Washington, D.C.‘s leading mayoral candidates, Janeese Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie, could not name one Republican member of Congress they have attempted to forge a working relationship with as they discussed their plans for advocating the district on the Hill.

As a federal district and not a state, Washington has much of its locally written policy and governance ultimately under Congress’s jurisdiction. Washington’s mayor is unique among the nation’s mayors in its standing with Congress, as the district’s mayor typically must work with the chambers to advocate certain policies and budgetary issues that are ultimately approved. In deep-blue Washington, the current GOP-controlled House and Senate, alongside executive control of the Trump administration, have posed a unique challenge to the city’s leadership.