Lewis George Wins Washington Mayoral Race
The city council member becomes the first new mayor elected in Washington since 2015, succeeding Muriel Bowser.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Council member Janeese Lewis George was elected mayor of Washington, D.C., succeeding Muriel Bowser, who did not seek re-election after three terms. She beat Robert L. Gross of the DC Statehood Green Party and independent Rhonda Hamilton, and no Republicans ran in the November general election.
Why it matters
The win marks the first time Washington has elected a new mayor since 2015 and the first time the city used ranked choice voting in a mayoral race. For residents of Washington, it signals a change in city leadership after more than a decade of Bowser's tenure.
Lewis George won the November 3, 2026 general election, which was the city's first use of ranked choice voting for mayor, a method approved by ballot measure in 2024. The source does not report vote tallies or the margin of victory.
The players
Janeese Lewis George
A Washington, D.C. city council member since 2020 who was elected mayor in the November 2026 general election.
Muriel Bowser
Washington's mayor for three terms who did not seek re-election in 2026.
The details
Lewis George, who has served on the district's city council since 2020, defeated Robert L. Gross of the DC Statehood Green Party and independent Rhonda Hamilton. Ranked choice voting, approved by voters in 2024, was used in the race for the first time.
Timeline
June 2026: Democratic primary held, with many Democrats competing for the nomination.
2020: Lewis George joined the district's city council.
2024: Voters approved ranked choice voting as a ballot measure.
November 3, 2026: General election in which Lewis George was elected mayor.
Political Context
Lewis George's election follows the 2015 contest that brought Muriel Bowser into office, ending a long period of continuity in D.C. leadership. Her win also places Washington alongside cities such as New York, led by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Seattle, led by Mayor Katie Wilson, where democratic socialist mayors have recently taken office.
Washington residents now have a new mayor who previously served on the city council, which may shape policy directions for the city. The first use of ranked choice voting in this race also means voters ranked candidates rather than choosing only one, a change residents will see in future city elections.
The takeaway
Lewis George's victory shows how ranked choice voting, approved by Washington voters in 2024, is now being used in the city's highest-profile race. Residents can track how the new administration approaches city priorities as it takes office.
Further reading
For more on how the city's voting rules shifted, see Elections coverage of Washington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC News.
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