With just days remaining before the June 16 Democratic primary election, it seems likely the Ward 4 councilwoman will cinch the mayoral position despite opposition to teenage curfews, which 71% of registered voters support and just 20% oppose.

McDuffie made attack ads against Lewis George’s curfew position a central part of his campaign, while President Donald Trump threatened to take back Washington and run the city on a federal level if Lewis George wins. Lewis George’s policies have been compared to those of New York City’s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani.  

McDuffie has the backing of much of the Democratic establishment, whereas Lewis George finds much of her support from local unions. Both candidates were unable to name one Republican member of Congress with whom they have formed a working relationship, and both have filed personal complaints about each other. Because Washington, D.C., is a federal district, much of it is uniquely under the governance of Congress.

Lewis George and McDuffie are set to face six other long-shot primary candidates on Tuesday, all of whom are polling in the single digits. 

Congressional

While Washington has a representative in Congress, the member isn’t allowed to vote. Instead, the congressional representative argues for local issues. Democratic Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) occupied the position for over 34 years, making her one of the longest-serving members of Congress. 

Norton has fought for D.C. statehood, and while D.C. remains a district, she was an integral voice in giving the movement traction. 

This year, the 88-year-old delegate filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign, making her long-held position open. 

Her decision came amid criticism about her mental acuity. In 2025, Norton was taken advantage of by scammers pretending to be HVAC cleaners, with the police report stating that Norton appeared to be in the early stages of dementia. 

Now, Robert White and Brooke Pinto, both former D.C. Council members, are running to replace her in a race filled with drama. In April, Pinto released a 70-page opposition research document against White. The document included personal details about White’s family, including an image of his home with the address.

White called the release a violation of basic decency and said his opponent should immediately withdraw.  

Attorney general

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is running for reelection, though he faces challenger J.P. Szymkowicz in the Democratic primary. Schwalb is a vocal critic of the Trump administration and has challenged Trump’s immigration policies and federal takeover of the city, according to HillRag.

Schwalb has pointed to his record on consumer protection, wage theft, polluters, and landlords accused of violating rent laws.

Meanwhile, Szymkowicz’s campaign website says he is dedicated to “fighting for solutions that address the root causes of crime: better education, economic opportunity, and safe, affordable housing,” arguing for a cultural revival of rule-following and public safety.    

D.C. Council

There’s also a special election for the independent at-large councilman seat on the ballot after McDuffie left his position to run for mayor.

Doni Crawford, Jacque Patterson, and Elissa Silverman are all running as candidates for the position. 

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Silverman said the district’s most pressing issue is housing affordability, whereas Patterson said he is most concerned about the gap between academic growth and grade-level proficiency. Crawford pointed to affordability as the key issue for Washingtonians.

Washington is divided into eight wards, with each ward having one council member. Five candidates are running for the Ward 1 seat after incumbent Brianne Nadeau said she wouldn’t seek reelection, with Wards 3, 5, and 6 councilmen up for reelection. Ward 3’s Matthew Frumin and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson remain unopposed in the Democratic primary. However, Ward 5 incumbent Zachary Parker and Ward 6 incumbent Charles Allen are both facing challengers.