Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George has been elected mayor of Washington, D.C., NBC News projects, continuing Democratic control over the capital city — but with a twist, as self-identified socialists make gains in cities across the U.S.
Lewis George will be Washington’s first new mayor since 2015, succeeding Muriel Bowser, who did not seek re-election after three terms and is leaving public office. A large number of Democrats crowded into the primary in June for the right to be the party’s shoo-in nominee in November. No Republicans ran.
Lewis George, a D.C. Council member, beat Robert L. Gross of the DC Statehood Green Party and independent Rhonda Hamilton for the seat.
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Lewis George’s ascension in Washington comes
Lewis George’s ascension in Washington comes on the heels of other municipal successes for democratic socialists in recent years. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is the highest-profile mayor who is part of the Democratic Socialists of America. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson also identifies as a democratic socialist, though she is not a member of the DSA.
Lewis George will be responsible for managing the capital’s relationship with the federal government and President Donald Trump, who posted after her Democratic primary win that he would not let Washington “be destroyed by a Communist adherent.”
Lewis George said at the time: “The fact is that the mayor of our nation’s capital and the administration are going to be meeting with each other. I’m willing to work with anyone, including the administration, to improve the lives of D.C. residents, and I will stand up to anyone who puts our city or its residents in harm’s way. Making D.C. safe and more affordable for our residents is my immediate focus.”
Lewis George has served on the D.C
Lewis George has served on the D.C. Council since 2020, and during her campaign she championed universal childcare, expanding affordable housing and making city buses free for residents enrolled in SNAP benefits.
It was the first time the city has used ranked choice voting for its mayoral race, as it was approved as a ballot measure in 2024.
