Imagine this contrast: In just a few weeks, Washington, D.C., will be bustling with celebrations as the United States marks its 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Yet, by the end of the year, the very heart of American politics might witness a historic shift as it potentially welcomes its first democratic socialist mayor.
Currently, Janeese Lewis George is leading the Democratic primary race for mayor of Washington, D.C., following the June 16 election. Her rise is notable, as she stands out as the first democratic socialist on the DC City Council since the late 1990s.
Lewis George advocates for a “people-first platform,” promising to enhance the lives of residents by maximizing governmental capabilities. Her vision includes universal access to essential services such as childcare, affordable utilities, arts and culture, reliable transportation, good jobs, and housing.
Despite the ambitious nature of her proposals, Lewis George has not detailed the financial implications or funding strategies for these initiatives. It remains likely that she will propose increased taxes on the wealthy as a solution.
Specifically, she wants the government to provide “childcare for all,” “affordable utilities for all,” “arts and culture for all,” “reliable transportation for all,” “good jobs for all,” and “homes for all.”
Conveniently, she never spoke about how much this would cost or how she plans to pay for it. However, it is safe to assume that she will champion taxes on the rich as the panacea.
But the District of Columbia is different than other urban enclaves, like New York City and Seattle, which elected democratic socialist mayors in 2025.
Unlike those cities, the District of Columbia is governed under the Home Rule Act of 1973. According to the law, “Congress reviews all legislation passed by the Council before it can become law and retains authority over the District’s budget.”
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Thus, Lewis George, should she win the mayoral race, would have to cooperate with the U.S. Congress to pass her democratic socialist agenda.
I suspect this is a main reason that Lewis George frequently said “D.C. autonomy and D.C. statehood are non-negotiables” throughout the campaign.
To be fair, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has at least tried to put D.C.’s budget on a more sustainable trajectory. Bowser, who has served as mayor of D.C. for more than a decade, proposed a budget earlier this year that would cut spending by 3.7 percent.
“I think we all have to be clear-headed about where we are and what it will take to keep growing,” she said after balancing the budget and closing a $1.1 billion shortfall.
For context, D.C.’s budget has far outpaced population growth over the past decade. In 2017, D.C.’s total budget was $13.4 billion for approximately 694,000 residents. In 2026, the budget ballooned to $21.8 billion for approximately 698,000 residents.
Unsurprisingly, most of the money, 34.3 percent, goes to “human support services.” In second place, 19.6 percent goes to “public education.” On the other hand, only 8.9 percent and 7.6 percent are allotted for “infrastructure” and “public safety,” respectively.
Interestingly, Bowser has called for a more business-friendly environment. She knows that economic growth, not crippling taxes, is the only long-term solution.
Moreover, the current mayor refused to endorse Lewis George and instead endorsed the more moderate candidate.
Alas, Bowser’s endorsement of the more reasonable candidate could not overcome the momentum of the democratic socialist. This primary season, we are seeing democratic socialists cruise to victory throughout the country.
Sadly, democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George is just the latest in a long line of collectivists who look to be locks in the upcoming mid-term election. As America celebrates its historic 250th birthday, democratic socialism is surging.
However, the American republic and democratic socialism are antithetical. The principles and values of America’s founding are contrary to the core philosophy of democratic socialism.
The Declaration of Independence changed the world by asserting that all people have unalienable rights that are not derived from government. Despite her so-called people-first platform, democratic socialists like Janeese Lewis George want to reverse that relationship and make the government, not the individual, omnipotent.
Chris Talgo ([email protected]) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.
Editor’s Note: President Trump is leading America into the “Golden Age” as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
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