Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George is slated to be the next mayor of Washington DC after her opponent conceded on Thursday.
Lewis George, a city council member, ran on a platform of expanding childcare, education and housing, and revoking the district's cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
In the city's first ranked-choice voting election, she succeeded in securing the Democratic nomination in a party stronghold, fending off another former city council member, Kenyan McDuffie.
McDuffie had run a campaign more focused on public safety and local businesses. Now, Lewis George will be on the ballot in November's general election, where she will probably run unopposed.
“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,†McDuffie said in a statement.
Donald Trump loomed large over Washington's primary elections, including threatening to expand federal control over the city if Lewis George won. In the past year, the president has deployed the national guard in the city, and supported widespread immigration enforcement.
The city is also still reeling from blows to the federal workforce after the Trump administration and Elon Musk's “department of government efficiency†slashed entire agencies last year. DC unemployment remains among the highest in the nation.
Further down the ballot, the longtime city council member Robert White won the race for US congressional House delegate, a position which does not include voting powers because of the city's status as a federal district. He beat Brooke Pinto, another city council member who had also run largely on public safety.
The current House delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, announced her retirement earlier this year.
