Janeese Lewis George Wins Washington, D.C. Mayor Race

Janeese Lewis George won the race to become Washington, D.C.'s next mayor on Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race at 9:56 p.m. ET on Nov 3, 2026. She succeeds outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Lewis George, 38, a Ward 4 councilmember, took about 84 percent of the vote. Independent Rhonda Hamilton finished second with about 10.3 percent. D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate Robert L. Gross had about 3.5 percent.

A first for the District

A self described democratic socialist, Lewis George is the first mayor associated with democratic socialist politics elected in Washington, D.C., according to the Associated Press. She is the first D.C. Council member to carry the label since 1998. Her campaign was endorsed by the Working Families Party and the Washington Teachers' Union.

Bowser announced last November that she would not seek reelection, ending more than a decade leading the city. Lewis George will be sworn in on January 2 and is the District's first new mayor in 12 years.

How she got here

Lewis George won a crowded seven candidate Democratic primary on June 16, decided through ranked choice tabulations, defeating former Councilman Kenyan McDuffie. The general election was the District's first mayoral contest using ranked choice voting.

Her agenda centers on expanding affordable housing, addressing rising utility rates and establishing universal child care, according to FOX 5 DC.

"One of the things we're going to do early in my administration is a forensic analysis of every District agency, making sure we're taking account of savings and spending, and also fraud and abuse and mishandling," Lewis George told FOX 5 DC.

The federal question

Before the June primary, President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Home Rule Act to take over Washington if Lewis George were elected, according to FOX 5 DC.

"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," Lewis George told FOX 5 DC.

The margin left no doubt about the result on the night. At about 84 percent, Lewis George finished far ahead of Hamilton at about 10.3 percent and Gross at about 3.5 percent, in the first D.C. mayoral general election run under ranked choice voting. She takes office on January 2, succeeding Bowser after Bowser's decision last November not to run again closed a run of more than a decade in the mayor's office.