Progressive leftist is elected mayor of Washington DC after Trump branded her a communist who’d destroy the city

Janeese Lewis George, a democratic socialist member of Washington DC’s council, has been elected mayor after winning more than 84 per cent of the vote. Her victory comes amid a broader Democratic sweep in federal elections and places her among a new group of democratic socialist mayors, including Zohran Mamdani in New York and Katie Wilson in Seattle.

Donald Trump had called Lewis George a “communist” and criticised her positions on policing, immigration and bail after she won the June primary. She campaigned on affordability, limiting ICE activity and protecting DC’s autonomy; she will succeed Muriel Bowser, who has been mayor since 2015 and is not seeking re-election. Both women exchanged messages of thanks and pledged to support a smooth transition.