Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser won’t seek reelection in 2026

By FrumNews.com

Baltimore, MD — Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser won’t seek reelection in 2026. This comes after the mayor had to confront President Trump’s federal law enforcement intervention into her D.C.

Bowser has served three terms since being first elected in 2015. Her tenure has been defined by navigating federal law enforcement disputes with President Donald Trump and guiding Washington, D.C., through a pandemic recovery that hollowed out many businesses.

When asked about her retimemnt by reporters, Trump said, “I got along with her very well. I liked her. We worked together. [for] D.C., [which] is now a safe community. It’s a great community. The restaurants are booming, the place is booming.”

Infamously, Bowser created the Black Lives Matter Plaza outside the White House during Trump’s first term, but removed it in 2025, after a Republican congressman threatened federal funding to the city.

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Mayor Bowser wrote about her retirement in a public letter:

“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.

“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 per capita in affordable housing than any other city or state.

“We delivered on big projects like McMillan and St. Elizabeths, and invested nearly $1 billion in Ward 8, including the brand new, full-service Cedar Hill regional medical center. We drove unemployment to its lowest levels, achieved a AAA bond rating and strong reserves, quadrupled CBE spending, and completed the largest infrastructure project in our city’s history with the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.

“We also brought our city back from the ravages of a global pandemic and summoned our collective strength to stand tall against bullies who threatened our very autonomy, while preserving Home Rule. That is our north star.

“Throughout this remarkable journey, I’ve been honored to serve with countless dedicated city executives and extraordinary front-line workers, the incredible people who keep Washington, DC thriving every day. For their bold vision, big ideas, personal sacrifices, and relentless pursuit of excellence in service to this great city, I am deeply grateful.

“I’ve also had the immense privilege of working alongside all of you, the residents of DC. Every day, I gain strength from witnessing your hard work, your ingenuity, and your pride in this city. You are the very heartbeat of this place we proudly call home.

“Now, 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. And to build a world class stadium, housing, recreation, and parks at RFK.

“It has been the honor of my life to be your mayor. When you placed your trust in me ten years ago, you gave me an extraordinary opportunity to have a positive impact on my hometown. Every day since, I’ve cherished that opportunity, and have happily given all of my passion and energy to a job I love.

“Together, you and I have built a legacy of success of which I am intensely proud. My term will end on January 2, 2027, but until then, let’s run through the tape and keep winning for DC.”