The 2026 Washington, D.C., mayoral election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the mayor of Washington, D.C. Incumbent mayor Muriel Bowser is retiring after serving three consecutive four-year terms. Primary elections were held on June 16, 2026, to select party nominees."2026 Elections", District of Columbia Board of Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
The 2026 election is an open-seat contest following incumbent mayor Muriel Bowser's decision not to seek a fourth term. Janeese Lewis George won the nomination of the Democratic Party and will face Robert L. Gross who won the nomination of the D.C. Statehood Green Party. The election is the first D.C. mayoral election to use ranked-choice voting, following the approval of Initiative 83 in 2024.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee Janeese Lewis George, councilmember from Ward 4 (2021–present)
Eliminated in primary Yaida Ford, civil rights attorney (write-in) Gary Goodweather, real estate developer Ernest Johnson, chairman and CEO of Friends of Frank Reeves Center and candidate for mayor in 2010 and 2018 Kenyan McDuffie, former councilmember from Ward 5 (2012–2023) and at-large councilmember (2023–2026) Talib Karim Muhammad, attorney and engineer (write-in) Vincent Orange, former at-large councilmember (2011–2016) and councilmember from Ward 5 (1999–2007) Rini Sampath, cybersecurity consultant Melodie Shuler, attorney (write-in) Hope Solomon, former federal government contractor
Declined Muriel Bowser, incumbent mayor (2015–present) Randy Clarke, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Karl Racine, former attorney general of the District of Columbia (2015–2023) (endorsed Lewis George)
Robert White, at-large councilmember (2016–present) and candidate for mayor in 2022 (running for U.S. House, endorsed Lewis George)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of January 31, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJaneese Lewis George (D)$70,017$171,537$117,944Gary Goodweather (D)$302,091$82,368$225,609Kenyan McDuffie (D)$288,750$13,820$274,930Tarib Muhammad (D)$6,054$6,369$-316Source: District of Columbia Office of Campaign Finance
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GaryGoodweather ErnestJohnson JaneeseLewis George KenyanMcDuffie VincentOrange RiniSampath HopeSolomon Other UndecidedThe Washington Post/George Mason University/Braun ResearchMay 27 – June 1, 2026836 (LV)± 3.7%3%1%36%25%4%3%1%2%25%City Cast DC/True DotMay 12–17, 2026487 (RV)± 4.4%7%3%39%34%5%4%2%6%–
Results
Statehood Green primary
Candidates
Nominee Robert L. Gross, information technology specialist
Did not qualify Muhsin Umar
Results
Independent and third-party candidates
Candidates
Declared Rhonda Hamilton, business owner Nadeem Adam Khan, engineer (write-in)
Withdrawn Myrtle Alexander, businesswoman
Declined Elissa Silverman, former at-large councilmember (2015–2023) (ran for at-large special election)
General election
Results
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites Janeese Lewis George (D) for Mayor Robert L. Gross (SG) for Mayor Rhonda Hamilton (I) for Mayor Nadeem Adam Khan (I) for Mayor