Kweisi Mfume

To say that Rep. Kweisi Mfume is an icon does little justice to the term. His inspirational story is known to most in Maryland who follow politics, but it bears repeating. Mfume dropped out of high school, working multiple jobs and supporting his family. At the time, he also started hanging around with some individuals who were not heading in the right direction. Mfume pulled himself up by the proverbial bootstraps and decided to live a life of service rather than heading down the wrong path. He went back to school and later earned his bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Mfume started his political career as a city councilman, where he served with distinction for almost a decade. He was elected to Congress in 1986, where he succeeded Parren Mitchell to represent Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. Mfume was re-elected four times by the citizens of Baltimore’s 7th District. In his first stint in Congress, Mfume was known as a brilliant orator and a “pragmatic progressive,” pushing his legislative policies successfully through principle and building strong relationships. He served as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for a number of years. He was known for forging alliances on legislation with members of Congress regardless of party or ideology, as he shaped debate with his extraordinary charisma.

Mfume left the House of Representatives in 1996 to become president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he helped turn around the organization through sound fiscal management. All the while, Mfume continued to work on policies in pursuit of racial justice. Before returning to Congress, Mfume held a number of positions in the private sector, including CEO of the National Medical Association, an investigator for the Health Policy Research Consortium and chairman of the board of regents at his alma mater Morgan State University.

In 2019, Rep. Elijah Cummings, himself an extraordinary public servant, passed away. Once again, Mfume answered the call, running and winning the congressional seat and returning to the House of Representatives. Since 2020, Congressman Mfume has again served with incredible distinction, serving on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as memberships in the Congressional Black Caucus, the Black Maternal Health Caucus, the Congressional Equality Caucus and many more.

To say that Mfume has had an extraordinary career in public service is an incredible understatement. Mfume’s time representing us in Congress has been a testament to the notion of focusing on real public policy over grandstanding politics.

Which brings us to the campaigns of 2026. No race showcases the divisive tactics of today’s politics more than the one taking shape in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. Mfume is being challenged by Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway, a junior councilman elected in 2020 with little to show in terms of real accomplishment. Mfume has not joined in the negative attack game, but Conway, like other failing candidates, has decided his only political pathway is simply to run a nasty and divisive campaign.

Negative campaigning is nothing new, but Conway’s latest tactics are particularly troublesome. Taking his cue from New York City socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani and others, Conway has decided that his campaign attack on Mfume should focus on — you guessed it — Israel. The councilman has attacked Mfume for taking campaign funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Never mind that Conway has zero experience in foreign affairs. Forget the fact that Conway knows less about the Middle East or international politics than he apparently does about lowering the costs of electric bills for residents of Baltimore City. Conway hopes that voters will look away from skyrocketing bills and rampant crime that he has done absolutely nothing to fix. Conway’s rhetoric, which sounds eerily similar to that of extremists such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, drew a sharp rebuke from his colleague and fellow Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, who criticized Conway for singling out contributions from AIPAC for scrutiny.

Rather than focus on issues of importance to voters, Conway sees a political pathway through division. In today’s environment, voters in Maryland deserve so much better. Only this week, Conway doubled down with a stunt in front of Mfume’s district office, an act that would be immature and juvenile in an elementary school student government election, let alone a campaign for Congress.

With so many critical issues on the ballot this year, the divisive Conway campaign is disappointing to say the least. It is, unfortunately, not surprising and, sadly, much more common these days. In Democratic primaries across the country, far-left candidates have cynically decided that attacking the world’s only Jewish state is their chosen political pathway. Imagine the uproar if this were done to any other minority or group. Mark Conway should know better but apparently does not or simply does not care.

Mfume has served Maryland for many years in a distinguished and honorable way. His statesmanship and ability to work collaboratively with so many different individuals over the years is a testament to how politics can be used to promote the common good. Maryland is fortunate to have someone like that representing us in Congress.