Where the candidates stand.

McDuffie supports hiring an additional 1,000 new police officers to reduce growing overtime costs and address crime; this additional hiring would bring the size of the DC police force back in line with its size when the homicide rate was at an all-time low in the early 2010s. McDuffie also supports investments in violence prevention and data-driven approaches to law enforcement.

“Public safety is foundational to economic stability. I will focus on rebuilding officer retention, continuing to support the cadet program to increase DC residents entering the police force, strengthening oversight, and ensuring that prevention and intervention programs are aligned with measurable outcomes.”

Sources: WUSA9 debate; Opportunity DC Questionnaire, 2026; CityPaper, April 2026

In 2021, Lewis George wrote a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser calling on her to “reallocate funding” from the Metropolitan Police Department and criticized Bowser’s push to add 135 police officers to the force. Since announcing her run for Mayor, Lewis George has not committed to a hiring target for new officers. Her campaign platform promises to:

“Addres[s] MPD’s vacancy and retention crisis by expanding the police cadet program, reducing forced overtime, renovating aging facilities, and providing child care benefits that make the District competitive with other local and federal police departments.”

Sources: Lewis George Letter to Mayor Bowser, 2/10/21; The 51st, Dec 2026; JLG campaign site, Safe Communities for All

As a former Councilmember, McDuffie emphasized crime prevention and targeting the root causes of crime. He supported a comprehensive approach to ending violence through the NEAR Act, which created DC’s violence intervention program and co-response teams with the Department of Behavioral Health, so that individuals in distress can receive mental health services. In response to recent shootings, McDuffie has focused on prevention and intervention.

“We need to be more vigilant about public safety, get illegal guns off our streets, and invest in prevention and intervention before violence happens.”

Sources: Washington Post, Jan 2026; Washington Post, April 2026

Lewis George argues that lasting safety requires investing in mental health, housing, youth services, and economic stability alongside law enforcement. Her platform prioritizes public safety as a product of housing affordability, childcare, and after-school programming.

“Public safety has to be people-first. It means showing up, listening and building solutions together…Enforcement: when necessary, done with trust and accountability.”

Sources: Janeese Lewis George campaign site; Washington Post, Jan. 2026; @Janeese4DC on X

McDuffie voted in favor of DC’s youth curfew three times — in July 2025, November 2025, and December 2025. However, he has emphasized curfews cannot be a “standalone fix” and must be part of a broader public safety strategy which protects both young people and DC communities.

Sources: Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Council LIMS, July 2025); Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Council LIMS, Nov. 2025); Juvenile Curfew Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Council LIMS, Dec. 2025); WTOP, curfew extension vote; CityPaper, April 2026

In July 2025, Lewis George joined her colleagues in unanimously voting to tighten youth curfew as part of a broader public safety bill aimed at reducing crime. Subsequently, she has voted four times against extending the curfew in November 2025, December 2025, February 2026 and May 2026. She has stated she would end the policy if elected Mayor.

Sources: Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Council LIMS, July 2025); Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Council LIMS, Nov. 2025); Juvenile Curfew Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Council LIMS, Dec. 2025); Juvenile Curfew Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (DC Council LIMS, Feb. 2026); Juvenile Curfew Amendment Act of 2025 (DC Council LIMS, May 2026); WUSA9, curfew extension vote; WJLA, Free DC forum

In 2023, McDuffie voted for the Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2023, which proponents advocated to help stem an increase of violent crime and homicides. In 2024, McDuffie authored an amendment requiring the expanded detention provisions to expire after 225 days to allow the city to study whether they reduced violent crime.

Sources: Washington Post, Secure DC advances; ACLU-DC on Secure DC

In 2023, Lewis George was the lone vote against the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2023, which created a new offense for discharging a firearm in public and granted judges greater flexibility to detain individuals accused of violent crimes before trial. Lewis George has expressed reservations about holding more adults in jail pre-trial and successfully removed a provision that would have lowered the felony-theft threshold from $1,000 to $500. She later voted “present” on the Peace DC omnibus.

Sources: Washington Socialist, Secure DC analysis; Washington Informer, Peace DC pretrial detention

McDuffie supported the 2021 Eviction Moratorium Public Safety Exception, which allowed evictions of people substantiated by courts to be violent.

Source: City Paper, April 2021

In 2021, Lewis George was the only no vote on the DC Council’s passage of the Eviction Moratorium Public Safety Exception, which allowed evictions of people substantiated by courts to be violent. This legislation passed 12–1.

Source: City Paper, April 2021

McDuffie’s affordability platform emphasizes lowering cost-of-living pressures without broad-based tax increases. He supports funding a local child tax credit to supplement the federal one, and targeting relief at working families.

Sources: Washington Post, Mar. 2026; Kenyan McDuffie campaign site; 51st & Washington Informer Mayoral forum, April 2026

In 2021, Lewis George co-authored an income tax increase passed by the DC Council. While running for Mayor, she has indicated support for a Business Activity Tax.

Sources: Common Dreams, 2021 FY22 budget; Washington Informer, 2021 tax debate; NBC4 Washington, Lewis George on child care/taxes; CityCast, April 2023; Washington Business Journal, July 2025

McDuffie’s “most affordable city in the U.S.” frame includes a local child tax credit, expanded child-care supply through zoning changes and District-owned space, a “Stay in DC” fund to prevent small-business displacement, and expanded down-payment assistance. He plans to expand the Local Child Tax Credit to assist families in affording childcare and will provide incentives to employers to expand their childcare benefits to employees.

Sources: Washington Post, Mar. 2026; Kenyan McDuffie campaign site

Lewis George’s affordability platform centers on universal child care, expanding the current childcare subsidy to ensure no one pays more than 7 percent of their income on care. She also supports an expanded local Earned Income Tax Credit-style credit for low-income households. Lewis George supports “congestion pricing” that aims to reduce traffic congestion by increasing the cost of using a car or rideshare in DC.

Sources: 51st, Lewis George on child care; Washington Post, Jan. 2026; Washington Post, Mar. 2026

McDuffie helped secure the return of the Commanders to the RFK campus and the Capital One Arena deal, pairing them with community-benefits and DC-hiring commitments. As mayor, he would pursue development deals for downtown and obsolete federal buildings in Southwest, with job pipelines in AI, cybersecurity and technology to diversify the economy.

Sources: Axios, Mar. 2026; Washington Post, Mar. 2026

Lewis George has proposed a new Downtown Development Corporation modeled on the 1980s Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation to convert obsolete offices into housing and mixed-use space, expand downtown university campuses, and unlock the air-rights project over Amtrak tracks behind Union Station.

Source: Axios, Mar. 2026

McDuffie chaired the Council’s Business and Economic Development Committee for nine years, which oversees the Public Service Commission (PSC), Pepco and Washington Gas. During the pandemic, he enacted customer protections (deferred payment plans, longer shutoff notices). McDuffie was lauded by the Office of the People’s Counsel for his leadership on the DC Council’s passage of the Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 which mandated payment plans to assist consumers with managing electric, gas, water, and telecommunications bills during the public health emergency and beyond. As a candidate, McDuffie has proposed a “DC Utility Help Center” with automatic enrollment in discount programs, stronger shutoff protections, and funding for resident home repairs aimed at reducing energy costs.

Sources: Washington Post, Mar. 2026; Washington Post, Mar. 2026 (interview)

Lewis George introduced emergency legislation in 2026 to pause Pepco shutoffs for customers owing $1,000 or less and has released a 10-point utility affordability plan including expanded solar on government buildings, accountability for high-load data centers, on-bill financing for home energy upgrades, and new appointments to the Public Service Commission.

Sources: We Power DC, Lewis George shutoff bill; Washington Post, Mar. 2026; WJLA, Pepco shutoff moratorium; WAMU, Free DC forum; Washington Post opinion, Apr. 2026

McDuffie chaired the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White after White’s 2024 federal bribery arrest. The committee commissioned the independent Latham & Watkins investigation whose report found substantial evidence that White violated Council rules on gifts and misuse of office. McDuffie said he was “confident in the investigation and the report that was produced.” The Council ultimately voted to expel White.

Sources: WJLA, Trayon White investigation; WJLA I-Team, cost of Trayon probe; Ad Hoc Committee Report, Dec 2024

Lewis George supported the Ad Hoc Committee’s investigation of Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White and voted with the supermajority to expel him from the Council. After White’s re-election in 2025, Lewis George agreed to administer the oath of office to White after no DC judge would do so because he was under indictment for bribery. In May 2026, she referred to Trayon White as a “mentor.”

Sources: Ad Hoc Committee Report, Dec 2024; DC Line, January 2026; Washington Post opinion, May 2026

There are no active ethics investigations of McDuffie.

Sources: DC Office of Campaign Finance; DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability

Lewis George’s Mayoral campaign is under investigation by the DC Office of Campaign Finance for improper campaign coordination with organized labor groups. On May 11, 2026, the Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit watchdog group, filed a complaint against Lewis George with the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA) for failing to properly disclose her family’s financial assets on mandatory Personal Financial Disclosure Statements (PFDS) over multiple years.

Sources: Washington Post, April 2026; Campaign for Accountability

McDuffie states he will approach the White House with a clear focus on protecting Home Rule and fighting smart and strategically. He has committed to pushing back on immigration enforcement and joint patrols with local police.

Source: Washington Post, Jan 2026

Lewis George has framed her Trump posture as refusing to “comply in advance,” saying DC must draw the line at direct harm to residents while still being willing to work with federal agencies on economic development.

Sources: Axios, Feb. 2026; 51st, DC mayoral race kickoff; Free DC Questionnaire; WAMU, Free DC forum

McDuffie has stated he would revoke any MPD cooperation with ICE and end ICE raids in the District, citing breakdown of community trust. He has consistently defended DC’s status as a sanctuary city.

“The ICE raids have to end. It is really producing a level of mistrust that I have not seen in this city in quite some time. And it is not making it safer at all to allow those types of things to play out right here in our city. And so I would push back against that.”

Sources: Free DC Questionnaire; Washington Post, Jan 2026

Lewis George has said she would end MPD cooperation with ICE and has drawn a line against cooperation where it would harm DC residents and families. She introduced the Safe Community Places and Policing Amendment Act of 2025 to prohibit MPD from cooperating with immigration enforcement unless a warrant requires it.

“I’m not going to do anything obviously in my power to jeopardize our autonomy, and I’m going to be smart about it. And I think ending federal cooperation with ICE is the thing that we have to do…and I draw the line at the harm to our people and our families.”

Sources: Axios, Feb. 2026; 51st, DC mayoral race kickoff; Free DC Questionnaire; Dream City Podcast, Feb. 2026

McDuffie’s “Homes for Every Generation” plan targets 12,000 new units by 2030, preservation of 20,000 affordable units by 2030, and 1,500 family-sized affordable units by 2035, with a pledge to cut approval timelines by 50% and double the number of first-time DC homebuyers in five years.

“The plan that I’ve laid out is one that I can actually execute on from day one.”

Sources: Greater Greater Washington questionnaire (McDuffie); Washington Post, Mar. 2026; Washington Post, Apr. 2026; Kenyan McDuffie campaign site

Lewis George has pledged 72,000 new units over five years. A centerpiece of her plan to achieve that goal is “Dignified Homes DC,” a new form of government-owned housing known as social housing. She has not stated whether the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) would manage the new government-owned housing projects.

“Another priority of mine is to use our public dollars to produce the best outcomes possible. One way to do that is by establishing a social housing program to enable District-owned, mixed-income housing with stable rents.”

To pay for her social housing plan, Lewis George has proposed using “billions of dollars” from the city’s pension funds to help finance construction of affordable housing.

Sources: Greater Greater Washington questionnaire (Lewis George); Lewis George op-ed, GGWash; JLG campaign platform; Washington Post, Apr. 2026; The 51st, April 2026; Washington Post opinion, May 2026

McDuffie voted with the 10–3 Council supermajority that passed the RENTAL Act in September 2025, a law that makes it cheaper to build affordable housing and easier to remove violent tenants who pose a danger to others.

Sources: WJLA, RENTAL Act passage; Street Sense, RENTAL Act final passage

Lewis George was one of three “no” votes on the RENTAL Act. She introduced an amendment to remove the rapid eviction of violent tenants; the amendment failed 8–5.

Sources: Street Sense, RENTAL Act final passage; WJLA, RENTAL Act passage

McDuffie’s approach would continue proactive street outreach and investment in smaller, non-congregate shelters, and would revise Rapid Rehousing to prevent “premature exits” before families are self-sufficient. He also proposes improved one-stop service centers to simplify how residents apply for major public benefits.

Sources: Washington Post, Mar. 2026; Street Sense, mayoral candidates on homelessness

Lewis George’s platform emphasizes sharp increases in Permanent Supportive Housing, a housing-first orientation, and a halt to routine encampment sweeps in favor of services-first engagement. She opposed the clearing of homeless encampments and has called for the clearings to end.

Sources: Street Sense, FY26 budget; Street Sense, mayoral candidates on homelessness

As a former Councilmember, McDuffie worked to strengthen workforce pathways tied to real employer demand, reduce regulatory friction for businesses, and ensure public investments align with job creation and long-term growth. He has pledged to be a “bridge-builder to make sure that our city can advance with workers thriving, but also making the investments that allow businesses to create more jobs and hire more workers.” McDuffie’s platform has emphasized AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, hospitality and trades as growth sectors. He favors a “growth with guardrails” approach to the impacts of AI on the workforce.

Sources: Opportunity DC Questionnaire, 2026; Washington Post, January 2026

Lewis George’s “good jobs for all” plank focuses on strengthening government jobs and protections for workers affected by federal cuts. Her platform calls for a Federal Workforce Transition Center to reskill displaced federal employees and contractors, expansion of vocational, technical, and career-focused programs in schools and neighborhoods, and partnerships with unions to grow registered apprenticeships. She has also proposed stricter wage theft enforcement and requiring labor peace agreements, project labor agreements, and First Source standards on DC contracts and development projects.

Sources: JLG campaign platform, Good Jobs For All; Janeese Lewis George campaign site; Washington Business Journal, May 2026

McDuffie supports creating industry-aligned career pathways for DC students and job-seeking adults by aligning University of the District of Columbia and adult workforce programs with in-demand industries. He proposes building career pipelines in tech, climate, healthcare, hospitality and trades. He proposes creating professional mentorships for high school students and a “Future DC Jobs” Fellowship with placements in high-growth private sector companies. McDuffie plans to close the gap on out-of-school-time (OST) programming across all wards, improve access to summer camps, launch “middle grades success compacts,” and expand DPR programs for pre-teens & teens.

Sources: Opportunity DC Questionnaire, 2026; Washington Informer, workforce forum; Kenyan McDuffie campaign site

Lewis George emphasizes expanding vocational education; deepening union partnerships for electrical, plumbing, carpentry and engineering pathways; and pairing workforce training with universal childcare and afterschool investments.

Sources: Washington Informer, workforce forum; Janeese Lewis George campaign site

McDuffie has proposed the “Every Child, Every Step” program for supporting students throughout their educational journey. The program focuses on building a system that supports families early, strengthens learning and mental development throughout childhood, and connects young people to real economic opportunity. McDuffie supports the continuation of mayoral leadership of DC’s schools—a governance structure that holds the Mayor accountable for the performance of DC’s public schools—and as Mayor would seek to bring “accountability and stability” to DC schools.

In May 2021, McDuffie called on Mayor Bowser to ease pandemic restrictions related to children and youth:

“Our child care services need to be able to expand capacity to support our families. Our children need to be able to play outdoor sports.”

Sources: Opportunity DC Questionnaire, 2026; Kenyan McDuffie campaign site; The Georgetowner, May 2021

Lewis George supports improved mental health services for students, hiring more teachers, and focusing on chronic absenteeism. She supports changing the current performance-based evaluation of teachers to de-emphasize how much students learn over the course of a year.

Lewis George has proposed changes to Mayoral leadership of the school system with DC Council oversight, including allowing the nine-member DC State Board of Education to appoint and oversee the State Superintendent of Education. She described her motivation for the proposed governance changes as a reaction to Mayor Bowser’s decision to reopen schools for in-person learning in fall 2021:

“There’s a broad pattern where the executive decided months ago to bring students back in person and failed to adjust to changing conditions on the ground, listen to voices and build consensus for a healthy reopening.”

Sources: WTU Questionnaire; Janeese Lewis George campaign site; Washington Informer, October 2021

McDuffie favors raising parking rates, protecting the affordability of transit, and improving cost-effective alternatives to car ownership.

Source: Greater Greater Washington questionnaire (McDuffie)

Lewis George favors congestion pricing and increasing property tax rates around Metro stations and bus routes as a means of raising revenue to fund WMATA.

Source: Greater Greater Washington questionnaire (Lewis George)