Democratic socialist councilwoman launches bid for Washington, DC mayor

Democratic Washington, D.C. Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George announced Monday that she is running for mayor next year, to replace retiring D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. 

Bowser announced she would not seek reelection last week, marking an end to a 10-year tenure that encompassed multiple crises in the capital, including the COVID-19 pandemic. She also served as the mayor during the first Trump administration.

Lewis George, who has previously described herself as a democratic socialist, said she would focus on making the district affordable and safe, while also "creating a government that listens and delivers."

"Too many residents still feel squeezed financially, from unaffordable housing to childcare, and feel unsafe in their neighborhoods," Lewis George said in a video on X. "Residents face uneven access to opportunity and a city government that on its best days feels unresponsive, and on its worst, is leaving residents out in the cold all because leaders have chosen to prioritize the needs of the well-connected over us. 

"That’s wrong, it’s not the DC we should be and that's why I’m running for Mayor," she continued. “I will work with anyone to improve the lives of people here at home, and I will stand up to anyone who gets in our way." 

Lewis George was first elected to city council in 2020, and holds a law degree from Howard University. She also previously worked for former D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine as the assistant attorney general in the juvenile section of the public safety division, according to NBC Washington. 

The councilwoman is considered the first major contender to enter the race to succeed Bowser. She is the latest in a series of democratic socialists to run for higher office. New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani won his election last month.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.