Kenyan McDuffie Concedes to Lewis George in DC Mayoral Primary

Former District of Columbia Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie conceded the Democratic primary for mayor of the District of Columbia to District of Columbia Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, a democratic socialist, on June 18.

While The Associated Press has not called the June 16 race, McDuffie conceded on Thursday morning.

“While the final certification process will continue, it is clear that the voters have chosen a different path,” McDuffie said in a statement, according to multiple media outlets. “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.”

In the Republican primary, no candidates qualified for the write-in-only ballot.

Given that the District of Columbia is overwhelmingly Democratic, Lewis George would be all but guaranteed to succeed the current mayor, Muriel Bowser, in November. Bowser is retiring after three terms as mayor.

Starting this year, the District of Columbia has used ranked-choice voting, in which voters rank their top five candidates in the primary.

Under this method, if a candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, they win outright. If no candidate wins a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated.

The second-choice candidates on those ballots are then added to other candidates. This process is continued until a candidate reaches a majority.

Lewis George was endorsed by the D.C. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which she is a member. She ran her campaign similarly to Zohran Mamdani’s in New York City.

Like Mamdani, Lewis George focused on affordability and advocated for building more housing. She also vowed to enact a universal childcare subsidy.

“Throughout both previous election cycles and over almost six years as a socialist in office, the Councilmember has never shied away from being identified as a Democratic Socialist, and she publicly engages with and promotes Metro D.C. DSA and its campaigns, formations, and projects on a regular basis,” an endorsement statement from the Political Engagement Committee stated.

“She has been a steadfast champion for DSA and the working class of D.C. on the council, from supporting rent strikes at SOS-organized buildings to standing with workers on the picket line.”

President Donald Trump said on June 11 that if Lewis George wins, he’d prefer his administration to run the district.

“I wouldn’t like it—and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We won’t put up with it. We’re not going to lose our businesses.”

Lewis George criticized the president’s stance.

“Threatening home rule because you don’t like how residents are voting is an attack on democracy itself,” she said in a video.

“The people of D.C. elect their mayor, and they want someone who’s going to stand up to Donald Trump.”

Resistance to Trump’s policy agenda was a theme of the election, as the current mayor, Muriel Bowser, who elected not to run for a fourth term, disagreed with the president on certain issues but also worked with him on public safety.

Both Lewis George and McDuffie said they would counter the president if they won.

“If you believe Donald Trump is a threat to D.C.’s local autonomy, then the last thing we should do is elect someone whose agenda would make it easier for him to justify federal intervention,” McDuffie told CNN.

“My message is simple: Don’t give Donald Trump what he wants.”

Lewis George said in a statement to CNN: “Kenyan McDuffie has not figured out what the rest of us have. You don’t stop Donald Trump by fearing him.

“I’m a daughter of the district, and I’ve been fighting for D.C. statehood my entire life. I’m not going to take a lecture from Kenyan McDuffie on Home Rule.”

During his second term, Trump has deployed the National Guard to the nation’s capital, and in August 2025, he placed the police department under federal control to combat crime. This lasted for 30 days in accordance with federal law.

In a mayoral debate earlier this month, Lewis George and McDuffie differed on whether David Gadis should remain as CEO of D.C. Water following a sewage pipe break that sent more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River.

Lewis George said “no,” while McDuffie said he did not have enough information to say either way.

“I think that the person responsible … should be gone,” he said.

McDuffie ran on a relatively moderate platform that included improving affordability and public safety.

Most D.C. residents who spoke with The Epoch Times said they cast their first choice for Lewis George.

Colin Wilcox said he voted for Lewis George, noting that the Free D.C. campaign supported her candidacy.

Free D.C. seeks to defend the city’s sovereignty, also known as Home Rule.

He also cited Lewis George’s position against Trump.

Kathryn Christian said she cast her ballot for Lewis George because the councilwoman supports Medicare for All and affordable housing, and she opposes the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.

Meanwhile, Barry Rodgers said he put McDuffie as his first choice because he is “more business-friendly.”

“I would say I didn’t like Janeese as much, because I am a landlord in D.C., and while I think tenants’ rights are important, I think they’ve too often resulted in people just not paying the rent, and I don’t think it’s actually effective in building affordable housing,” he said.