Mayoral Candidate Janeese Lewis George
By • May 12, 2026 0 729
By Francis Rienzo
When asked why she wants to be mayor, Janeese Lewis George said it’s because she is a third-generation Washingtonian who loves her city. She sees three key issues: affordability; our relationship with President Trump and the federal government; and making sure the District’s agencies deliver on services to D.C. residents.
George believes there is a problem in basic government oversight. Just holding hearings is not enough. She said that “being on the ground with my community helps identify problems and the necessary solutions.”
In her time as a Council member, she has focused on transforming neighborhoods and helping to support small businesses and schools. She built trust with residents and businesses in Ward 4 by delivering for them. She highlighted the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund.
When asked about the lack of timely and efficient delivery of basic city services, George acknowledged there is work to be done. She said she is putting together teams to improve efficiencies in District government.
If elected, George wants to hit the ground running. She said she would start early, putting together a transition team with three areas of focus. One group would oversee recruitment for agencies, including custodians, and another would review agencies’ organization and structure. The third would serve different affinity groups and gather community feedback.
“Constituents feel as if they are complaining into a void,” she said. She wants to see residents who call 311 to get fast and efficient responses. George said the promised response times from DDOT and other agencies “is unacceptable.”
Talking about the infrastructure money, she commented: “We’ve been given $60 million for sustainability efforts, so that could be putting solar across buildings, and how much have we used?” We need to find out, she said.
Many worry that George will raise taxes to fix problems, and she vowed not to raise property or income taxes as mayor. George wants to make D.C. a destination for retirement, due to our numbers of hospitals and universities, which can boost the economy and act as a consistent tax source.
George talked crime, ICE and MPD. She would end most collaboration between MPD and ICE. She said she supported the recent curfew extensions.
She addressed working strategically with the Trump administration and with Congress. George stated that many representatives told her they have not been approached recently by District leaders. George would work closely with the newly elected delegate replacing Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is retiring.
She also highlighted her union support. When asked about how cozy she is with unions, George said, “We have been operating within the greatest level of integrity.”
Regarding the D.C. budget and the need for efficiency, George cited a building the D.C. government leases for $26 million a year that is all but empty. She said that needed to change.
She did not disagree that the number of District workers was out of proportion when compared to other major cities. Boston, for example, employs around 19,000 and has a population of 675,000 residents. With a population of 700,000, the District has 34,000 workers.
