Muriel Bowser — after a decade at the helm of the U.S. capital — announced that she will not seek a fourth term as Mayor of Washington, D.C., closing out a three-term tenure that began in 2015.
In a video statement posted to social media, Bowser described her time in office as “the honor of my life.” She recalled the city’s progress under her leadership: a surge in school enrollment and graduation rates, the creation of tens of thousands of new homes, a drop in unemployment, stronger financial reserves, and completion of major infrastructure projects including the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. She also cited efforts to revive urban life after the pandemic and to shore up affordable housing, transportation, public safety, and education.
Bowser said her decision to step aside was motivated by a sense that she had accomplished the goals she set with residents — and that the time had come to hand off responsibility. She called on Washingtonians to stay engaged during the final 12 months of her term.
With no incumbent on the ballot, attention is already shifting to the upcoming 2026 mayoral contest, expected to draw a wide field of challengers. The departure of a long-standing political figure like Bowser opens the door to potentially dramatic change for the city’s next chapter in leadership.