Janeese Lewis George, a socialist candidate in Washington, D.C., is leading the mayoral race as vote counting continues. At midnight on the East Coast, the Associated Press reported that George held 52.6% of the vote with 66% of ballots counted. Her closest competitor, Kenyan R. McDuffie, has 36.8%.
During the Trump administration, the capital was a focal point for a national crime crackdown. National Guard troops were deployed, which supporters claim contributed to decreasing violent crime rates.
Donald Trump suggested a potential federal intervention if George, whom he referred to as a “crazy socialist,” were elected. He expressed his stance during a Thursday press briefing, saying, “We’re not going to lose our businesses.”
George criticized Trump’s remarks, describing them as an “attack on democracy itself.”
George, leading as the Democratic frontrunner, is a strong contender in the general election in a city where about 75% of voters are registered Democrats. The city is using ranked-choice voting for the first time, which might delay the official results.
Voters in Washington, D.C. also participated in the Democratic primary to choose a successor for Eleanor Holmes Norton as the U.S. Delegate. The Associated Press declared Robert White the winner shortly after midnight.
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