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Socialist Washington, D.C. mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George holds a lead in her bid to replace outgoing mayor Muriel Bowser as midnight passes on the East Coast and the ballots continue to be counted throughout the night.
The Associated Press reports that as of 12 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, George is the leader with 52.6% of the vote after 66% of the votes had been counted. The next closest candidate, Kenyan R. McDuffie, sits at 36.8%.
The nation’s capital has been at the center of the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on crime during his second term and he sent the National Guard into the district last year, which proponents have argued directly correlates to plummeting violent crime numbers.
Trump has suggested that he’d order another federal takeover of Washington D.C. if the “crazy socialist” mayoral candidate was elected.
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Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George joined parents, educators, and organizers at a SPACEs In Action and Blandi’s Childcare Center rally to demand funding for the Pay Equity Fund and childcare subsidies at the Blandis Childcare Center in Washington, D.C., on March 27, 2026. (L) Donald Trump speaks to members of the media outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, April 13, 2026. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for SPACEs in Action; Salwan Georges/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I wouldn’t like it — and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis,” Trump said when asked by reporters how he’d respond if a self-described Democratic socialist D.C. council member were to win her bid.
“We won’t put up with it. We’re not going to lose our businesses,” Trump said on Thursday during a press briefing from the White House.
George called Trump’s recent threat to enact a second takeover as an “attack on democracy itself.”
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Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George speaks during the “Rally for Childcare” event aimed at restoring funding for childcare at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2025. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for SPACEs in Action)
George, who has become the Democratic frontrunner, leads a race that will likely decide the winner of the general race in a city where roughly 75% of voters are registered Democrats.
Washington, D.C. is using ranked-choice voting for the first time, which could delay the certification of an official winner.
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The skyline of Washington, D.C., is shown with various buildings under a clear sky. (Saul Loeb/Getty)
Voters in Washington, D.C. were also voting in the Democratic primary to determine their next non-voting U.S. Delegate following the retirement of Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Shortly after midnight, the Associated Press called the race for the winner, At-Large Council member Robert White.
Digital’s Elaine Mallon contributed to this report
