Two progressive Washington, D.C., councilmembers will advance to the November general election as the Democratic candidates for mayor and non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, following the June 16 primary election.
Janeese Lewis George, a councilmember for D.C.’s Ward 4, and Robert White Jr., an at-large councilmember and adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, will be the Democratic candidates for mayor and House delegate, respectively. They are heavily favored to win the November general election, given the District’s sizable Democratic majority.
Following his win, which the Associated Press declared June 16, White said he will advocate for D.C. statehood.
“My election means we’re going to keep our independence and we’re going to get statehood,” White told the Associated Press. “People know I’m not going to lay down. I’m going to fight.”
White campaigned on progressive policies, including supporting affordable housing and preserving D.C.’s independence from the Trump administration. White will face Republican nominee Denise Rosado in the November general election.
Following White’s victory, the Congressional Progressive Caucus political action committee, which funds progressive candidates, congratulated him, saying he will champion the working class and D.C.’s autonomy.
“A fifth-generation Washingtonian, Robert is a leader who understands the District and, in three terms on the D.C. council, has been a stalwart champion for unions and working families,” the group wrote. “In Congress, Robert will be a strong advocate for investments in public transit and community infrastructure, D.C. home rule and blocking D.C. police from cooperating with federal agents who abuse the rights of D.C. residents.”
Lewis George’s victory in the race to succeed outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser, which the Associated Press declared June 18, came a few hours after former councilmember Kenyan McDuffie — Lewis George’s main opposition in a field of seven candidates — conceded.
Lewis George, who currently represents Ward 4 in the D.C. council, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Her platform includes expanding affordable childcare programs, rent stabilization measures and workers’ rights.
In a May 18 debate at Georgetown’s Capitol Campus, Lewis George said she plans to focus on lowering costs for the working class.
“We are facing an affordability crisis in this city,” Lewis George said at the debate. “People from the middle class and the margins are feeling the squeeze. And so as mayor, I’m going to prioritize building more housing, so we have more affordable housing and lower costs. We’re going to expand access to universal access for child care so that no family is spending more than 7% of their income on child care.”
In conceding the race, McDuffie said he is hopeful Lewis George will succeed in November.
“While the final certification process will continue, it is clear that the voters have chosen a different path,” McDuffie wrote in a June 18 statement. “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.”
“The campaign may be over, but the work of building a safer, more affordable, more prosperous city continues,” McDuffie added.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb also defeated a challenge from attorney J. P. Szymkowicz with over 90% of the vote.
Lewis George said her victory proves D.C.’s autonomy from the Trump administration.
“If there was any doubt, right now we lay it to rest,” Lewis George said at a post-election event. “It is the people of D.C. who elect the mayor.”
