Janeese Lewis George, a socialist candidate for Washington, D.C. mayor, holds a lead in her campaign to succeed outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser. As ballots continued to be counted overnight, George was reported to have 52.6% of the vote with 66% of votes tallied at 12 a.m. ET on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. Her nearest rival, Kenyan R. McDuffie, trails with 36.8%.
The federal capital has been a focal point for the Trump administration’s crime crackdown during his second term. Last year, Trump deployed the National Guard to the district, a move that supporters claim has reduced violent crime rates. Trump indicated he might order a federal takeover of Washington, D.C. if George wins, stating that a ‘crazy socialist’ candidate should not govern the city.
George responded by calling Trump’s remarks an ‘attack on democracy,’ especially as she becomes the Democratic frontrunner. In Washington, D.C., Democrats account for roughly 75% of registered voters, making the primary decisive for the general race outcome.
For the first time, Washington, D.C. employed ranked-choice voting, which means the official winner’s certification might be delayed. Voters were also selecting their next non-voting U.S. Delegate after Eleanor Holmes Norton’s retirement. Robert White, an At-Large Council member, was declared the winner shortly after midnight.
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