The truth about independents voting in D.C.

First Up

Skeptics of Janeese Lewis George might be tempted to chalk up the democratic socialist’s victory to the wrinkles of D.C. voting. In an overwhelmingly Democratic city, the party’s nominee is all but a guaranteed win — meaning that if you’re among the nearly 90,000 District voters who don’t get to participate in the primary, your choice doesn’t count. If independents could participate, the logic goes, centrists would win.

But is that true? City Cast’s Emma Uber reports on the consensus among political pros, JLG fans as well as JLG critics. Their conclusion: She’d have won anyway.

Lewis George’s victory was so sweeping that even an infusion of independents wouldn’t have changed things. In fact, it might even have made it bigger. While D.C.’s pool of independents includes people to the right of the Democrats, it also features progressives who disdain the party system — as well as ordinary Washington careerists who’d rather not identify their politics in public.

That doesn’t mean the Democrats-only primary must always be with us. Voters last year approved a referendum to allow independents to vote in primaries. But the D.C. Council didn’t fund it. The council may vote as soon as today to finally make the change.

It seems like a good idea. For one thing, so long as we have referendums, it’s lousy to just ignore them. But for another, as Lewis George is about to learn, you need a lot of public support to do hard things. Winning a Democratic primary is a good way to demonstrate that support. Winning an election where almost everyone votes would be even better.

What D.C.'s Talking About

Drain the Swamp. The Reflecting Pool was set to drain yesterday as authorities promised new repairs on the basin, whose “American flag blue” sealant is peeling and whose water is algae green. President Donald Trump blamed vandals. An administration official told CNN that there had been 14 vandalism reports over the weekend. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro went on Fox to promise prosecutions for vandals, including, potentially, ABC’s Jonathan Karl, who she accused of trying to rip up some of the liner. On social media, Trump threatened 10-year sentences. Meanwhile, D.C. issued a special permit to drain. Bystanders reported that as the pool drained, it began to smell.

Pool Cops. In addition to the media, the Reflecting Pool swarmed with law enforcement. The uniformed presence was very 2026, featuring National Guard and specially deputized, mostly red-state police. The social media personality Amanda Moore photographed an arrest by Oklahoma officers who are part of the contingent of cops from 44 other departments helping secure the July 4 festivities.

Unbalancing Act. As the D.C. Council gathers to debate the budget, District Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee is threatening to declare the spending plan “unbalanced,” NOTUS’ Martin Austermuhle noted. Under city law, the CFO needs to sign off on the budget, but Lee objects to the Council’s decision to use $150 million from the District’s rainy-day fund to help restore services that Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed cutting.

Council Progs Speak. In a Washington Post piece on the three progressives set to join the D.C. Council, newly elected at-large Councilmember Oye Owolewa offered an attention-getting goal: He thinks the city should refuse to do business with any company that contracts with the Department of Homeland Security. By contrast, Elissa Silverman, a leader of the progressive bloc during her first Council stint, struck a conciliatory note, promising to be more responsive to different viewpoints this time: “In my mind, you can do things that are beneficial to working families, and it can be cost-efficient too,” she said.

No New Taxes. D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau announced yesterday that she’ll introduce her “wealth tax” proposal this fall — and not, as some had expected, in time for the current budget vote. The measure now hits people whose annual salaries are above $400,000 a year ($500,000 for couples). “I reject the notion that the only way to balance a budget is by removing food assistance for people who can’t afford to feed their children healthy meals,” Nadeau said.

Trump-Free Facade Photographed! The Post got its hands on pictures of the Kennedy Center wall that used to bear Donald Trump’s name. It did not identify the photographer who snapped pictures behind the tarp that’s been in place ever since workers carried out a court order to remove the president. The photos were provided by the activist group Hands Off the Arts.

Finally: Fair Fare! Axios’ Anna Spiegel reports out the food options for visitors to the Great American State Fair, which opens on the National Mall this week. There are, of course, corn dogs, chicken-on-a-stick and cheesy fries. Don’t tell MAGA, but there’s also elote, yuca fries and Thai iced coffee. And while musical acts have fled the festival, several D.C. eateries remain on board, including Lucky Buns and Bub and Pop’s. Notably, the Trump administration-sponsored fair will feature “MAHA Mondays” food programming as well as fare from Steak n’ Shake, which fries its potatoes in beef tallow.

Did someone forward you this email? To subscribe, visit https://dc.citycast.fm/newsletter

What To Do