Overview
- The Ward 4 councilmember officially launched her 2026 bid on Dec. 1, becoming the first high-profile contender after Mayor Muriel Bowser said she will not seek a fourth term.
- Her campaign met the $40,000 and 1,000 in-district donor thresholds for public funds in about four hours, breaking a record Bowser set in 2022; subsequent tallies reported more than $110,000 from over 1,500 local donors and a war chest exceeding $750,000 with matching funds.
- Lewis George’s platform centers on lowering the cost of living, improving public safety, and delivering more responsive city services, highlighted in her launch video and interviews.
- A self-described democratic socialist with past DSA backing, she has faced scrutiny for a 2019 post supporting divesting from the Metropolitan Police Department and has emphasized evidence-based crime strategies in recent statements.
- Media reports say her team is exploring tactics modeled on recent democratic-socialist municipal campaigns, including a large volunteer operation and targeted digital outreach, as other potential contenders such as Kenyan McDuffie weigh bids.