Janesse Lewis George wins decisively in Democratic primary for D.C. mayor      

By D. Kevin McNeir 
Special to the AFRO

On June 16, in what many described as one of the most significant elections in the city’s history, Washington, D.C. voters overwhelmingly chose Ward 4 Councilmember Janesse Lewis George, a Democratic Socialist, as the Democratic candidate for mayor. 

Political pundits had predicted that with the District implementing ranked-choice voting for the first time, election results could take anywhere from a few days to more than a week. However, Lewis George quickly secured a commanding lead, winning seven of the city’s eight wards by June 18, according to data released by the D.C. Board of Elections (DCBOE). 

Lewis George held her first press conference with dozens of journalists and photographers that same afternoon at Busboys and Poets in Northwest Washington, D.C. 

“This election is not about me – it never has been,” Lewis George said during her opening remarks. “It’s about the people of D.C. And it would not be possible without the broad coalition of supporters, the most diverse coalition in the city’s history – from native Washingtonians to people who have found and called this place home. I want to be clear that I plan to be a mayor for everyone who calls this city home.” 

Lewis George, 38, a third-generation Washingtonian, attended Howard University School of Law and served as the D.C. Assistant Attorney General in the Juvenile Section of the Public Safety Division, before being elected to the D.C. Council in 2020, representing Ward 4, the community in which she was raised. 

The Associated Press projected her as the winner on June 18, with 52.9 percent of the vote, according to the DCBOE website. Her closest opponent, former Ward 5 and at-large councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, had 36.4 percent of the vote. 

McDuffie conceded the race on June 18, reportedly after realizing that even with some ballots still to be counted, he could not catch Lewis George. 

“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 … . The campaign may be over, but the work of building a safer, more affordable, more prosperous city continues.” 

Lewis George emphasized the issue of affordability throughout her campaign and said she believed her message resonated with voters. 

“What was clear is that affordability is an issue in this city and there has to be leadership who is ready to address it,” she told members of the press. “People from the middle class to the margins are feeling the affordability crisis.” 

She pointed to her campaign’s citywide focus as one of several reasons for her victory.  

“We knocked on more than 200,000 doors, and even before announcing my intention to run for mayor I held early conversations with residents,” Lewis George said. “Even as a current member of the City Council, I had to keep in mind that there are no permanent allies or enemies. You have to be able to work with everyone. 

“I believe I earned the trust and respect of the voters,” she continued. “And I’ve long known that how you do anything is how you do everything.” 

Lewis George now moves on to the November general election in which she will square off against Green Party candidate Robert Gross. However, with 90 percent of voters in the District registered as Democrats, the chances that she will be defeated are both historically and statistically slim to none. 

Still, Lewis George did face potential upheaval in her bid for the mayor’s office when the District’s Office of Campaign Finance,  just days before the primary election on June 12, ordered her campaign to pay $16,000 in fines. Investigators determined that her team had improperly coordinated with labor unions and an independent expenditure committee Safe & Affordable DC. Allegedly, they had spent close to $1 million in support of her candidacy. 

Lewis George’s team called the accusations “absurd,” “outrageous,” and a “last-ditch effort to derail a campaign,” in a statement on June 13. 

Lewis George said she believed the investigation was flawed and politically motivated and vowed to appeal the decision.   

During the press conference, Lewis George addressed a number of issues, including home rule, working with or pushing back against the Trump administration, ICE agents and D.C.’s local police department, maternal health, affordable housing and food insecurity challenges that have plagued residents East of the River for decades. 

However, city finances seemed to be among her most pressing concerns, assuming she wins the November election. 

“On Day One, the mayor will have to produce a budget,” Lewis George said. “We’re already talking to budget analysts who have worked with the D.C. government before and looking at some of our agencies who we believe can be more efficient and effective in saving our tax dollars.

“We have to preserve our bond rating. The last time we lost our autonomy was because our finances were not where they needed to be. I am going to be prudent, thoughtful and strategic about our budget and innovative in how our budget can grow.” 

The post Janesse Lewis George wins decisively in Democratic primary for D.C. mayor       appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.