Kenyan McDuffie

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Kenyan McDuffie

Democratic Party

Candidate, Mayor of Washington D.C.

Prior offices:

Washington D.C. City Council At-large

Years in office: 2023 - 2026

Successor: Doni Crawford (Independent)

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Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5

Years in office: 2012 - 2023

Successor: Zachary Parker (D)

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Next election

June 16, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

Howard University

Law

University of Maryland

Personal

Profession

Attorney and Policy Adviser

Contact

Personal Facebook

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Personal Instagram

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Kenyan McDuffie (Democratic Party) is running for election for Mayor of Washington D. C.. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on June 16, 2026.^[source]

McDuffie (independent) was an at-large member of the Washington D.C. City Council. He assumed office on January 2, 2023. He left office on January 5, 2026.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

McDuffie was born in Washington, D.C. He obtained a B.A. in political science and Community Development from Howard University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland. His professional experience includes working on the staff of Washington, D.C. delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, Eleanor Holmes Norton, as a Policy Adviser to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice and as a Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Before earning his law degree, McDuffie worked as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

Elections

2026

See also: Mayoral election in Washington, D.C. (2026)

General election

The primary will occur on June 16, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Mayor of Washington D.C.

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Washington D.C. on June 16, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Gary Goodweather
	Submit photo	Kathy Henderson
		Ernest Johnson
	Submit photo	Stanley Lawson Sr.
		Janeese Lewis George
		Kenyan McDuffie
		Vincent Orange
		Rini Sampath
	Submit photo	Hope Solomon

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Green Party primary

Green primary for Mayor of Washington D.C.

Robert Gross (G) is running in the Green Party primary for Mayor of Washington D.C. on June 16, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Robert Gross

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

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2022

Washington D.C. City Council At-large

See also: City elections in Washington, D.C. (2022)

General election

General election for Washington D.C. City Council At-large (2 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Washington D.C. City Council At-large on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anita Bonds (D)	31.7	103,991
✔		Kenyan McDuffie (Independent)	21.9	71,924
		Elissa Silverman (Independent)	19.3	63,471
		Graham McLaughlin (Independent)	10.2	33,402
	Submit photo	Karim Marshall (Independent)	5.1	16,883
		David Schwartzman (G)	5.1	16,650
		Giuseppe Niosi (R)	3.9	12,832
	Submit photo	Frederick Hill III (Independent)	2.3	7,494
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	1,620

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 328,267
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Washington D.C. City Council At-large (2 seats)

Incumbent Anita Bonds defeated Lisa Gore, Nate Fleming, and Dexter Williams in the Democratic primary for Washington D.C. City Council At-large on June 21, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anita Bonds	35.9	42,421
		Lisa Gore	28.1	33,225
		Nate Fleming	27.7	32,815
	Submit photo	Dexter Williams	7.9	9,356
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	504

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 118,321
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Leniqua'dominique Jenkins (D)
• Bradley Thomas (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Washington D.C. City Council At-large (2 seats)

Giuseppe Niosi advanced from the Republican primary for Washington D.C. City Council At-large on June 21, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Giuseppe Niosi	91.8	2,576
		Other/Write-in votes	8.2	230

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,806
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Green primary election

Green primary for Washington D.C. City Council At-large (2 seats)

David Schwartzman advanced from the Green primary for Washington D.C. City Council At-large on June 21, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Schwartzman (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	100	342

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 342
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Attorney General of Washington D.C.

See also: City elections in Washington, D.C. (2022)

General election

General election for Attorney General of Washington D.C.

Brian Schwalb won election in the general election for Attorney General of Washington D.C. on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brian Schwalb (D)	97.5	177,126
		Other/Write-in votes	2.5	4,516

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 181,642
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Washington D.C.

Brian Schwalb defeated Bruce Spiva and Ryan Jones in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Washington D.C. on June 21, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brian Schwalb	45.4	54,399
	Submit photo	Bruce Spiva	36.8	44,198
		Ryan Jones	17.1	20,518
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	827

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 119,942
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kenyan McDuffie (D)

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Washington, D.C. (2018)

General election

General election for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5

Incumbent Kenyan McDuffie defeated Kathy Henderson, Joyce Robinson-Paul, and Amone Banks in the general election for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kenyan McDuffie (D)	79.3	23,745
	Submit photo	Kathy Henderson (Independent)	8.4	2,523
		Joyce Robinson-Paul (G)	7.0	2,085
	Submit photo	Amone Banks (Independent)	3.6	1,085
		Other/Write-in votes	1.7	513

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,951
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5

Incumbent Kenyan McDuffie defeated Gayle Hall Carley, Bradley Thomas, LaMonica Jeffrey, and Nestor Djonkam in the Democratic primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5 on June 19, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kenyan McDuffie	69.4	7,737
	Submit photo	Gayle Hall Carley	15.0	1,668
	Submit photo	Bradley Thomas	12.3	1,373
	Submit photo	LaMonica Jeffrey	2.8	314
		Nestor Djonkam	0.5	55

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,147
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Green primary election

Green primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5

Joyce Robinson-Paul advanced from the Green primary for Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5 on June 19, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joyce Robinson-Paul	100.0	36

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Washington, D.C. Council elections, 2014

Washington, D.C. held city council elections on November 4, 2014. A primary election took place on April 1. Incumbent Kenyan McDuffie defeated Kathy Henderson, Paul Hines, Jacqueline Manning and Carolyn Steptoe in the Democratic primary, while Preston Cornish was unopposed in the Libertarian primary. McDuffie defeated Cornish in the general election.

Washington, D.C. Council, Ward 5, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Kenyan McDuffie Incumbent	83.9%	19,290
	Libertarian	Preston Cornish	6.5%	1,488
	Other	Write-in	0.9%	199
	Other	Over and Under Votes	8.7%	2,007
Total Votes				22,984
Source: Washington, D.C. Board of Elections - General Election Results

Washington D.C. Council Ward 5 Primary Election Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Kenyan McDuffie Incumbent	78.4%	9,532
Kathy Henderson	15%	1,822
Carolyn Steptoe	6.2%	755
Write-in	0.5%	56
Total Votes		12,165
Source: Washington D.C. Board of Elections

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kenyan McDuffie has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Kenyan McDuffie asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Kenyan McDuffie, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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You can ask Kenyan McDuffie to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing brandi@kenyanmcduffie.com.

2022

Kenyan McDuffie did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

On his campaign website, McDuffie highlighted the following issues:

Minimum wage

• Excerpt: "As Councilmember, Kenyan has consistently promoted laws and policies that enhance quality job opportunities for DC residents. That is why he voted to raise the minimum wage for everyone working in DC from $8.25 to $11.50/hour and to enhance paid sick leave benefits for District workers. Kenyan also voted in favor of the Large Retailer Accountability Act, which would have required multi-million dollar chain retailers to pay their employees a living wage."

Economic development

• Excerpt: "Promoting economic development in Ward 5 and ensuring the success of the ward’s small businesses is one of Kenyan’s top priorities. Ward 5 residents have long been clamoring for the amenities and offerings found in other areas of the city. That is why Kenyan is focusing his attention on business attraction and retention, and is working with representatives of Monroe Street Market and Rhode Island Row to ensure quality, neighborhood-serving restaurants and retail in these catalytic projects."

Education

• Excerpt: "As a graduate of DC Public Schools, Kenyan knows the importance of a robust public school system. He has championed the modernization of existing schools as well as funding for the construction of two DCPS middle schools. In the FY14 budget, Kenyan worked with the Committee on Education to preserve funds for the modernization of Brookland Middle School and Spingarn High School, and to ensure that funds were available to complete the FY14 renovation of Dunbar High School. He also arranged for the fast-tracking of Langdon Elementary School’s modernization, so that it will be completed a year ahead of schedule."

Public safety

• Excerpt: "Ward 5 experienced the greatest reduction in crime in the city over the past year , but Kenyan has nevertheless remained vigilant about securing the Ward 5 community. He takes a proactive approach to crime prevention by addressing blight with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, and maintaining a close relationship with MPD, Fire and EMS, and the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Public Safety and Justice."

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Washington D.C. City Council At-large 2023-2026	Succeeded by Doni Crawford
Preceded by -	Washington D.C. City Council Ward 5 2012-2023	Succeeded by Zachary Parker (D)