Kenyan McDuffie turns up the heat in mayor's race
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Kenyan McDuffie served on the D.C. Council from 2012 until this January, when he resigned to run for mayor. Photo: Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Mayoral hopeful Kenyan McDuffie is dialing it up, jabbing his opponent and getting a pep talk from triathlete-turned-mayor Adrian Fenty.
Why it matters: The first open mayor's race in a generation is sparking debates about ICE and how to fund child care — and zingers are flying as McDuffie tries to differentiate himself from democratic socialist Council member Janeese Lewis George.
Behind the scenes: After Lewis George's splashy Howard Theatre campaign launch, McDuffie set off on a spree of meet-and-greets, with insiders whispering about his next move.
- In his ear: Fenty, the guy you want on speed-dial if you're gunning to be the pragmatic, pro-business candidate.
- Over an hourlong meet this month, the ex-mayor unspooled the "classic Fenty playbook," per a source with knowledge, who wasn't authorized to speak about it. Be visible, be aggressive. Be relentless.
- As Fenty would put it, per the source, "I went to every ward. I hit every door, even areas where I didn't think I'd be strong at."
One could read that as Fenty telling McDuffie to get to work. Not the case, his campaign says. McDuffie says he also sought counsel from former mayors Anthony Williams and Sharon Pratt, who endorsed him on Wednesday evening.
- Fenty effect or not, McDuffie might finally be shedding his camera-shy mien. He hit Fox 5 and declared he'd revoke any cooperation with ICE, his strongest words yet.
As he tries to present himself as the veteran lawmaker in the race, getting fundraising help from Mayor Muriel Bowser's allies, Lewis George threw some punches this week.
- Touting her "child care for all" plan, the council member painted McDuffie — her former colleague — as an ineffective legislator who can't get his own pet projects across the finish line. Like baby bonds.
- "He's never fought for the funding," Lewis George said on my "Dream City Podcast."
McDuffie accused her of making "false claims" — and knocked her "not-so-universal childcare policy," which might result in a new business tax.
- "I do hope she will keep it honest with voters," McDuffie told me in a statement.
- Piling on, a McDuffie spokesman added: "Her most ambitious standalone bill, the Green New Deal for Housing, never passed."
The bottom line: The two frontrunners are elbow to elbow in fundraising dollars so far, ahead of the June 16 Democratic primary.
- For a lowkey operator, McDuffie is getting spicier — literally, making a "National Chili Day" campaign stop at Ben's on Thursday.
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