As WJLA reports, the 2026 mayoral race in Washington, D.C. is taking shape through a series of community forums focused on everyday issues facing residents.

At a recent forum in Northwest D.C., candidates Gary Goodweather and Janeese Lewis George presented competing visions on childcare, healthcare, and immigration, responding to questions submitted by community members.

On early childhood education, both candidates emphasized the need to expand access to affordable childcare but differed in approach. Lewis George highlighted past legislation aimed at funding childcare workers and capping costs for families, while Goodweather proposed creating a citywide service program, modeled on his military experience, to expand early childhood infrastructure and workforce pipelines.

Healthcare and immigrant protections also emerged as central issues. Both candidates supported fully funding the DC Healthcare Alliance, which provides coverage regardless of immigration status, and pledged to end cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. Goodweather additionally proposed expanding sanctuary protections and creating an Office of Inclusion to better serve immigrant communities.

Beyond policy, the discussion also touched on governance. Goodweather emphasized a results-driven administration staffed by subject-matter experts and proposed elevating the role of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, including compensating commissioners and shifting their placement within city government.

Overall, the event underscored the key themes emerging in the race: how to make childcare more affordable, how to protect vulnerable residents, and how to ensure city government is more responsive to the communities it serves.

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