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By Gabe Whisnant
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Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday she will not seek a fourth term, ending more than a decade in office during one of the most politically turbulent periods the District of Columbia has faced in recent history.
Bowser, a Democrat, announced her decision in a video posted to social media, calling it “an immense privilege” to have served the nation’s capital and to have, in her words, “worked alongside the Washingtonians who make this city great.” She thanked residents for giving her the chance to lead, saying the district had “taken big swings” together on education, housing and government reform during her tenure.
Why It Matters
Her final year in office has been dominated by an unprecedented level of federal intervention in local affairs. In early 2025, President Donald Trump issued an emergency order that federalized the Metropolitan Police Department for a month and deployed hundreds of National Guard members and federal law enforcement officers to the city in what the administration described as a response to rising crime.
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The move thrust Bowser into a national spotlight and forced her into a complicated balancing act—maintaining a working relationship with the White House while facing residents who said she should have more forcefully resisted the administration’s actions.
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What To Know
The tension with the Trump administration underscored the long-standing limits of the district’s authority. Although Congress granted Washington a form of self-government under the 1973 Home Rule Act, federal officials retain broad power over the city’s laws, budget and governance. Trump’s emergency order, along with subsequent federal deployments that have continued in some form even after the formal emergency expired, highlighted the precariousness of local control.
The mayor also faced criticism earlier this year when the city removed the “Black Lives Matter” street mural near the White House after pressure from Republican lawmakers. That decision, along with the federal takeover of policing, fueled anger among activists and some city leaders, who argued Bowser had ceded too much to the administration.
Bowser spent much of the year urging Congress to release nearly $1 billion in district funds that had been frozen during repeated clashes over the federal budget. At the same time, Washington absorbed the effects of deep cuts to the federal workforce following actions by the Department of Government Efficiency, further straining local agencies and services.
In her announcement, Bowser said she was proud of the work her administration had done to expand school enrollment, raise graduation rates and make what she described as historic investments in affordable housing. She also praised the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its resilience in the face of what she characterized as federal overreach.
“We summoned our collective strength to stand tall against bullies who threatened our autonomy while preserving Home Rule,” she said. “That is our North Star.”
What People Are Saying
City council member Kenyan R. McDuffie thanked Bowser in a statement: “As we look ahead to the upcoming year for the District, I have no doubt that Mayor Bowser will continue to be a tireless partner in improving the quality of life for all residents across the city."
The Washington Post Editorial Board wrote Tuesday, "D.C. would suffer with an ideologue in the mayor’s office. The city would be better served during Trump’s final two years in office with someone who knows how to effectively manage the relationship with the federal government and has demonstrated an aptitude for being able to competently lead a city of approximately 700,000 people."
What Happens Next
Bowser’s term ends in January 2027, and the decision not to run again immediately reshapes the political landscape. Several potential candidates are expected to emerge, though two D.C. Council members who might have been contenders—Robert White Jr. and Brooke Pinto—have already launched campaigns for the district’s nonvoting seat in the U.S. House.
Council member Janesse Lewis George is widely viewed as a possible mayoral candidate, with others expected to weigh bids in the coming months.
The election will be held next November.
Updates: 11/25/25, 3:45 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Updates: 11/25/25, 6:08 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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