Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced she will not seek a fourth term, ending a decade-long run that has left an indelible mark on the nation’s capital. Bowser, the city’s second female mayor and a native Washingtonian, broke the news in a video posted on social media on November 25, 2025. Her decision, coming just before Thanksgiving, immediately set off a flurry of speculation about who will vie to lead D.C. when her term expires in 2026.
“It has been the honor of my life to be your Mayor. Together, we have built a legacy of success of which I am intensely proud. With a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not seek a fourth term,” Bowser declared in her farewell message, as reported by 7News. The announcement capped off a turbulent year for the city, marked by mounting federal intervention, crime concerns, and persistent debate over D.C.’s autonomy.
Bowser, first elected in 2014 and sworn in as mayor in 2015, has presided over three terms filled with both triumphs and tribulations. During her tenure, the city experienced significant economic growth, the emergence of vibrant neighborhoods like Navy Yard and The Wharf, and a population surge that pushed D.C. past 700,000 residents. But those advances were accompanied by the displacement of Black residents and stubborn gaps in wealth and educational achievement between white and Black Washingtonians, according to reporting by DCist.
Perhaps most notably, Bowser’s final year in office was shaped by unprecedented federal involvement. In August 2025, former President Donald Trump issued an emergency order federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to D.C., actions he framed as part of a sweeping anti-crime initiative. The Associated Press described this as “one of the most intrusive periods of federal involvement in the district’s day-to-day operations.” Even after the official end of the emergency, a strong federal law enforcement presence remained, with ongoing lawsuits challenging the legality of the deployments.
Bowser’s response to Trump’s intervention was a delicate balancing act. She supported some federal initiatives, such as clearing homeless encampments and increasing coordination with immigration authorities, but she drew the line at federal immigration enforcement. “The city would not participate in federal immigration enforcement efforts,” she stated, according to the Associated Press. Bowser also voiced skepticism about the National Guard deployment, arguing that those resources would have been better used elsewhere. Despite her efforts, critics from the D.C. Council and local activists argued she should have pushed back harder against federal overreach.
Trump, for his part, praised Bowser’s cooperation and claimed his intervention improved the city. “I got along with her very well,” he told reporters, insisting that the federal operation made D.C. “better.” The city, however, is currently in court contesting the legality of the National Guard deployment. On November 20, a federal judge sided with the district and ordered an end to the operation, though the administration immediately appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Bowser’s decade as mayor was also defined by her ambitious agenda for city development and social progress. She cited several major accomplishments in her farewell address, including bringing the Washington Commanders NFL franchise back to D.C., securing a $3.7 billion deal for a new stadium at the RFK campus, and putting $1.5 billion toward affordable housing. She achieved her goal of building 36,000 new housing units ahead of schedule, and she closed the troubled D.C. General family homeless shelter, replacing it with a network of smaller facilities. “For ten years, you and I have worked together on an ambitious agenda to restore faith in our government and ensure that every D.C. resident gets the fair shot they deserve,” Bowser said in her letter to residents, as reported by 7News.
Yet, Bowser’s administration was not without controversy. Her approach to handling the Black Lives Matter movement drew both praise and criticism. In a highly visible act of resistance during Trump’s presidency, she had “Black Lives Matter” painted on the street leading to the White House. Earlier this year, however, she agreed to remove the mural following pressure from congressional Republicans—a move that sparked backlash from activists and community members, according to the Associated Press and DCist.
Bowser also faced challenges in public safety and city services. Her administration struggled to resolve persistent issues at the city’s crime lab and the Office of Unified Communications, which is responsible for dispatching first responders. Despite a reported decrease in crime based on police data, as cited by 7News, the city continued to grapple with high-profile incidents and concerns about public safety. Evictions, too, surged past pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the ongoing housing crisis despite record investments in affordable housing.
Throughout her time in office, Bowser remained fiercely committed to defending D.C.’s autonomy, often referring to “Home Rule” as the city’s guiding principle. “Summon our collective strength to stand tall against bullies who threaten our very autonomy while preserving Home Rule. That is our North Star,” she urged residents in her announcement video, as quoted by the Associated Press. Her advocacy for D.C. statehood was a hallmark of her administration, resulting in two House votes to admit the city as the 51st state—a feat unmatched by her predecessors.
Bowser’s personal life, typically kept out of the public eye, made headlines in 2018 when she announced the adoption of her daughter Miranda. That surprise move was emblematic of Bowser’s tendency to keep her cards close to her chest, both politically and personally.
As Bowser steps aside, the 2026 mayoral race is wide open. Several names have already emerged as possible contenders, including Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, seen as a progressive alternative, and At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who has openly mulled a run as a business-friendly candidate. Community leader Ivan Cloyd is also reportedly considering a bid. Political figures across the city have expressed gratitude for Bowser’s service. D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson said, “I am grateful to Mayor Bowser for her years of service to this city and its residents. I am also sympathetic to the stresses and commitments required to lead the District’s government, especially at this time.”
Bowser’s legacy is complex: she guided Washington through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests, and the January 6 insurrection, all while wrestling with the city’s unique challenges under federal oversight. Her vision for a more autonomous, inclusive, and economically vibrant D.C. will be tested by whoever takes up the mantle in 2026. For now, the city stands at a crossroads, reflecting on a decade of change and looking ahead to an uncertain, but hopeful, future.
