2026 D.C. Democratic Mayoral Debate
About the Mayoral Election
Primary elections to select party nominees for the 2026 Washington, D.C. mayoral race will take place June 16. GU Politics and Fox 5 will host a live televised debate between Democratic Primary candidates at the McCourt School of Public Policy on Georgetown’s Capitol Campus on May 18.
Any candidate who meets at least one of the following three criteria will qualify and tentatively be invited to participate in the debate pending final confirmation they have also qualified for the Democratic primary ballot:
- Have been certified as a participating candidate in the District’s Fair Elections Program through the final Office of Campaign Finance filing for Fair Elections Program participants prior to the debate;
- Demonstrated at least 1,000 campaign donations in the campaign’s final Office of Campaign Finance filing for Traditional Campaign Committees prior to the debate; or
- Poll at 5% or higher in an independent, scientifically conducted Democratic primary public poll sponsored by a broadly recognized news organization released between February 1 and May 11, 2026.
About the Candidates Confirmed for May 18 Debate
Gary Goodweather
Gary Goodweather is a real estate developer with more than 30 years of experience leading teams, managing complex operations, and being accountable for results. He served in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Captain before receiving an honorable discharge in 2004. He earned a B.A. in political science from Bucknell University and an MBA in Finance from Johns Hopkins University.
Janeese Lewis George
Janeese Lewis George has been a Member of the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 4 since 2021. Previously, she served as the DC Assistant Attorney General in the Juvenile Section of the Public Safety Division and Assistant General Counsel for the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
Kenyan McDuffie
Kenyan McDuffie served as an Independent at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 2023 to 2026 after previously representing Ward 5 on the council from 2012 to 2023. Previously, he served as a trial attorney in the Department of Justice under President Barack Obama and as Legislative and Policy Advisor in the District of Columbia Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.