By Jim Mishler | Tuesday, 25 November 2025 03:33 PM EST
Mayor Muriel Bowser announced she will not seek a fourth term as Washington, D.C.’s chief executive, citing the need to pass the baton to new leaders who will take the city to the next level. She stated in an interview with D.C.’s News4 that the decision was made for her family, allowing her to pursue new endeavors while she still has energy and ideas. Bowser described the choice as difficult, noting it was the hardest thing she had to do, but emphasized she knew they had accomplished what she set out to do.
Bowser shared a social media message announcing her decision, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be mayor and highlighting the legacy of success she and residents built. “With a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not seek a fourth term,” she wrote, urging continued support for D.C. “For the next 12 months, let’s run through the tape and keep winning for DC.” She confidently stated she could win reelection if she ran, noting “I’ve never lost an election.”
Bowser has navigated challenges during Trump’s presidency, balancing concerns of D.C. residents with policies of President Donald Trump while avoiding direct confrontation. She emphasized that she put the district in the best possible place, stating she would not alert the White House before announcing her decision as she serves the residents of the District of Columbia.
First elected in 2014 after representing Ward 4 on the D.C. Council, Bowser is only the second person in city history, after Marion Barry, to serve three consecutive terms as mayor. She faced criticism over handling federal law enforcement activity in the district during Trump’s tenure, acknowledging some residents’ anxiety over fears of ICE involvement but expressing gratitude for additional personnel that helped drive down crime. After a federal judge ruled in November the National Guard’s deployment in Washington was unlawful, Bowser called the decision a “move in the right direction.”
Jim Mishler is a seasoned reporter, anchor, and news director with decades of experience covering crime, politics, and environmental issues.
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