Muriel Bowser ends decade-long reign as DC mayor after 3 terms in office, won’t seek fourth
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced this Tuesday that she will not seek a fourth term, bringing her decade‑long tenure in the city to a close. In a video shared on her social‑media channels, the Democratic mayor, who had previously served the 4th Ward on the DC Council, told residents that she is stepping down after ten years of public service.
“My fellow Washingtonians, for 10 years, you and I have worked together on an ambitious agenda to restore faith in our government and ensure that every DC resident gets the fair shot they deserve,” Bowser said. “To keep that promise, we took big swings, keeping DC teams in DC, raising enrollment and graduation rates in our schools, and investing more money in housing than any other city or state, creating 36,000 homes.”
She continued to highlight the achievements of her administration. Unemployment was driven down to historic lows, the city built a solid fiscal reserve, and the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge became the largest infrastructure project ever completed in Washington. Bowser also spoke about recovering from the pandemic, standing firm against forces that threatened the city’s autonomy, and preserving home rule.
“That is our North Star,” she said. “… Looking to the future, I know we’ve laid the groundwork for others to build upon, to reshape and grow DC’s economy, establish DC as the 51st state, and protect our investments in affordable housing, transportation, public safety and public schools.” She added that those who placed their trust in her over the past decade had given her a unique chance to make a lasting, positive impact on her hometown.
“… When you placed your trust in me 10 years ago, you gave me an extraordinary opportunity to have a positive impact on my hometown. Every day since, I’ve cherished the opportunity and have happily given all my passion and energy to the job that I love. Together, you and I have built a legacy of success, of which I’m intensely proud, and for the next 12 months, let’s run through the tape and keep winning for DC.”
Bowser’s decision follows months of tension over President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to the capital to restore public safety. In August, she praised the federal crackdown on crime, noting the benefit of additional officers working alongside the Metropolitan Police Department. She said the increased presence had led to more stops of illegal firearms and a noticeable drop in gun crimes, homicides, and carjackings. Nevertheless, she pointed out a “break in trust” between residents and the police and criticized the use of masked ICE agents in local neighborhoods.
The next mayoral election is slated for November 3, 2026. Axios reported that DC Council members Kenyan McDuffie and Janeese Lewis George may be considering a run for the office. Fox News Digital’s Alexander Hall contributed to that report.
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