Kenyan McDuffie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kenyan McDuffie
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from the at-large district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2, 2023
Preceded by	Elissa Silverman
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 5
In office May 30, 2012 – January 2, 2023
Preceded by	Harry Thomas Jr.
Succeeded by	Zachary Parker
Personal details
Born	1975 (age 49–50)
Political party	Democratic (before 2022) Independent (2022–present)
Education	University of the District of Columbia Howard University (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD)

Kenyan R. McDuffie (born around 1975) is an American lawyer and independent politician. He works in Washington, D.C. He has been a member of the Council of the District of Columbia for the entire city (at-large) since 2023. Before that, he represented a specific area called Ward 5 from 2012 to 2023.

Early Life and Education

Kenyan McDuffie grew up in Stronghold, a neighborhood in Ward 5 in Washington, D.C. After finishing high school at Woodrow Wilson High School, he had different jobs. He sold ice cream at the National Zoo and briefly went to the University of the District of Columbia. Later, he worked for the United States Postal Service, delivering mail.

Career Path

After working for the Postal Service for four years, McDuffie went back to college. He studied at the University of the District of Columbia and then graduated from Howard University in 2002. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and community development.

In 2006, he earned a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. While there, he helped edit a law journal and worked as a research assistant for a professor.

After law school, McDuffie worked for Prince George's County, Maryland. He started as a law clerk, helping a judge. Then, he became an assistant state's attorney, where he handled different types of legal cases.

Later, McDuffie worked for Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents D.C. in the U.S. Congress. He helped people in her local office and worked on writing new laws in her Capitol Hill office.

In 2008, he joined the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. There, he investigated cases and managed legal issues across the United States. He worked to protect civil rights, including the rights of people with mental health challenges. He also worked on cases to improve how police departments operate.

In 2010, McDuffie became a policy advisor. He worked with public safety agencies to help make the city safer. He also served as the president of the Stronghold Civic Association, a local community group.

Running for Office

2010 Election

In 2010, McDuffie decided to run for a seat on the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 5. He wanted to create more job opportunities and address health issues like HIV. He talked about important problems in the ward, such as the need for better education, job training, affordable housing, and services for older citizens. However, the person already holding the seat won that election.

2012 Election

In 2012, the Ward 5 Council seat became empty. McDuffie decided to run in the special election to fill the spot. Many groups supported him, including firefighter and nurses unions, and other community organizations. McDuffie won this special election, getting 43 percent of the votes.

2014 and 2018 Elections

McDuffie ran for re-election in 2014 and won easily. He was re-elected with a large majority of the votes. He ran again in 2018 and won, continuing to represent Ward 5.

2022 Election

In 2022, McDuffie announced he would not run for his Ward 5 seat again. Instead, he wanted to run for Attorney General for the District of Columbia. However, his qualifications for that job were questioned by another candidate. The Board of Elections and the courts decided that he could not run for Attorney General.

After this, McDuffie changed his political party registration to independent. He then decided to run for one of the at-large seats on the Council. These seats represent the entire city, not just one ward. In November 2022, he was elected to an at-large seat.

What Kenyan McDuffie Cares About

McDuffie at a rally in 2017

Leading the Government Operations Committee

As the leader of the Committee on Government Operations, McDuffie helped pass new laws to improve how political campaigns are funded. These laws made it harder for certain types of companies (called "LLCs") to give too much money to campaigns. His laws also require campaigns to share all their fundraising information online for everyone to see. This helps make sure everything is fair and open.

Working on Contracts

In 2019, McDuffie initially had questions about a large contract for the D.C. Lottery. This contract was worth $215 million and was given to a single company without other bids. He later approved the contract.

Leading the Judiciary Committee

As the leader of the Judiciary Committee, McDuffie worked on laws to help people get jobs and housing. He supported "Ban the Box" laws, which stop landlords from asking about someone's criminal history too early in the housing process. He also helped pass laws to stop companies from unfairly using someone's credit history when deciding to hire them.

McDuffie also helped create the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act (NEAR Act). This law changed the city's justice system. It brought in mental health experts to help with tasks that police officers used to do alone. This helps people get the right support instead of just punishment.

Working on Business and Economy

McDuffie has worked to reduce the difference in wealth between different racial groups in D.C. He proposed the Child Wealth Building Act, which would create "baby bonds." These are special savings accounts for children, designed to help families escape poverty over time.

In 2021, McDuffie also suggested creating a special group to study and propose ways to make up for the harm caused by slavery to African American descendants.

McDuffie is also a member of other important committees, including:

• Committee on Transportation and the Environment (about roads, public transport, and nature)
• Committee on Housing and Executive Administration (about homes and how the city government runs)
• Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs (about parks, libraries, and programs for young people)

Personal Life

Kenyan McDuffie lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Princess, and their two daughters, Jozi and Kesi.

Images for kids

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  Kenyan McDuffie's official photo.

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  Kenyan McDuffie at a rally in 2017.