Mayor Bowser Announces Resignation After a Decade in Office
By Jim Mishler | Tuesday, 25 November 2025 03:33 PM EST
Mayor Muriel Bowser revealed she will not seek a fourth term as Washington, D.C.’s chief executive, stating that she is stepping aside after a decade in office. In an interview with D.C.’s News4, Bowser said, “It was time for me to pass the baton onto the next set of leaders who are going to take our city to the next level.” She emphasized that the decision was made for her family, noting that now is the time to pursue something new while she still has “a lot of energy, vigor, and great ideas.”
Bowser described the choice as difficult. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do, to walk away from a job I love,” she said. “But I know we’ve accomplished the things I’ve set out to do.” She shared a social media message announcing her decision. “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,” she wrote. “With a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not seek a fourth term. For the next 12 months, let’s run through the tape and keep winning for DC,” her message concluded.
Bowser remained confident she could win reelection if she ran. “I’ve never lost an election,” she said. She spent the past year navigating the concerns of D.C. residents with the policies of President Donald Trump, seeking to avoid direct confrontation with Trump, who has threatened to overturn the District’s home rule authority. The dynamic grew more complicated during the federal surge of law enforcement in the city. When asked whether residents should worry about Trump acting on those threats under a different mayor, Bowser said, “I believe that I am putting the District in the best possible place.” She noted she did not alert the White House before announcing her decision. “I serve the residents of the District of Columbia. So, they’ll be the first to know,” she said.
Bowser first won the office in 2014 after representing Ward 4 on the D.C. Council. She is only the second person in city history, after Marion Barry, to serve three consecutive terms as mayor. Bowser has faced criticism over her handling of federal law enforcement activity in the District during Trump’s tenure. She said she was grateful for the additional personnel and that the surge helped drive down crime while acknowledging that some residents experienced anxiety over fears of ICE involvement. After a federal judge ruled in November that the National Guard’s deployment in Washington was unlawful, Bowser called the decision a move “in the right direction.”
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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