Washington, D.C.‘s leading mayoral candidates, Janeese Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie, could not name one Republican member of Congress they have attempted to forge a working relationship with as they discussed their plans for advocating the district on the Hill.
As a federal district and not a state, Washington has much of its locally written policy and governance ultimately under Congress’s jurisdiction. Washington’s mayor is unique among the nation’s mayors in its standing with Congress, as the district’s mayor typically must work with the chambers to advocate certain policies and budgetary issues that are ultimately approved. In deep-blue Washington, the current GOP-controlled House and Senate, alongside executive control of the Trump administration, have posed a unique challenge to the city’s leadership.
Both candidates, the more moderate McDuffie and socialist Lewis George, challenged Mayor Muriel Bowser‘s approach to dealing with the Republican-controlled federal government during a Thursday NBC debate. Bowser, who initially made headlines for standing up against President Donald Trump in his first term, has struck a more placid tone with Trump in the second as he mobilized the National Guard in Washington and federalized the Metropolitan Police Department.
“When you’re cutting thousands of jobs in the way that Trump and Elon Musk did, you’re threatening the livelihoods of Washington, D.C. That’s what I’m going to fight back against,” McDuffie said, discussing Trump administration actions that occurred under Bowser’s tenure. “And we’re not going to settle for the cooperation between MPD and ICE. We’re gonna push back against that.”
Lewis George also slammed Bowser’s strategy for dealing with the federal government, saying she would utilize the district’s “legal tools” and partner with the district’s attorney general, Brian Schwalb, more often, while also creating relationships with members of Congress.
“I have been walking the halls of Congress myself, and I can tell you that the No. 1 thing I am hearing is: ‘This is the first time I am ever hearing from leadership in D.C.,’” Lewis George said. “And so I am talking about an executive office of the mayor that has a robust federal affairs office. And I’m not just talking about going to caucus happy hours, and I’m not talking about one person, but building relationships.”
When the NBC4 Washington moderator pressed Lewis George on if she has had any conversations with Republican congressmen, given the current control of the legislature, she said that she has spoken instead with Democrats who represent purple districts, naming Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA). She said the strategy came from a tip House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) gave her team.
“Hakeem Jeffries told us, actually, that Republicans are voting on Republican lines,” Lewis George said. “We need to shore up our Democrats, especially Democrats in purple jurisdictions. So, I think that’s where we need to focus, and that’s not where the current mayor has focused her efforts.”
When pressed on the same question, McDuffie said he’s “had conversations with Republicans” but did not say when or specify who or whether they were members of Congress.
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“At a time where we’re facing the greatest existential threat to D.C.’s home rule since we received it in 1973, we can’t hold our breath and wait for Republicans,” McDuffie said. “We can make relationships across the aisle, and I’ve had conversations with Republicans. I used to chair the Council of Governments and have built relationships with Republicans as well. But the reality is, we can’t depend on Republicans to save Washington, D.C.”
The Thursday debate is likely going to be the last debate ahead of the June 16 primary election. Whoever wins the Democratic primary election is likely a shoo-in to win the general election and be the next district mayor.