Janeese Lewis George is the Democratic nominee for mayor of Washington, D.C., after her top competitor Kenyan McDuffie conceded the race to her Thursday morning.
Lewis George secured 52.9% of the vote with 73% of votes counted as of Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press. McDuffie received 36.5% of the vote.
“While the final certification process will continue, it is clear that the voters have chosen a different path,” McDuffie said in a statement. “Earlier this morning, I called Councilmember Janeese Lewis George to congratulate her on her victory and wish her success as she prepares for the general election.”
“I want to thank every voter who participated in this election, the tens of thousands of Washingtonians who placed their faith in our campaign, and all of our volunteers, supporters, staff, family members, community leaders, and neighbors who believed in our vision for the future of our city. The campaign may be over, but the work of building a safer, more affordable, more prosperous city continues,” he concluded.
All other candidates in the crowded field received less than 10% of the vote in the district’s first-ever ranked-choice Democratic primary.
The city’s vote counting was criticized for taking too long, as just over 60% of votes were counted on election night. The race won’t advance to a second round of counting under ranked choice ballots, since Lewis George won over 50% of the vote.
Lewis George’s victory caps the closely watched primary, which promised to change the direction of the city and position her as the overwhelming favorite in November. In heavily blue Washington, the Democratic primary winner is likely to become mayor. The district voted 92.5% for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Despite a ballot featuring more than half a dozen candidates, the race ultimately centered on McDuffie and Lewis George, who emerged as the leading contenders and frequently sparred during debates.
The campaign became a battle over the future direction of the district’s Democratic Party. Lewis George ran as a progressive reformer, drawing comparisons to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, while McDuffie presented himself as a pragmatic centrist and ally of outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Both candidates sought to distinguish themselves from Bowser’s approach to President Donald Trump, after critics accused the retiring mayor of being too accommodating toward the White House amid tensions between Washington’s local autonomy and federal oversight.
Trump inserted himself into the race days before the primary, warning that he could seek to curtail the district‘s home rule if Lewis George prevailed. “We’re not going to lose our businesses,” Trump said. Lewis George blasted the remarks as “an attack on democracy itself” and argued district voters want a mayor willing to confront the president.
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Policy differences also defined the contest. McDuffie emphasized business growth, economic development, and affordability, while Lewis George advocated sweeping government action to address housing costs and economic inequality.
The race was further marked by personal and political clashes. Days before voting concluded, the Office of Campaign Finance found that Lewis George’s campaign improperly coordinated with labor unions and an independent expenditure committee. Lewis George denied wrongdoing and dismissed the finding as politically motivated.