Labor strategist Anthony Lee Wright — known across the region simply as The ALW — was filmed today discussing the escalating tensions between mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie and councilmember George, whose campaign continues to face mounting questions.
Councilmember George is now dealing with two separate political liabilities. First, she has repeatedly stumbled into controversies involving her public statements about Jewish communities and Israel — missteps that have alienated key constituencies. Second, and potentially far more serious, she is now the subject of an active investigation into alleged coordination between her publicly financed campaign and a supportive political action committee.
What is emerging behind the scenes is a labor‑union problem of real consequence. According to multiple people familiar with the matter, SEIU 32BJ and UNITE HERE Local 25 are among the unions expected to receive subpoenas COMPELLING TESTIMONY UNDER OATH. At this stage, there is no public confirmation that subpoenas have been served, but the expectation alone has sent shockwaves through certain corners of the labor world.
No union leader wants to sit under oath and answer questions about endorsements, contributions, or any movement of money between a Fair Elections campaign and an outside and supposedly independent PAC.
Complicating matters further, several unions that do business with the District government made contributions to councilmember George’s PAC and now face the possibility that she may not prevail in the mayoral race. That leaves them exposed. It also leaves them needing a way back into the good graces of the likely governing coalition.
This is where Anthony Lee Wright enters the picture.
The ALW has been brought in precisely because he understands labor politics at the leadership level and at the rank‑and‑file level. With some union leaders having aligned themselves early with councilmember George, McDuffie’s campaign has begun looking at going around those leaders — straight to the workers themselves. The ALW is the one person positioned to repair what can be repaired and to build new channels where old ones have collapsed.
Union leaders who have not yet tied themselves to councilmember George are already reaching out to The ALW. At least one large, well‑known union is now in active discussions with him, hoping that by going through Wright they can secure a path forward with the next administration.
And the message circulating quietly across the labor landscape is simple:
If you spend months backing a candidate who turns out to be on the wrong side of an investigation, you should not expect a warm welcome when you show up for contract negotiations. No one is suggesting anything improper — only that politics has consequences. If you spit on a man and call him dog, you should not expect him to greet you with kisses when you come asking to be friends.
For unions looking to stabilize their position, there is one clear route:
Go through Anthony Lee Wright.
He is the bridge. He is the negotiator. He is the person who can reopen doors that others have foolishly slammed shut.
