Janeese Lewis George, a socialist candidate for the mayoral race in Washington, D.C., takes the lead in her attempt to succeed the outgoing mayor, Muriel Bowser. The Associated Press reports that at midnight Eastern Time, George had secured 52.6% of the counted votes, with 66% of total votes tallied. Her closest competitor, Kenyan R. McDuffie, trails with 36.8%.

The intense political climate in the nation’s capital has played a crucial role in this election. Under the Trump administration, the district saw a federal crackdown on crime, including deploying the National Guard, which supporters say contributed to a decrease in violent crime.

Former President Donald Trump expressed concerns about a George victory, hinting at a possible federal intervention. He stated, “We won’t put up with it. We’re not going to lose our businesses,” during a press briefing at the White House.

“We take back Washington, run it on a federal basis,” Trump said.

In response, George criticized Trump’s threats, labeling them as “an attack on democracy itself.”

George, currently a frontrunner in the Democratic primary, is leading in a city where Democrats make up approximately 75% of the electorate. The introduction of ranked-choice voting could extend the timeline for official election results.

Voters also took part in selecting a new non-voting U.S. Delegate following the retirement of Eleanor Holmes Norton. The Associated Press named Robert White, At-Large Council member, as the winner shortly after midnight.

This article includes contributions from Elaine Mallon of Fox News Digital. Reporter Andrew Mark Miller can be contacted via Twitter at @andymarkmiller or through email at [email protected].