WASHINGTON — A real estate industry group is facing backlash after campaign materials supporting Kenyan McDuffie were distributed across D.C. falsely claiming endorsements from major labor unions.
The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS, or GCAAR, acknowledged the issue after door hangers circulated Saturday listing the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO, the D.C. Nurses Association and the D.C. firefighters union among those backing McDuffie. The AFL-CIO and nurses union say they did not endorse McDuffie and that their logos were used without permission. The firefighters union condemned the materials as misleading.
The printed hanger features a large photo of McDuffie above the words “Democrat Kenyan McDuffie for Mayor,” along with a checklist of campaign priorities including affordability, safety, accountability and opportunity. Near the bottom, under a banner reading “Endorsed By,” the logos of the labor groups appear prominently…