TL/DR –
Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic primary for the mayor of Washington, D.C., according to NBC News. She defeated former City Council member, Kenyan McDuffie, with 53% to 37% of the votes. Lewis George is favored to win the general election, marking another significant victory for democratic socialists in US municipal politics.
Democratic Socialist Janeese Lewis George Wins DC Mayoral Primary, Says NBC News
Democratic Socialist, Janeese Lewis George, a Council member of Washington, D.C., has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for mayor, as reported by NBC News. This projected win places her in a position to manage the capital city’s relationship with President Donald Trump.
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With approximately 75% of votes counted, Lewis George led former City Council member Kenyan McDuffie by 53% to 37%. McDuffie later conceded the primary to Lewis George.
Having served a council region from the city’s northern corner since her 2020 election, Lewis George also outperformed five other Democratic contenders who received marginal public support.
This primary win marks another significant progression for democratic socialists in municipal politics nationwide, as Lewis George is now a strong favorite for the general election in this deep-blue city.
Other Democratic Socialists in Power
Notable figures include New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Los Angeles Council member Nithya Raman, who is contesting in a tight mayoral race as shown by an early Los Angeles Times poll.
In Washington, Mayor Muriel Bowser is stepping down after three terms. Bowser has maintained a largely amiable relationship with Trump, even accepting his decision to deploy National Guard troops to the city last year to curb crime rates.
Reacting to Lewis George’s probable win, Trump has stated he would consider federally taking over Washington, to which Lewis George responded, “Threatening Home Rule because you do not like how residents vote is an attack on democracy itself. The people of D.C. elect the mayor of D.C. And they want someone who will stand up to Donald Trump.”
Despite Trump’s looming presence, candidates focused on local issues, presenting plans to reduce crime and improve affordability, particularly in housing.
This election marked the first time the city used ranked-choice voting. This system, which reallocates votes from lower-performing candidates to voters’ next choices, only comes into play when no candidate achieves a majority of first-place votes.
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