District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser Will Not Pursue a Fourth Term

Third-term mayor tells residents her tenure will end in 2027 after more than a decade leading the nation’s capital.

Mayor of the District of Columbia Muriel Bowser speaks as U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, left, listens during a news conference in Washington, on May 22, 2025. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser says she will not seek a fourth term, ending more than a decade in office as the city faces ongoing debates over crime, federal oversight, and home rule.

The mayor, a Democrat, disclosed her decision in a letter to residents dated Nov. 25, saying it has been “the honor of my life to be your mayor.” Bowser wrote that when voters placed their trust in her ten years ago, they gave her “an extraordinary opportunity to have a positive impact on my hometown,” and that she has “happily given all of my passion and energy to a job I love.”