Janeese Lewis George, a Democratic socialist, has won the Washington, D.C., mayoral race, becoming the city's first leader from that political alignment. George secured nearly 85% of the vote in the contest against Green Party candidate Robert Gross and Independent candidate Rhonda Hamilton, according to the District of Columbia Board of Elections.
George, a 38-year-old D.C. councilmember, stated her willingness to work with the current administration. "The people of D.C. elect the mayor of D.C., and I am willing to work with this administration to the benefit of D.C. residents," she told FOX 5 DC. "And I’m also willing to stand up to this administration when it comes to doing just that." She also indicated that an early priority will be a "forensic analysis of every District agency, making sure we're taking account of savings and spending, and also fraud and abuse and mishandling."
President Donald Trump had previously characterized Lewis George as a "communist" and vowed to block her agenda. Following her primary victory earlier this year, Trump stated on Truth Social that he would not allow candidates like Lewis George to "destroy the city." He also asserted that he had "worked too hard to make Washington, D.C., the Envy of the World, with almost No Crime."
Lewis George will succeed outgoing Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has held the office since 2015 and chose not to seek re-election. "Good morning DC. This is what the other side looks like," Bowser posted on X. "We promised to get here with our Home Rule intact and electing our next leaders. Congratulations to Mayor-Elect Janeese Lewis George. I’ll run through the tape and support a seamless transition."
Lewis George joins a growing number of mayors with similar political leanings, including Zohran Mamdani of New York City and Katie Wilson of Seattle. She expressed her gratitude on X, writing, "Washington DC, thank you for trusting this Daughter of the District to lead us!"
Earlier this year, Lewis George told The Associated Press that she plans to address "the affordability crisis here in D.C., which the Trump administration has only made worse by unjustly firing federal employees en masse and militarizing our streets."