{"id":2610798,"date":"2026-06-04T18:21:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-mayor-hopefuls-pan-bowser-congress-ties-but-have-no-gop-friends\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:23:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:23:16","slug":"dc-mayor-hopefuls-pan-bowser-congress-ties-but-have-no-gop-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-mayor-hopefuls-pan-bowser-congress-ties-but-have-no-gop-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"DC mayor hopefuls pan Bowser-Congress ties but have no GOP friends"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdc-mayor-hopefuls-pan-bowser-congress-ties-but-have-no-gop-friends%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2610798&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Janeese Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie, the leading candidates for Washington, D.C.\u2019s mayoral race, said they have struggled to build working ties with Republicans in Congress. They discussed how the district mayor must advocate on the Hill because D.C. is federally governed rather than state-governed, and they argued that Republicans control Congress while president Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >administration adds additional pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During an NBC debate, McDuffie criticized Mayor Muriel Bowser\u2019s approach to the Republican-controlled federal government, pointing to Trump-era actions affecting D.C. jobs and saying he would oppose cooperation he cited between the metropolitan Police Department and ICE. Lewis George argued for using more of D.C.\u2019s \u201clegal tools,\u201d coordinating more closely with D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, and expanding federal relationships.<\/p>\n<p>When asked whether she has spoken with Republican lawmakers, Lewis George said she has focused on Democrats-especially those representing \u201cpurple\u201d districts-citing guidance from house Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries. McDuffie said he has had conversations with Republicans but did not name them or give details. Both candidates framed their strategies as necessary to protect D.C.\u2019s home rule and respond to what they described as an existential threat to the city.<\/p>\n<p>The debate is set to be the final one before the June 16 Democratic primary, with the winner widely expected to win the general election and become the next district mayor.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"260\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>\u2018s leading mayoral candidates, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4576224\/janeese-lewis-george-lead-kenyan-mcduffie-dc-mayor-race\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4576224\">Janeese Lewis George<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kenyan-mcduffie\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"6625\">Kenyan McDuffie<\/a>, could not name one <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> member of Congress they have attempted to forge a working relationship with as they discussed their plans for advocating the district on the Hill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a federal district and not a state, Washington has much of its locally written policy and governance ultimately under Congress\u2019s jurisdiction. Washington\u2019s mayor is unique among the nation\u2019s mayors in its standing with Congress, as the district\u2019s 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\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4594901\/stephen-a-smith-california-democrats-worst-nightmare\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Stephen A. Smith: California is Democrats\u2019 worst nightmare<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4594897\/eric-holder-endorse-kenyan-mcduffie-dc-mayor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder endorses Kenyan McDuffie for DC mayor<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4594967\/kemp-warn-lance-bottoms-anti-data-center\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Kemp warns Lance Bottoms\u2019s anti-data center approach dangerous for Georgia: \u2018Moratoriums on growth\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both candidates, the more moderate McDuffie and socialist Lewis George, challenged Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/muriel-bowser\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2963\">Muriel Bowser<\/a>\u2018s approach to dealing with the Republican-controlled federal government during a Thursday NBC debate. Bowser, who initially made headlines for standing up against President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> in his first term, has struck a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4361425\/muriel-bowser-most-trump-friendly-year-2025\/\">more placid tone<\/a> with Trump in the second as he mobilized the National Guard in Washington and federalized the Metropolitan Police Department.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you\u2019re cutting thousands of jobs in the way that Trump and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1412\">Elon Musk<\/a> did, you\u2019re threatening the livelihoods of Washington, D.C. That\u2019s what I\u2019m going to fight back against,\u201d McDuffie said, discussing Trump administration actions that occurred under Bowser\u2019s tenure. \u201cAnd we\u2019re not going to settle for the cooperation between MPD and ICE. We\u2019re gonna push back against that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lewis George also slammed Bowser\u2019s strategy for dealing with the federal government, saying she would utilize the district\u2019s \u201clegal tools\u201d and partner with the district\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue &quot;Substantial Allegations&quot; of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a>, Brian Schwalb, more often, while also creating relationships with members of Congress.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have been walking the halls of Congress myself, and I can tell you that the No. 1 thing I am hearing is: \u2018This is the first time I am ever hearing from leadership in D.C.,&#8217;\u201d Lewis George said. \u201cAnd so I am talking about an executive office of the mayor that has a robust federal affairs office. And I\u2019m not just talking about going to caucus happy hours, and I\u2019m not talking about one person, but building relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hakeem-jeffries\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"790\">Hakeem Jeffries<\/a> (D-NY) gave her team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHakeem Jeffries told us, actually, that Republicans are voting on Republican lines,\u201d Lewis George said. \u201cWe need to shore up our Democrats, especially Democrats in purple jurisdictions. So, I think that\u2019s where we need to focus, and that\u2019s not where the current mayor has focused her efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When pressed on the same question, McDuffie said he\u2019s \u201chad conversations with Republicans\u201d but did not say when or specify who or whether they were members of Congress.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4594897\/eric-holder-endorse-kenyan-mcduffie-dc-mayor\/\">OBAMA-ERA ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER ENDORSES KENYAN MCDUFFIE FOR DC MAYOR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt a time where we\u2019re facing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-believe-when-experts-lie\/\" title=\"What to Believe When Experts Lie?\">greatest existential threat<\/a> to D.C.\u2019s home rule since we received it in 1973, we can\u2019t hold our breath and wait for Republicans,\u201d McDuffie said. \u201cWe can make relationships across the aisle, and I\u2019ve had conversations with Republicans. I used to chair the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mwcog.org\/\">Council of Governments<\/a> and have built relationships with Republicans as well. But the reality is, we can\u2019t depend on Republicans to save Washington, D.C.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>D.C. mayoral candidates couldn\u2019t name any GOP congress ties<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2610799,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-collage-drba37bbr-1777404509425-e1777406118266.jpg?1780596483&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[20645,4402,50501,6203,66664],"class_list":["post-2610798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bowser","tag-congress","tag-dc-2","tag-gop","tag-mayor-race"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-collage-drba37bbr-1777404509425-e1777406118266.jpg?1780596483&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610798"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610802,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610798\/revisions\/2610802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}