Developer group backing Kenyan McDuffie distributes voter materials falsely claiming union support

GCAAR-funded materials claim support from workers, but not a single union has endorsed Kenyan McDuffie

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2026
CONTACT: [email protected]

Washington, DC — On Saturday, May 16, 2026, some DC voters received candidate materials from the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR) in support of Kenyan McDuffie for DC Mayor.

The door-to-door canvass materials featured the logos of the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 36, and the District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA). GCAAR claims these groups have endorsed McDuffie — a statement that is false. None of these three groups have endorsed McDuffie, and GCAAR used the logos without permission. 

In response, union leaders issued the following statements:

“Kenyan McDuffie desperately wants the support of DC’s workers and labor unions and is willing to falsely fabricate labor support," said Samuel Epps, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO. "This is a question of the character and integrity of the candidate and his supporters. The Executive Board and Delegates of the Metropolitan Washington Council after a deliberative and transparent process endorsed Janeese Lewis George for Mayor not Kenyan McDuffie. In fact, former Councilmember McDuffie has not earned the endorsement of a single labor union. More than 20 labor unions have openly endorsed Janeese Lewis George because we know Janeese is on the right side of DC workers and is the leader we need as Mayor.”

“When nurses needed support during the pandemic, former Councilmember McDuffie was nowhere to be found,” said Ed Smith, Executive Director of the DC Nurses Association. “Instead it was Janeese Lewis George who provided support to the nurses who keep DC healthy. We are proud to have endorsed Janeese for mayor and condemn these developer-backed lies claiming anything else.”

“We condemn this attempt to mislead DC voters,” said Dave Hoagland, President of IAFF Local 36. “IAFF and Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO will consider all legal options to prevent future misleading material from being distributed in DC neighborhoods.”

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The Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO brings together union locals in Washington, DC and five counties in Maryland to advocate, educate, and organize to improve the lives of all working people in our region. Our 150+ Affiliate unions represent more than 150,000 working people in Washington, DC and Maryland’s Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's counties. Our Affiliate unions represent workers in every industry including accountants, educators, athletes, public sector workers, actors, electricians, plumbers, commercial office cleaners, transit operators, postal workers, and many more. Learn more at dclabor.org.

IAFF Local 36 represents over 2,000 active and retired professional men and woman trusted with the protection of the citizens, workers and visitors of our Nation’s Capital. Our members respond to 220,000 emergency calls per year, ranging from Fire, EMS and Technical responses. Learn more at dcfirefighters.org.

The District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) is the professional organization for registered nurses who live and/or work in the District. DCNA is affiliated with National Nurses United, American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the Washington Metropolitan Council. Learn more at dcna.org.