argued that he had the right blend of legislative experience on the council and life experience — a fourth-generation Washingtonian who grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood — to reverse that economic trajectory and fight back against harmful federal actions. His bid for higher office had been highly anticipated since he announced last month that he would resign from the council.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Meagan Flynn over at The Washington Post
