Listen Local First

Advocating & creating opportunities for DC’s local musicians/venues since 2011. DC Festival producer. @nivassoc member.

[Zach Israel @ZachBIsrael]

JLG has officially broken the record for most votes ever received in a DC Democratic mayoral primary election since Home Rule!

74,878 votes as of today:

[Alex Koma @AlexKomaDC]

NEW: Kenyan McDuffie called Janeese Lewis George this morning and conceded the mayoral race, per two sources familiar with the conversation. Barring any huge surprises in the vote counting Lewis George has won this primary.

[Salah Czapary @czapary]

I don’t think we fully appreciate what can be accomplished when the Mayor & Council are willing to block & tackle the budget & the city’s challenges together.

Combine that with a strong working relationship between the Mayor & Delegate & these are real new opportunities for DC.

[Salah Czapary @czapary]

JLG’s campaign policy shop is robust. Feedback is sought out, analyzed, & distilled into the platform.

The quality I value most in a leader is a willingness to leave no stone unturned, to seek out differing & dissenting views.

JLG simply doesn’t see disagreement as a threat.

[Salah Czapary @czapary]

We fear disruption, but what we *need* is a disrupter.

[Salah Czapary @czapary]

What do you mean I need to pay $35 to register my industry standard nationally recognized certificate? A multitude of digital systems that don’t talk to each other???

This is *not* a competitive market that is now suddenly at risk. It’s one that's needed an overhaul, yesterday.

[Salah Czapary @czapary]

I mean I can book an appointment for a haircut on my phone in 3 clicks, why can’t I do the same for an inspection, building, health or otherwise? Why are we still emailing PDF forms for licenses?!!

[Salah Czapary @czapary]

Try filing a permit, scheduling an inspection, try figuring out why you can’t get your Clean Hands, or try hosting a special event. We can yell at the DC Council all we want, and often we should, but at the end of the day we could have been fixing all these executive functions.

[Salah Czapary @czapary]

You can’t convince me the ppl in power right now are the pro-biz ppl who actually get “better about our rules and regulations.” The Mayor holds immense power to cut red tape, make permitting easier, to make interfacing with city agencies easier… yet, it’s still an uphill battle.

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

@Janeese4DC just put out her Arts Nightlife and Culture Platform! It is well thought out and comprehensive and we definitely support this! https://t.co/mJLgfT6Yc5

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

@mattyglesias DC is the largest DINO city in the country.

[Julian Andreone @JulianAndreone]

Kenyan McDuffie, centrist DC mayoral candidate, has throughout his campaign been working with Global Strategy Group, a top Third Way contractor notorious for assisting union busting efforts at Amazon.

Third Way voices have been vocally supportive of McDuffie.

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

@shawnjtownsend @kenyanmcduffie We appreciate you all! And good point that we can air our own community related grievances on a different thread

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

Ironic that @kenyanmcduffie refused to pass the Fair Swipe Legislation when he had a chance and also refused to move and introduce legislation capping liquor liability rates.

[RAMW @RAMWdc]

RAMW proudly endorses Brooke Pinto for DC Delegate, Kenyan McDuffie for Mayor, and Brian Schwalb for Attorney General in the 2026 DC primary election.

These leaders understand the importance of protecting DC’s independent restaurant industry and supporting long-term economic growth. Mail-in ballots are already arriving across the District. #DCPolitics #DCRestaurants

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

@shawnjtownsend @kenyanmcduffie Abca supported it the chairman supported it and council supported it but McDuffie wouldn’t bring it to a vote.

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

@shawnjtownsend @kenyanmcduffie Las t summer! He sat on a piece of emergency legislation that would have amended ABCA offsite sales permits to include Cannabis. This would have helped an important black female business owner who hosts one of the largest independent music events in the city.

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

@shawnjtownsend @kenyanmcduffie Why didn’t he move Harmonious Living legislation when it was sitting in his committee? He chose to let the legislation die and then it had to be passed through a different committee the next term. I have about 6 more examples.

[Rini Sampath @RiniSampath]

“We’re going to make DC the safest city in America” is a great line. But Kenyan McDuffie was on the DC Council for over a dozen years while 911 broke down, MPD overtime spiraled, and crime data was manipulated.

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

@shawnjtownsend @kenyanmcduffie Incorrect. He had the chance to have a vote on the Credit card fees and he never brought it to a vote. He then let another councilmember carry the Dram Shop Bill. It doesn’t matter if he supports the issues if he can’t finish the deal.

[Listen Local First @listenlocaldc]

Tell the U.S. Senate: Reject Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney for DC: https://t.co/OfgaJVcE7j