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Dear John,
Today, our campaign released the following statement in response to a news report that an opponent filed a challenge to Kenyan's candidacy:
D.C. Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie meets the qualifications set forth in the criteria for serving as Attorney General for the District of Columbia, as laid out in D.C. Code § 1-301.83. Prior to announcing his candidacy, McDuffie consulted with elections lawyers and other legal experts, all of whom concurred as to his eligibility.
To be clear, in 2010, D.C. voters overwhelmingly voted to amend the Home Rule Charter to make the Attorney General a public official elected by the people. As part of this new law, the D.C. Council established requirements for holding the office. The intent, according to the legislative history, was to ensure that the Attorney General had “experience, connection, and commitment to the District.” Having spent nearly a decade in public service to the District as a legislator, following a distinguished career as a litigator, there is no question that McDuffie is qualified under the express language of the law.
Our opponent who filed the challenge is surely aware of the years-long smear campaign conducted against President Barack Obama whereby the legitimacy of his birth certificate, and therefore his presidency, was questioned. Why would any decent person emulate the despicable tactics of Obama's detractors?
The challenge to McDuffie's "legitimacy" is an affront to all District residents. Together, we collectively suffer disenfranchisement. It is unfathomable that a fellow Washingtonian would seek to preclude District voters from casting a legitimate ballot for, or against, a fellow Washingtonian.
Voters should determine the outcome of elections. It is apparent that one of our opponents lacks confidence that he can win fair and square.
Onward and upward,
Team McDuffie
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