D.C. Mayoral Candidate Kenyan McDuffie Accuses Rideshare App Empower of Intimidation Tactics

Former D.C. Councilman Kenyan McDuffie, now a candidate for mayor of Washington, D.C., has publicly accused the rideshare company Empower of engaging in intimidation tactics against him in retaliation for his legislative efforts last year to shut down the company’s operations in the nation’s capital. The accusation escalates a long-running regulatory feud between the peer-to-peer ride service and District officials.

McDuffie, who served on the D.C. Council for more than a decade before launching his mayoral bid, made his accusation Friday, framing the alleged conduct by Empower as an attempt to punish him for his legislative record. During his tenure, McDuffie supported oversight actions aimed at curbing Empower’s activities in the District, where regulators argued the app was operating outside the legal framework governing for-hire vehicles. The company, which markets itself as a driver-owned alternative to Uber and Lyft, has maintained that it is a technology platform rather than a transportation provider—a distinction that has placed it in repeated conflict with transportation regulators across the D.C. metropolitan area.

The broader dispute extends well beyond the District’s borders. In neighboring Virginia, the Department of Motor Vehicles has repeatedly ordered Empower to cease operations, arguing the company functions as an unlicensed transportation network company. Virginia courts have levied multimillion-dollar fines against the firm, and founder Joshua Sear has publicly framed the regulatory pressure as an assault on independent drivers who use the platform to earn income without surrendering a portion of their fares to a middleman. That posture has made Empower a flashpoint in debates over gig economy regulation, labor classification, and the reach of state transportation authorities.

The clash carries political stakes as McDuffie enters a competitive race to lead the District. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has held the office since 2015, has not confirmed whether she will seek a fourth term, leaving the field open to a range of contenders. McDuffie’s public airing of the dispute could shape how voters perceive both his willingness to confront corporate pressure and the broader question of how the District regulates emerging technology companies. Observers will be watching for any formal complaints McDuffie may file, as well as any response from Empower, which has historically been vocal in defending its business model. The outcome of Empower’s ongoing legal battles in Virginia may also influence how D.C. officials approach the company going forward.