Janeese Lewis George, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a D.C. council member, is set to become the next mayor of the District of Columbia, succeeding Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser after more than a decade in office. Lewis George won the Democratic primary in June against moderate candidate Kenyan McDuffie. The general election pits her against independent and Green Party candidates, but the result is all but certain in the heavily Democratic city.
Her campaign focused on universal childcare, affordable housing, and lowering utility costs. She also supports a new business activity tax (BAT) aimed at unincorporated partnerships such as law offices and lobbying firms whose owners live outside the city and can avoid D.C.'s business franchise tax. The first $200,000 of economic activity would be exempt. According to the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, a 2% BAT could raise about $500 million annually.
Lewis George has said the BAT would close a tax loophole and fund her policy goals. Proponents argue it would make taxation fairer. But Malcom Fox of Opportunity DC, an independent expenditure group that supported McDuffie, said the BAT would hurt small businesses. "It's a self-defeatist approach that is punishing the small businesses we need to bring our economy back," Fox said.
Republicans in Congress are preparing to limit the mayor's authority. In July, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky introduced the D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act, which would allow Congress to block tax increases approved by the city. The bill advanced out of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "Radical DC Democrats want to solve their spending problem by reaching deeper into taxpayers' pockets and driving further on the path to socialism," Comer said. Lewis George urged Congress to reject the bill, writing on X, "Let the people of D.C. govern D.C."
President Trump, who in August 2025 federalized D.C.'s police department and deployed National Guard troops for 14 months, has called Lewis George a "communist." He used Section 740 of the 1973 Home Rule Act, which allows a president to take control of D.C. police for 30 days unless Congress extends it. Trump has threatened to federalize the city again.
Kurtis Hagans, chair of the Metro DC DSA chapter, said residents don't take kindly to threats from the federal government on self-governance. Lewis George has pledged to stand up to Trump.
David Barker, a political science professor at American University, suggested Lewis George's mayorship may be more symbolic, noting mayors have limited power and cannot pass legislation themselves, which is a council function. The D.C. Council has ordered a feasibility report on the BAT and held a nine-hour hearing on the tax this month as it deals with budget shortfalls.
Ankit Jain, a D.C. shadow senator, told CNBC he thinks the odds of Comer's bill surviving both chambers are slim.
D.C. Chamber of Commerce President Chinyere Hubbard said the group looks forward to working with Lewis George. "It doesn't matter how someone's labeled or anything, but whether they implement policies," Hubbard said.