Janeese Lewis George, a democratic socialist and current city councilwoman, secured a decisive victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, positioning her as the likely next mayor of the overwhelmingly Democratic city. With approximately 53 percent of the vote, Lewis George won an outright majority, negating the need for ranked-choice tabulations under the city’s new voting system.

The primary marked the first open mayoral contest in the District in two decades and featured seven candidates. Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie, a former city councilman running as a centrist with a tough-on-crime stance, emerged as the frontrunners. While Lewis George’s progressive platform emphasized housing affordability and social justice reforms, McDuffie appealed to voters prioritizing public safety and a more moderate approach.

Lewis George, 38, has advocated for an ambitious plan to build 72,000 new homes over the next five years and pledged to repeal a Metropolitan Police Department order that allows officers to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In contrast, McDuffie criticized Lewis George’s housing proposals as insufficient and highlighted issues of youth-related crime, citing a recent viral brawl as evidence. He urged for stricter curfews and measures to address public safety concerns, asserting that Lewis George had failed to act effectively.

The election vividly illustrated emerging ideological divides within the Democratic Party, pitting the center-left against a growing left-wing movement. Lewis George’s support was strongest among younger voters, particularly younger white residents who have lived in the city for less than a decade and those identifying as “very liberal.” McDuffie performed better among older Black voters and those identifying as moderates or conservatives, who viewed crime as the city’s primary challenge. Despite Lewis George’s broad appeal across most wards, McDuffie held a narrow advantage in the wealthier, predominantly white northwest quadrant.

The race was conducted under Washington’s newly implemented ranked-choice voting system and was anticipated to be a drawn-out counting process. However, Lewis George’s first-round majority allowed for a swift resolution. The campaign was also influenced by Washington’s unique political status as the nation’s capital, where the federal government retains certain controls, particularly over the National Guard and the city budget.

During the campaign, former President Donald Trump publicly criticized the prospect of Lewis George’s victory, threatening to increase federal control over the city. “Maybe we take back Washington and run it on a federal basis,” Trump said in an interview, referencing a period when Congress directly managed the district. Lewis George responded that Trump’s remarks energized voters, who told her, “If Trump doesn’t like you, I love you.”

McDuffie had been endorsed by prominent figures including former D.C. mayors Sharon Pratt and Anthony Williams, as well as former Obama administration officials such as Eric Holder and Tom Perez. Lewis George counted several labor unions and current council members among her supporters.

The primary results follow the announcement last November by incumbent Mayor Muriel E. Bowser that she would not seek a fourth term. Bowser’s tenure was notably shaped by her efforts to balance local governance with federal oversight, including managing controversies surrounding the National Guard deployment during the Trump administration and advocating for the return of the Washington Commanders football team to the city.

Lewis George’s victory signals a continued momentum for democratic socialist candidates in major U.S. cities, adding Washington to a list that includes New York and Seattle, with Los Angeles poised for a similar contest later this year. The general mayoral election is scheduled for November, where Lewis George is widely expected to prevail.