Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., announced Tuesday that she will not run for re‑election next year—marking the end of her third term amid escalating federal intervention in the city’s affairs. Her announcement comes as the federal government, under the Trump administration, has deployed law‑enforcement and National Guard forces to Washington, sharply raising concerns about the erosion of the district’s Home Rule.
In a brief video statement posted online, Bowser hailed collaboration between city residents and officials and called on citizens to “summon our collective strength to stand tall against bullies who threaten our very autonomy while preserving Home Rule. That is our North Star.” The statement did not mention President Donald Trump by name or address his decisions directly.
Bowser first took office in 2015 and has governed during a particularly volatile period for D.C. Her final term featured unprecedented federal involvement—including a Trump‑era emergency order that federalized the D.C. police department and placed hundreds of National Guard troops in the city under a crime‑fighting mission. Though the emergency period has ended, many federal forces remain in the district as legal challenges continue.
The government of D.C., led by its attorney general, filed a lawsuit challenging the deployment. A federal judge sided with the city on November 20, ordering the withdrawal of the National Guard, and the Trump administration has since appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Throughout this period, Bowser navigated cooperation with and opposition to federal directives. Her administration worked with federal agents on homeless‑encampment removals and immigration enforcement while publicly opposing raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the district. Bowser also led D.C.’s push to unlock nearly $1 billion in frozen federal funding for the city and oversaw major developments including bringing an NFL franchise back to the capital.
Political observers say Bowser’s decision comes at a moment of extreme stress for the District. Matthew Dallek, a historian at George Washington University, described the past year as “one of the most intrusive and heavy‑handed in terms of the federal government’s involvement in the day‑to‑day of the city’s politics.” He warned that D.C.’s lack of control over its affairs “has been clearly evident.”
Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie praised Bowser’s leadership in housing, education, public safety, and economic development and vowed to continue her work on behalf of District residents.
