Kenyan McDuffie conceded to Janeese Lewis George in Washington, D.C.’s Democratic mayoral primary, while ranked-choice counting could still delay final certification of the winner.
Kenyan McDuffie stepped aside in Washington, D.C.’s Democratic mayoral primary on Thursday, calling Councilmember Janeese Lewis George to concede after early results put her decisively ahead.
The moment matters in a city where the November general election is widely expected to be a formality for the Democratic nominee. But it also comes with a wrinkle: D.C. is using ranked-choice voting, meaning the final winner could still be affected by how ballots are recounted and certified.
McDuffie’s concession came as Lewis George led in the latest results posted Wednesday evening. She had 52.85% of the vote compared with McDuffie’s 36.45%. Rini Sampath and Gary Goodweather were both at 3%, and 113,838 ballots had been counted.
“While the final certification process will continue, it is clear that the voters have chosen a different path,” McDuffie said in a statement Thursday. He added that he called Lewis George “to congratulate her on her victory and wish her success as she prepares for the general election.”
He also thanked voters and his campaign’s network of supporters. “I want to thank every voter who participated in this election. the tens of thousands of Washingtonians who placed their faith in our campaign. and all our volunteers. supporters. staff. family members. community leaders and neighbors who believed in our vision for the future of our city. ” McDuffie said.
Lewis George, a D.C. native who joined the DC Council in 2020, has not publicly commented on McDuffie’s concession. She is now positioned to succeed Muriel Bowser, who was elected mayor three times and announced last year that she would not seek a fourth term.
The race has also pulled national attention into local politics. President Donald Trump said last week he “wouldn’t like it” if Lewis George were elected mayor. telling reporters “maybe we’ll take back Washington.” Lewis George has pushed back on Trump’s comments. while signaling she intends to engage the Trump administration and look for compromise.
In remarks to The Guardian, Lewis George described her stance as firm on what D.C. must control. “My approach to Donald Trump is one where I set a line that there is going to have to be (that) DC autonomy and DC statehood are non-negotiables. our immigrant community and neighbors. our Black youth are non-negotiables. ” she said. “But if there are things you want to work with together, I’m happy to do that.”.
For now, the immediate contest is settled in public messaging, but the ranked-choice mechanics still hang over the timeline. McDuffie’s concession acknowledges the direction of voter choice while leaving room for the certification process to run its course—an outcome that underscores how election rules can shape not just who wins. but how quickly the public is allowed to move on.
Washington DC mayoral primary Kenyan McDuffie Janeese Lewis George ranked-choice voting DC Connect Muriel Bowser Donald Trump Democratic nominee