The 2026 Mayoral Campaign Begins

Here’s a look at some of the most likely candidates — and the leading contenders — to run for mayor of Washington, D.C. in 2026, now that Muriel Bowser has announced she will not seek a fourth term.

✅ What we know now

• Bowser’s decision not to run in 2026 means it will be the first open mayoral race in nearly two decades.

• The primary (which is often decisive in D.C.) will be held in mid-2026.

Leading contenders

Janeese Lewis George — the first major declared candidate

• She formally announced her mayoral run on December 1, 2025.

• Currently serves on the D.C. Council representing Ward 4 (elected 2020).

• Positions herself as a progressive / democratic socialist with focus on public safety, affordable housing, childcare, and city services.

• Her background and rhetoric suggest she could appeal strongly to progressive and younger voters looking for change, especially after a long Bowser tenure.

Kenyan McDuffie — a top-tier “centrist” / moderate option

• McDuffie, a Council at-Large member (and former civil-rights attorney), is widely seen as a frontrunner among more establishment/center-leaning voters.

• He has said publicly he is “giving serious thought” to a 2026 run.

• If he runs, many expect a campaign focused on pragmatic governance, continuity, and bridging the city’s progressive/moderate divides.

Other possible or early-stage contenders

• Gary Goodweather — a businessman who has already filed paperwork to run.

• Ivan Cloyd (real-estate developer) — publicly listed as “interested.”

• Randy Clarke (current CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) — named among potential future candidates.

• A handful of other lesser-known or outsider candidates have filed or expressed interest; their profiles and resources are, so far, modest.

Who is “most likely”? My current read

If I were to project now — less than a year out — the front-runner is Janeese Lewis George. She has declared, has a progressive base, and enters the race energizing the electorate for change after a long incumbency.

But Kenyan McDuffie poses what many would consider the “establishment” counterweight — and in a city like D.C., where stability, housing, policing, federal relations, and local governance intersect in complex ways — he could quickly emerge as the primary challenger to George.

So the most likely outcome: a mayoral contest dominated by George (progressive) vs. McDuffie (moderate/centrist) — with a handful of wildcard outsider/developer-type candidates adding unpredictable dynamics.

This is a developing story according to various media sources.

tagsdc mayor muriel bowserdc mayoral candidatesJaneese Lewis GeorgeKenyan McDuffieMayor Bowser