Washington, D.C. just made political history. Tuesday night’s Democratic mayoral primary was the first in the city’s history conducted under ranked-choice voting, and as the early returns rolled in, one name stood out above the rest: Janeese Lewis George.
With 64% of ballots tallied by 12:32 AM ET, Lewis George had built a lead wide enough to put the race largely out of reach for her closest rival, Kenyan R. McDuffie, and a small but notable threat to even need a second round of tabulation.
The Numbers So Far
Out of 95,211 votes reported:
- Janeese Lewis George: 50,260 votes (52.8%)
- Kenyan R. McDuffie: 34,816 votes (36.6%)
- Gary Goodweather: 2,861 votes (3.0%)
Because Lewis George is currently sitting above the 50% mark, she’s in position to avoid the multi-round elimination process entirely — though officials have made clear that more ballots remain to be counted before anything is finalized.
A Citywide Coalition, With One Exception
What stands out most in these results isn’t just the size of Lewis George’s lead — it’s how widely distributed it is. She’s currently ahead in seven of the District’s eight wards, a sign of cross-neighborhood appeal that’s relatively rare in D.C. mayoral primaries.
Her best night came in Ward 1, where she’s outperforming McDuffie by a commanding 41 points. She also posted double-digit wins in Ward 4 (+19), Ward 5 (+18), Ward 6 (+21), Ward 7 (+10), and Ward 8 (+14), while edging ahead by 8 points in Ward 2.
McDuffie’s lone bright spot came in Ward 3, where he’s holding a narrow 3-point edge — the only ward where he currently leads.
| Ward | Leader | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Ward 1 | Lewis George | +41 |
| Ward 2 | Lewis George | +8 |
| Ward 3 | McDuffie | +3 |
| Ward 4 | Lewis George | +19 |
| Ward 5 | Lewis George | +18 |
| Ward 6 | Lewis George | +21 |
| Ward 7 | Lewis George | +10 |
| Ward 8 | Lewis George | +14 |
Why Ranked-Choice Voting Changes the Math
This year’s primary isn’t just notable for who’s winning — it’s notable for how the winner gets determined. Under D.C.’s new ranked-choice system, voters don’t just pick one candidate; they rank their preferred candidates in order.
If no one clears 50% outright, the candidate in last place gets eliminated, and their voters’ second-choice picks get redistributed. The process repeats, round by round, until someone crosses the majority threshold. It’s a system designed to reward broad appeal over narrow but passionate support — and so far, that appears to be exactly what’s playing out for Lewis George.
Why This Primary Is the Real Election
In a city where registered Democrats vastly outnumber every other party combined, the Democratic primary functions as the de facto general election. Whoever wins this nomination is widely expected to cruise through November as the heavy favorite, regardless of who else appears on the ballot.
That dynamic is exactly why Tuesday’s results matter so much — and why so many eyes are on the remaining vote count.
What Comes Next
Lewis George’s lead is substantial, but election officials still have ballots left to process before they certify a winner. Her position above the 50% mark gives her a real shot at winning outright in the first round, without needing the ranked-choice elimination process to kick in at all.
Barring a significant shift in the uncounted ballots, Janeese Lewis George looks on track to become the Democratic nominee — and the frontrunner heading into D.C.’s next mayoral election.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the D.C. mayoral primary? Janeese Lewis George is leading with 52.8% of reported votes, ahead of Kenyan R. McDuffie at 36.6%.
Is this D.C.’s first ranked-choice election? Yes. This marks the first time Washington, D.C. has used ranked-choice voting in a mayoral primary.
How many wards did Lewis George win? She is currently leading in seven of the city’s eight wards, with McDuffie ahead only in Ward 3.
Could the race still change? Yes — additional ballots are still being counted, though Lewis George’s current vote share puts her above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a ranked-choice runoff.
This is shaping up to be a defining night for D.C. politics — keep checking back as the final votes come in and the picture gets even clearer.