Janeese Lewis George Wins Democratic Primary for Washington, D.C. Mayor After Kenyan McDuffie Concedes

Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington, D.C., after Kenyan McDuffie conceded Thursday, with CNN’s Decision Desk projecting the result.

“Washington, DC – Janeese Lewis George, a Democratic Socialist who has promised an aggressive approach to United States President Donald Trump, is on track to become the next mayor of Washington, DC”

Al Jazeera

The AP said Lewis George pledged to aggressively stand up to federal intervention into Washington, D.C.'s affairs, setting up a potential showdown with the Trump administration over its moves to challenge the city’s limited autonomy.

Al Jazeera

NBC News projected that with three-fourths of the expected vote tallied, Lewis George led McDuffie 53% to 37%, and McDuffie conceded the primary to Lewis George on Thursday morning.

In the same primary, Robert White Jr. won the Democratic primary for the district’s delegate to Congress, and the Associated Press projected the winner as the city’s nonvoting delegate seat.

The Hill described Lewis George as poised to succeed outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser after McDuffie’s concession, placing the race’s outcome in the context of President Donald Trump’s second term and the administration’s actions in the city.

McDuffie told reporters in a statement, “While the final certification process will continue, it is clear that the voters have chosen a different path,” and he said he called Lewis George to congratulate her and wish her success.

Lewis George said she hoped she could work together with the administration “as every mayor has had to work with any president of the United States, no matter their party,” while also saying, “We are not going to be able to stand up for our autonomy and fight for D.C. statehood ultimately, by just complying in advance,” according to the AP.

AP News

NBC News framed the primary as putting Lewis George in line to manage the capital city and its relationship with President Donald Trump, with the race described as another major advance for democratic socialists in municipal politics.

The Guardian said Lewis George was slated to be the next mayor after her opponent conceded on Thursday, and it described her campaign as running on expanding childcare, education and housing, and revoking the district’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Fox News said Lewis George was expected to take the district even further left as Trump and Republicans call for a crackdown on left-leaning policies, and it quoted her statement that “This is a direct attack on the 700,000 residents of D.C.”

The AP said Lewis George’s victory sets up a potential showdown with the Trump administration over moves to challenge the city’s limited autonomy, including the deployment of the National Guard on an ongoing, open-ended mission meant to fight crime.

“Janeese Lewis George will win the Democratic mayoral primary in Washington, DC, after her opponent conceded Thursday, CNN’s Decision Desk projects”

CNN

The AP also reported that Lewis George has vowed to overrule an executive order by the city’s police chief permitting local law enforcement to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and it said she argued the order “hurt the trust of our community.”

NBC News said Trump told reporters at the White House this month that “we won’t put up with it” if Lewis George won and that he would consider a federal takeover of Washington, and it quoted Lewis George’s response that “Threatening Home Rule because you do not like how residents vote is an attack on democracy itself.”

The Hill placed the stakes in the backdrop of Trump last year taking federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying the National Guard, and it described crime and public safety as chief issues in the race.

CNN reported that if necessary, the board aims to release an initial set of ranked-choice results on Sunday, and it said election officials would consider voters’ further choices if Lewis George fell below the 50% threshold as more votes were reported.