DC Primary Elections Results Signal Likely Shift to More Progressive Government

At the federal level, voters selected party nominees for Delegate to the US House of Representatives (the District’s sole non-voting member of Congress) and for advisory “shadow” positions of US Senator and US Representative. Locally, the ballot included Mayor, Attorney General (AG), Chairperson of the Council, two at-large Council seats (one regular election and one special election to fill the vacancy created by Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s resignation), and ward-level Council seats in Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6. Primary elections were also held for Democratic, Republican, and DC Statehood Green party committee members. Because an overwhelming majority of the District’s registered voters are Democrats, the Democratic primary outcomes are widely expected to determine most of these races ahead of the November 3 general election.

Below is a summary of results and analysis from the DC primary elections.

Mayor

As of this publication, it appears that Janeese Lewis George likely has won a highly contested race with more than 50% of the vote in the first round of RCV tabulation, becoming DC’s first openly “democratic socialist” mayor. Lewis George succeeds Mayor Muriel Bowser, who did not seek reelection after three terms. The result is widely viewed as a voter mandate for a progressive shift — from Bowser’s relatively moderate tenure to Lewis George’s platform emphasizing organized labor and systemic change. Lewis George defeated Kenyan McDuffie by positioning herself as the candidate best able to disrupt the status quo. Her election arrives at a critical juncture: President Trump recently stated he would “take over D.C.” if Lewis George wins. While federal assumption of District governance faces significant legal and procedural hurdles, DC voters will once again have to engage allies in Congress, including DC’s new Delegate Robert White, to defend local self-governance, and Lewis George will need to chart a careful course in managing the District’s relationship with the federal government.

Delegate

Robert White won the race to become DC’s next nonvoting representative in Congress, succeeding Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who did not seek reelection after more than 30 years of service. White defeated fellow Councilmember Brooke Pinto and now faces the task of continuing Norton’s legacy of defending DC self-governance and advocating for statehood. White is well positioned for this role, having previously served on Norton’s staff. Pinto retains her Ward 2 Council seat and may seek reelection to it in two years.

Attorney General

Brian Schwalb won reelection with more than 90% of the vote. Schwalb will begin his second term as a central figure in defending DC governance. He has been an active AG — protecting consumers, advocating for residents in substandard housing, and elevating issues the District faces without full statehood on the national stage. With the president threatening federal intervention as recently as two weeks ago, Schwalb will need to be prepared to litigate in defense of DC residents’ rights, a role he has previously demonstrated readiness to perform.

Chairperson

Phil Mendelson won reelection unopposed and will secure another four-year term in November. Mendelson has served on the Council since 1998 and as chairperson since 2012. His new term is notable given the influx of democratic socialists and progressives into DC elected office. Elissa Silverman returns as an Independent at-large member, Aparna Raj is leading as the likely new Ward 1 Councilmember, and Mayor-elect Lewis George aligns with these progressives. Mendelson will seek to balance the new mayor and these members during his term while continuing to navigate the District’s relationship with the president and Congress.

Council (Independent At-Large)

Elissa Silverman returns to the Council after winning the special election to replace former Councilmember McDuffie. Silverman won with over 50% of votes in the first round over Doni Crawford (the Council’s interim appointee) and Jacque Patterson. Silverman will have an ally in the Mayor’s office and is expected to continue her strong advocacy for organized labor. It remains to be seen how she adjusts to a Council with many new members but the same chairperson. Notably, Silverman will be sworn in upon certification of results and must then immediately campaign for reelection in November — a race that could intensify if McDuffie challenges her for the seat he vacated to run for Mayor.

Council (Wards 3, 5, and 6)

Matt Frumin (Ward 3), Charles Allen (Ward 6), and Zachary Parker (Ward 5) each won re-election in the first round of voting. For Frumin and Parker, this was their first re-election, solidifying their support in their respective Wards. Allen secured his fourth consecutive Council victory, making him one of the body’s longest-serving members. All three align with progressive policy positions and will be key votes as the Council navigates the dynamic between Chairperson Mendelson and Mayor-elect Lewis George.

Council (Ward 1)

This race is heading to a ranked-choice runoff after no candidate received more than 50% of first-round votes. Aparna Raj leads with 46.7%, with Miguel Trindade Deramo and Rashida Brown remaining competitive in subsequent tabulation rounds. Raj holds a strong advantage, needing fewer than 4% of redistributed votes to win. A Raj victory would be notable: Brown and Deramo aligned during the campaign, and Brown was endorsed by the sitting Ward 1 Councilmember. Raj affiliates with the democratic socialist movement and would likely be a strong supporter of organized labor and of Lewis George’s agenda.

Council (Democrat At-Large)

This race is also too close to call, with ranked-choice tabulation ongoing. Oye Owolewa leads with 33.77% of first-round votes, followed by Lisa Raymond (15.22%) and Kevin B. Chavous (13.84%). Below is a brief profile of each leading candidate and their likely Council alignments.

• Oye Owolewa is a pharmacist who has served as DC’s shadow representative in Congress since 2021. He campaigned on restoring DC Medicaid coverage, free tuition at the University of the District of Columbia, expanding affordable housing protections, strengthening public safety, and defending Home Rule against federal intervention. Owolewa is likely to align with the Council’s progressives and support Lewis George.
• Lisa Raymond previously served on the DC State Board of Education (2006) and held senior policy and leadership roles, including education advisor to the Council’s Committee of the Whole and chief of staff to former AG Karl Racine. Her campaign platform emphasized defending Home Rule and fiscal autonomy, expanding quality education and childcare, increasing housing affordability through zoning reform, and strengthening public safety. Raymond would likely serve as a pragmatic Democrat and work closely with Chairperson Mendelson.
• Kevin B. Chavous served for four years as committee and policy director for outgoing At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, who endorsed his candidacy. His platform centers on public safety through community policing, housing affordability, workforce development, early childhood education, support for seniors, and defending Home Rule. Chavous, if elected, would also likely align with Chairperson Mendelson.

Key Takeaways

The 2026 DC Democratic primary signals a decisive progressive shift in District governance. Mayor-elect Lewis George’s victory, combined with the return of Elissa Silverman and the likely election of Aparna Raj, creates a dynamic in which democratic socialist and progressive labor-aligned members hold significant influence. Chairperson Mendelson, re-elected unopposed, will serve as the primary institutional counterweight to this progressive bloc.

For clients with interests before the DC government, three dynamics merit close attention: (1) the incoming administration’s posture toward organized labor, the business community, and regulatory policy; (2) the escalating tension between the District and the federal government, particularly President Trump’s stated intent to intervene in DC governance; and (3) the several races still awaiting ranked-choice tabulation, which will further define the composition and ideological balance of the Council.

We will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as results are certified and the general election approaches.