Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is pushing back against criticism of her public safety record as policing and crime emerge as a central issue in Washington’s Democratic mayoral primary.
During the race’s first televised debate hosted by WUSA9 in Ward 7, former D.C. councilmember Kenyan McDuffie sharpened his contrast with Lewis George, accusing her of supporting efforts to reduce police funding.
“I’m not going to divest from the police, like my opponent,” McDuffie said during the debate. “What I’m going to do is invest in policing in the District of Columbia to make sure that it is community-oriented.”
The exchange marked one of the most direct attacks yet on Lewis George’s approach to public safety, an issue that has followed her politically since her first campaign in 2020. Lewis George rose to prominence during a period of heightened calls for police reform and became known as a vocal advocate for rethinking public safety and addressing police accountability.
But she argues her record in office tells a different story than campaign attacks suggest.
Lewis George said McDuffie’s recent messaging is “disingenuous,” noting that both candidates previously supported reform efforts and have repeatedly voted to fund the Metropolitan Police Department during their time on the D.C. Council.
“He is currently using Republican talking points around defund, which he knows is a cheap talking point people like to point to,” Lewis George said. “I think the better judgment is, how have I acted in the last six years as a councilmember? And every year I funded MPD.”
McDuffie has argued their differences are rooted in specific policy decisions, pointing to his support for major crime legislation in 2023 and 2024 and criticizing Lewis George’s opposition to expanded pretrial detention and other tougher public safety measures.
A key part of McDuffie’s platform is a proposal to hire 1,000 additional police officers over the next four years. Lewis George has dismissed that promise as unrealistic, arguing city leaders have struggled for years to significantly expand police staffing despite ongoing recruitment efforts.
Instead, Lewis George and some criminal justice advocates have emphasized rethinking what responsibilities should remain with police. Among her proposals is shifting traffic enforcement duties to other city agencies, including transportation and public works departments.
Supporters say that approach reflects a broader effort to modernize public safety rather than simply expand law enforcement.
Former D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine defended Lewis George’s record, rejecting suggestions she is soft on crime.
“These allusions to Janeese being soft on crime are totally exaggerated,” Racine said, adding that she understands both accountability and prevention are necessary to reduce crime.
As outside groups and campaign ads intensify their focus on public safety, Lewis George’s challenge may be convincing voters that reform and public safety are not competing priorities but part of the same strategy.
Voters will decide the Democratic primary on June 16.
