Kenyan McDuffie to resign from D.C. Council, setting up potential bid for mayor

D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie announced Tuesday that he is resigning next month, fueling speculation he could be eyeing a run for mayor in 2026.

Mr. McDuffie, at-large independent, said that Tuesday’s legislative meeting will be his last on the council.

He will formally step down on Jan. 5, ending a 13-year career as a D.C. lawmaker in which he helped change detention procedures for juvenile criminal suspects, offered grants to struggling businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic and supported the District’s bid to relocate the Washington Commanders to the RFK Stadium site.

“Serving on the D.C. Council has been the honor of my lifetime,” Mr. McDuffie said in a statement. “Together, we’ve passed laws that expanded economic security and opportunity, protected residents’ rights, and positioned our city for long-term success. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, staff, advocates and residents across all eight wards who made this work possible day in and day out.”

His resignation statement said, “an announcement regarding his next chapter will be made in the near future.”

Mr. McDuffie has entertained the idea of running to be the District’s next mayor in previous media interviews.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat who first came to office in 2015, said last month she would not seek a fourth term.

“The work is not finished,” Mr. McDuffie said. “The next chapter will allow us to continue to fight and deliver on the tremendous progress we’ve made together with a further focus on greater affordability, economic security and opportunity, safety and real long-term solutions to our greatest challenges.”

If Mr. McDuffie decides to campaign to be the city’s top elected official, he would face off against fellow council colleague Janeese Lewis George. The Ward 4 Democrat launched her bid shortly after Ms. Bowser said she would not run again.

Ms. Lewis George is a self-described democratic socialist who would likely court the District’s more progressive voter base. Mr. McDuffie has positioned himself as a more business-friendly politician during his time on the council.