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Janeese Lewis George

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Janeese Lewis George
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia
from Ward 4
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2021
Preceded byBrandon Todd
Personal details
BornJaneese Lewis
(1988-04-30) April 30, 1988 (age 38)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
Kyle George
​
(m. 2019)​
EducationSt. John's University (BA)
Howard University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Janeese Lewis George (born April 30, 1988)[1] is an American lawyer, politician, and activist from Washington, D.C. She is a member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 4 and a member of the Democratic Party.[2]

Elected in November 2020, she became the first self-described democratic socialist to serve as a member of the Council since Hilda Mason was defeated for re-election in 1998.[3][2] Lewis George is running for mayor of the District of Columbia in the 2026 election as the Democratic nominee.

Early life and career

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Lewis George is a third-generation Washingtonian and was raised in Ward 4 of Washington, D.C.[4][5] Her mother worked as a union postal worker and her paternal grandmother served as a lunch lady at Alice Deal Middle School.[4] She attended the School Without Walls in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.[6] While in high school, she was a voting student representative of DC School Board.[4]

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and government from St. John's University.[7] After graduating from St. John's University, she worked in Los Angeles for AmeriCorps for one year.[7] She earned a Juris Doctor from the Howard University School of Law, working at Nordstrom Rack and as a waitress to pay her tuition.[4][8] While in university, her family was displaced from her childhood home due to a rent hike, spurring her interest in tenant rights.[4]

After graduation from law school, Lewis George worked as a prosecutor in adult criminal cases in Philadelphia.[9] In 2016, she returned to D.C. to care for her ailing father and work in the office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia Karl Racine as a juvenile prosecutor.[9] Lewis George was a member of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1403 while working at the Attorney General's office.[10]

As a juvenile prosecutor, she focused on diverting cases to behavioral health and restorative justice systems over criminal proceedings.[9] She joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2018.[4] Before launching her campaign for the council, she worked for the District of Columbia State Board of Education.[8]

Political career

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D.C. council

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In 2019, Lewis George launched her campaign for the Council of the District of Columbia. Lewis George was the subject of attack ads by Democrats for Education Reform, an advocacy group that supports charter schools, over claims that she would defund the police.[11] She was endorsed by a significant number of progressive groups, including Black Lives Matter, the Working Families Party and the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America.[12]

Lewis George was the first candidate to reach the limit in matching funds through the District's public financing program since it was initiated. The program provides matching funds but limits donations to $50 per supporter, of which she had almost 1,200 by March 2020.[13] On June 2, she defeated incumbent Brandon Todd by an 11.7-point margin. She was elected to the Council of the District of Columbia in November 2020.[2]

2026 D.C. mayoral election

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On December 1, 2025, Lewis George announced her candidacy for mayor of the District of Columbia in the 2026 election.[14] Two days after the primary election on June 16, 2026, she secured the Democratic nomination and her opponent Kenyan McDuffie conceded the race.[15]

Political views

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Lewis George describes herself as a democratic socialist.[16][17]

Childcare

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During her 2026 mayoral campaign, she released a plan to create a subsidy for universal childcare.[18][19]

Housing

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In 2021, she proposed a social housing model of publicly owned and subsidized mixed-income housing.[20][17] In April 2022, Lewis George introduced two bills inspired by the Green New Deal. The bills would create an agency to construct and maintain mixed-income social housing, and accelerate the removal of lead pipes.[21]

Lewis George introduced the Extreme Heat Eviction Prevention Act of 2025, which would prevent tenant evictions on days when the temperature is predicted to be above 95 degrees.[22] During her 2026 mayoral campaign, she called for zoning reform to increase housing supply in Washington, D.C.[23]

Immigration

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Lewis George has introduced legislation to end cooperation between D.C. Police and ICE.[23]

Statehood

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Lewis George is a supporter of the District of Columbia statehood movement.[23]

Personal life

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Lewis George is married to Kyle George, whom she met at a high school graduation party and married in 2019.[9] She gave birth to their son in October 2024.[24] As of 2026, the two live in the Manor Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C.[7]

Electoral history

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2020 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, Democratic primary[25][26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janeese Lewis George 10,965 54.76
Democratic Brandon Todd (incumbent) 8,624 43.07
Democratic Marlena Edwards 411 2.05
2020 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, general election[25][27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janeese Lewis George 38,990 91.76
Green Perry Redd 2,434 5.73
Write-in 1065 2.51
2024 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, Democratic primary[25][28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janeese Lewis George 10,683 66.23
Democratic Lisa Gore 4,543 28.16
Democratic Paul Johnson 848 5.26
Write-in 57 0.35
2024 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, general election[25][29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janeese Lewis George 36.319 96.64
Write-in 1,262 3.36

References

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  1. ^ The Council of the District of Columbia (April 30, 2026). "A joyous Happy Birthday to Janeese Lewis George!". Facebook. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Nirappil, Fenit (November 4, 2020). "How Christina Henderson won a D.C. Council seat: Outreach to women, moderate police views and a positive campaign". The Washington Post.
  3. ^ Reid J. Epstein; Jennifer Medina; Nick Corasaniti (June 3, 2020). "Historic Wins for Women of Color as Nation Protests Systemic Racism". New York Times. New York. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Flynn, Meagan (May 31, 2026). "The rise of Janeese Lewis George, who could be D.C.'s first democratic socialist mayor". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  5. ^ Nirappil, Fenit (August 8, 2019). "D.C. lawmaker Brandon Todd ramps up reelection campaign, draws first challenger". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  6. ^ Steinhardt, Ruth (May 14, 2021). "School Without Walls Celebrates 50 Years". George Washington University. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George". Council of the District of Columbia. January 2, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  8. ^ a b Zauzmer, Julie (May 23, 2020). "In Ward 4 council race, a moderate incumbent faces a progressive challenger". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d Zauzmer, Julie (June 19, 2020). "Janeese Lewis George, the democratic socialist who beat one of the D.C. mayor's allies, says she'll be a pragmatic council member". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Former AFGE Member Janeese Lewis George Overwhelmingly Wins D.C. Council Race". www.afge.org. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  11. ^ Cohen, Rachel (June 4, 2020). "A PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGER WAS ATTACKED FOR CALLING TO DEFUND THE POLICE. SHE WON ANYWAY". Intercept. Washington DC. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  12. ^ Nirappil, Fenit (June 3, 2020). "Brandon Todd loses his D.C. Council seat, and voters soundly reject Jack Evans". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  13. ^ Giambrone, Andrew (March 18, 2020). "First Candidate Claims To Max Out Public Financing Funds For D.C. Elections". DCist. Washington DC. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  14. ^ Gathright, Jenny (December 1, 2025). "D.C. Council member Janeese Lewis George to run for mayor". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  15. ^ "Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George to be next mayor of Washington DC". The Guardian. June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  16. ^ Giambrone, Andrew. "Meet The Women Who Will Turn The D.C. Council Majority-Female For The First Time In Decades". DCist. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Flynn, Meagan; Gathright, Jenny (March 8, 2026). "As D.C.'s mayor race heats up, stark contrasts emerge in the two front-runners". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  18. ^ Gathright, Jenny (February 16, 2026). "D.C. mayoral hopeful pledges more affordable child care amid shrinking budgets". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  19. ^ Austermuhle, Martin (February 6, 2026). "Janeese Lewis George pledges universal affordable child care for D.C." The 51st. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  20. ^ Austermuhle, Martin (April 9, 2026). "In D.C.'s mayoral race, everyone wants more housing". The 51st. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  21. ^ Gomez, Amanda Michelle (April 26, 2022). "Ward 4 Councilmember Introduces D.C. 'Green New Deal' Bills For Housing And Lead Pipe Removal". DCist. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  22. ^ Brady, Ranee (January 6, 2026). "How environmental inequity contributes to housing instability". Street Sense Media. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  23. ^ a b c Murillo, Mike (June 9, 2026). "DC mayoral candidates outline differences on safety, housing and federal relations". WTOP News. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  24. ^ Lewis George, Janeese (October 28, 2024). "Councilmember Lewis George and her husband Kyle are overjoyed to welcome baby Pierce James George into the world!". Facebook. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  25. ^ a b c d "Live results: 2020 District of Columbia Council primaries". The Washington Post. June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  26. ^ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  27. ^ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  28. ^ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  29. ^ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
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