Washington, D.C.’s mayoral race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched local elections in the country, and as the votes continue to be counted, one candidate has emerged with a significant early advantage.
As of midnight Wednesday morning, Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George held the lead in the Democratic primary to replace outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser. According to the Associated Press, George had captured 52.6 percent of the vote with approximately 66 percent of ballots counted. Her nearest challenger, Kenyan R. McDuffie, trailed with 36.8 percent.
In most cities, a mayoral primary would remain a local story. In Washington, however, the race has taken on national significance because of the city’s unique relationship with the federal government and its increasingly prominent role in President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
Crime, in particular, has become a central issue.
The Trump administration has made public safety in the nation’s capital a high-profile priority, including last year’s deployment of the National Guard. Supporters of that move argue it contributed directly to substantial declines in violent crime, while critics questioned the federal government’s involvement in local affairs.
That backdrop helps explain why Trump has already weighed in on George’s candidacy.
During a recent White House press briefing, the president was asked how he would react if the self-described democratic socialist were elected mayor. His response immediately grabbed headlines.
“I wouldn’t like it — and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis,” Trump said.
He later added, “We won’t put up with it. We’re not going to lose our businesses.”
The remarks fueled immediate controversy and quickly became part of the campaign’s closing narrative.
George responded by characterizing Trump’s comments as a direct challenge to local self-government.
She called the suggestion of another federal takeover “an attack on democracy itself,” framing the election as a contest not only about city leadership but also about who should control the future of the nation’s capital.
The stakes are especially high because of Washington’s political makeup. Roughly 75 percent of registered voters are Democrats, making the Democratic primary the contest most observers expect will determine the city’s next mayor.
Still, election officials are cautioning patience.
Washington is using ranked-choice voting for the first time in a mayoral election, introducing a new layer of complexity to the counting process. Depending on how ballots are distributed among candidates, final certification could take longer than in previous elections.
While the mayoral race dominated attention, voters were also selecting a successor to longtime Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is retiring after decades representing the district in Congress.
Shortly after midnight, the Associated Press projected At-Large Council member Robert White as the winner of the Democratic primary for the district’s non-voting delegate seat.
For now, however, the spotlight remains firmly on the mayor’s race.
