District of Columbia Mayor

3 candidates · General election, November 3, 2026

How you vote in this race: ranked choice

DC uses ranked-choice voting when three or more candidates are on the ballot. You can rank up to five candidates in order of preference, including a write-in; you don't have to rank more than one. If no one has more than half of the first choices, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots count for their next choice, until someone has a majority.

Source: DC Board of Elections.

What this office does

The city's top elected official. Depending on the city charter, either runs city government ("strong mayor") or leads the city commission alongside a hired city manager.

Candidates

Rhonda Hamilton

Independent · Small business owner; founder of the mental health nonprofit M.I. Mother's Keeper · $35K raised (state filings)
No public record found yet to place this candidate.

Janeese Lewis George

Democrat · Ward 4 DC Councilmember · $4.2M raised (state filings)
No public record found yet to place this candidate.

Robert L. Gross

DC Statehood Green · Information technology professional · $237 raised (state filings)
Strongly left · AI estimate from their own website and Wikipedia article (84% confidence)

Ranked-choice contest: voters may rank up to 4 choices (including a write-in).

Filled dots are published academic scores; hollow dots are AI estimates from the candidate's own public record. How placements work.

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Quick answers

Who is running for District of Columbia Mayor in 2026?
Rhonda Hamilton (Independent), Janeese Lewis George (Democrat) and Robert L. Gross.
What does this office do?
The city's top elected official. Depending on the city charter, either runs city government ("strong mayor") or leads the city commission alongside a hired city manager.
Who should I vote for in the District of Columbia Mayor race?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare each candidate's record, funding, outside spending and endorsements on this page, then decide based on the issues that matter most to you. Enter your address at spectrumvote.com to see this race next to everything else on your ballot.
When is the election?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot deadlines vary by state; check your state or county election office.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the District of Columbia ballot.