Janeese Lewis George, a democratic socialist who has faced sharp attacks from President Donald Trump, has been elected mayor of Washington, DC.
The 38-year-old DC councilmember dominated Tuesday’s mayoral contest, winning just over 84 percent of the vote. She defeated Green Party candidate Robert Gross and independent contender Rhonda Hamilton.
Her victory places her among a growing group of democratic socialist mayors that includes Zohran Mamdani in New York City and Katie Wilson in Seattle.
The result came as Democrats also made gains in federal races nationwide during what was described as a midterm blue wave.
“Washington DC, thank you for trusting this Daughter of the District to lead us!” Lewis George wrote on X after her victory was declared.
Trump had criticized Lewis George following her June primary win, labeling her a “communist” and accusing her of supporting policies he claimed would damage the nation’s capital.
“Janeese Lewis George, the Communist who is almost certainly going to be elected Mayor of Washington, D.C., has stated that she wants to empty the prisons, make D.C. a Sanctuary City, oppose ICE, welcome Criminal Illegal Aliens back into our beloved Capital, resist Anti-Crime Crackdowns, Defund the Police, continue and expand Cashless Bail, and so many other Capital destroying ‘things,’” the president wrote.
Trump said those plans would fail and vowed not to allow them to undermine the progress he believed had been made in reducing crime and improving Washington’s appearance.
Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George, 38, has won the Washington, DC, mayoral election and is shown celebrating on election night
Lewis George secured more than 84 percent of the vote, becoming part of a rising group of democratic socialist mayors
Trump described Lewis George as a “communist” after she won the Democratic mayoral primary in June
Trump also said he would meet with Lewis George, while warning that Washington had once again become a safe and prestigious community.
He credited himself and others with helping achieve that status and said he would not allow the city to be damaged by what he called a communist agenda.
Lewis George’s campaign focused on making life more affordable, limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Washington and protecting the District’s independence from federal interference.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Maryland Couple Dies in Bed in Hail of Bullets; 4 Children Hid for Hours Before Calling Authorities – NewsFinale
Her campaign website said she would personally work with members of Congress from both parties to defend DC’s autonomy and advance the cause of DC statehood.
Lewis George will succeed current Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat who has led the city since 2015. Bowser announced last year that she would not seek another term.
During Trump’s second term, Bowser has tried to balance resistance to the president with cooperation where she believes it benefits Washington. Lewis George criticized that strategy and made confronting Trump a central theme of her campaign.
Despite their political differences, Bowser and the mayor-elect exchanged warm messages after the election.
“Good morning DC. This is what the other side looks like,” Bowser wrote in a post on X.
Lewis George will succeed Muriel Bowser, who has served as DC mayor since 2015 and said last year that she would not run for reelection
Her campaign emphasized affordability, curbing ICE activity and preserving DC’s independence from federal control; she is pictured greeting a supporter on election day
Bowser said the city had fulfilled its promise to protect Home Rule and elect new leaders. She congratulated Lewis George, pledged to support an orderly transition and added that she loved Washington.
Lewis George thanked Bowser for her service and said she looked forward to working with the outgoing mayor and her team to ensure a smooth handover.
In a statement to FOX 5 DC, Lewis George outlined how she planned to approach the federal government, saying the people of Washington elect their own mayor. She said she was prepared to cooperate with the administration when that served District residents, but would also challenge it when necessary.
She said one of her administration’s early priorities would be a forensic review of every District agency.
The review would examine government savings, spending, possible fraud, abuse and mismanagement, she said, with the goal of strengthening public confidence in how taxpayer money is handled.
The Daily Mail has contacted Lewis George’s campaign seeking additional comment and a response to Trump’s criticism.