|
Dear John,
194 days ago, I announced that I was running for Attorney General. And last night, I announced that I was suspending my campaign to become the Democratic nominee.
Despite announcing my candidacy more than 6 months ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. Standing on my front porch surrounded by neighbors, supporters and my family as I laid out my vision for what I would do as DC's next Attorney General, how I would fight to give everyone in DC a seat at the table.
For the first 159 days, I felt really good about how the campaign was going.
We were the first Attorney General candidate to qualify for fair election funds and have by far the most donors from the DC (1429), and they are truly from all four corners of the DC.
And just over a month ago, we turned in more than 4,100 signatures from DC Democrats to make it on the ballot.
Then 35 days ago, everything changed. We heard on March 29th that one of the other candidates in the race challenged my qualifications. Now was I surprised? No, because that’s politics.
But before I even got into the race, I had had multiple conversations with lawyers, law professors, you name it. And, just like the press reported in their articles about the challenge, everyone I spoke to thought the challenge would be tossed.
Most of my friends and supporters theorized it was intended to distract me right as the race got underway. To force my campaign into an expensive legal battle.
So when we heard 15 days ago that the Board of Elections had ruled I wasn't qualified, I was shocked.
I had been running for Attorney General for 179 days, and never once did it seriously cross my mind that I wouldn't be on the ballot in June.
So I appealed. And once again, we were denied. So we appealed again.
Now at that point, many people thought we should end our efforts. But I couldn't. I had to continue to fight because people from across the city have told me that this fight is symbolic of a much larger fight that DC residents are having in an effort to ensure justice and opportunity for all of our residents.
And ultimately, I know that it’s the people who deserve to choose who the People’s Lawyer should be.
That someone who served as a prosecutor, civil rights attorney, public safety advisor to the mayor and a Councilmember for a decade wasn't qualified to serve as Attorney General. Eight current and former Councilmembers who voted in favor of the original law to create the independent elected office of Attorney General even wrote to the court agreeing that I had exactly the qualifications to serve as the District’s top lawyer.
I have spent 194 days talking to voters, across all 8 wards. Hearing how excited they are to have someone with my experience, my background seek this office.
The coalition we have put together from labor unions to housing activists to college students is among the broadest seen in a DC primary.
More than anything, I am disappointed that voters like you won't have the opportunity to vote for the person of their choice.
I want to thank my supporters and the Generals in my household, my daughters Kesi and Jozi and my wife Princess who have put up with a lot but have remained my most steadfast supporters.
I also want to thank my campaign Chairperson, Doctor Mitchell, and staff, Jonathan McNair and Jeannette Mobley, for all of their hard work and deep commitment to our city day in, day out.
I know a lot of you will ask what comes next. At this time, I haven't decided.
What I do know is that I made a commitment to serve our city a long time ago. In fact, my dedication to helping our community began well before I ever had the thought that I would run for public office.
It was my desire to serve you that motivated me to leave my dream job at the United States Department of Justice to run for DC Council.
Despite the sense of disappointment and bitterness with the way that things have worked out, this experience has only deepened my resolve to serve our city.
This is the end of a chapter but also the beginning of a new one.
In solidarity,
Kenyan
|
