DoomsdaysCW#DemocraticSocialists surge in mayoral races across the US as anti-Trump fervor rises
By MATT BROWN
Updated 12:05 AM EDT, June 19, 2026
WASHINGTON (AP) — "As #JaneeseLewisGeorge paves a path to the mayor’s office in #WashingtonDC, she’s told voters they could have it all.
"Her unapologetically expansive, left-wing agenda includes subsidized or even free #childcare, increased down payment assistance for homebuyers and community resources to reduce crime, plus a promise to aggressively confront President Donald Trump’s attempts to reshape the nation’s capital.
" 'People are tired of hearing what government can’t do. They want to hear what government can do,' Lewis George said in an interview before the city’s primary, where she defeated her Democratic opponents and positioned herself to win the general election in November in a city dominated by Democrats.
"Lewis George’s victory signals a break with a quarter-century of centrist governance in Washington, and it puts her in the vanguard of democratic socialists who have ascended in urban politics over the last year. #ZohranMamdani toppled Andrew Cuomo, the scion of a political dynasty, on his way to becoming New York City mayor. #KatieWilson won an upset victory to lead Seattle last fall. And this month, #NithyaRaman clinched a spot in the November runoff against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass."
Democratic socialists are winning major mayor's races
Janeese Lewis George is making waves in Washington, D.C., with her progressive agenda as she aims for the mayor's office. Her plans include subsidized childcare and increased homebuyer assistance. She also promises to challenge President Donald Trump's influence. Her Democratic primary victory was a shift from centrist governance in the nation's capital and aligns with a broader trend of democratic socialists gaining traction in urban politics. While some cities still favor moderate candidates, progressives like Lewis George are pushing for change by focusing on affordability and responsive government services.