Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Tuesday that she will not seek re-election, marking the end of a decade-long tenure in the role. “For 10 years, you and I have worked together on an ambitious agenda to restore faith in our government and ensure that every D.C. resident gets the fair shot they deserve,” Bowser stated. She highlighted efforts to keep D.C. teams in D.C., raise enrollment and graduation rates in schools, and invest more money per capita in affordable housing than any other city or state.

Her administration also drove unemployment to its lowest levels, achieved strong reserves, and completed the largest infrastructure project in city history with the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. “We also brought our city back from the ravages of a global pandemic, and summoned our collective strength to stand tall against bullies who threaten our very autonomy, while preserving home rule,” she added.

Looking ahead, Bowser emphasized the need to reshape D.C.’s economy, establish D.C. as the 51st state, and protect investments in affordable housing, transportation, public safety, and public schools. “When you placed your trust in me 10 years ago, you gave me an extraordinary opportunity to have a positive impact on my hometown,” she said. “Every day since, I’ve cherished the opportunity and have happily given all my passion and energy to the job that I love.”

The announcement came months after Bowser pushed back on President Donald Trump’s plans to deploy National Guard troops to restore public safety in the capital. “It has been the honor of my life to be your Mayor,” she said, adding, “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 D.C.”

Bowser’s recent months have involved navigating federal law enforcement presence in the city and negotiating a delicate deal to bring the Washington Commanders NFL franchise’s home field back into the district. Her public relationship with the president was notably different during his first term, when she designated a two-block stretch outside the White House as Black Lives Matter Plaza, complete with a ground mural, a move that drew the ire of Republicans. This year, after a push from a Republican congressman to jeopardize city funding over the plaza, Bowser’s office removed it, citing the “devastating impacts of the federal jobs cuts.”

She also attempted to balance cooperation with the Trump administration in its decision to surge federal troops to the city in the name of fighting violent crime and enforcing immigration laws, while staving off repeated GOP threats to repeal the city’s home rule. This balancing act earned her both praise and criticism.