LIVE | DC Mayor Muriel Bowser makes major announcement at 'Feast of Sharing' event

Key Concepts

• Finishing Strong: The mayor's commitment to completing her agenda and addressing district challenges in her final year.
• Record as Mayor: Addressing concerns from marginalized residents about her impact, emphasizing accomplishments in Ward 8, economic development, and job creation.
• Legacy and Civic Engagement: Reflecting on her father's influence and her own decades of public service.
• Future Plans: Discussing her post-mayoral aspirations and the possibility of running for governor if DC becomes a state.
• Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV): Expressing reservations about its implementation and prioritizing a glitch-free election.
• DC Statehood: Reaffirming it as a long-term goal and outlining the political hurdles.
• Federal Relations: Describing her strategy for engaging with the White House and Congress.
• Succession Planning: Emphasizing the importance of a smooth transition and hiring qualified individuals.
• Personal Reflections: Sharing thoughts on her tenure, legacy, and what she's thankful for.
• Changes in DC Politics: Observing shifts in campaign strategies, fundraising, and the potential impact of RCV.

Summary of Mayor Bowser's Remarks

Strategy for the Final Year and Addressing Concerns

Mayor Bowser outlined her strategy for her final year in office, emphasizing a commitment to "finish strong" by continuing to "think big" and "tackle the tough challenges of the district." She plans to assess her promised agenda items and aims to complete most of them.

In response to sentiments from marginalized DC residents who feel she has not done enough for them and has favored developers and landlords, Mayor Bowser urged them to "check the record." She highlighted her commitment to Ward 8, where she faced skepticism during her initial campaign. She stated that she has kept her promises, citing significant investments in Congress Heights, including the development of a sports and entertainment complex, hundreds of housing units, the Whitman Walker Clinic, homeownership opportunities, and a new hospital, totaling over $1 billion in investment. She also pointed to the success of food access grants in attracting fresh food and dining options to Ward 8, along with planned investments in new libraries and recreation centers.

Furthermore, she emphasized her administration's success in driving down unemployment, noting that in Wards 7 and 8, unemployment was over 11% when she became mayor and was brought below 10% before the pandemic, and remains below 10%. This, she argued, translates to more people having jobs to afford housing and support their families. The opening of an infrastructure academy, which provides training and job placement, was also mentioned. While acknowledging that "we have more to do" to close gaps between the haves and have-nots, she believes her administration has built a foundation for future progress by ensuring systems are in place to help people secure "life-sustaining jobs."

Legacy and Civic Roots

Mayor Bowser reflected on her father's extensive involvement in civic engagement, serving over 20 years as an ANC commissioner and chairing his civic association. She recalled attending many meetings with him as a child and absorbing the importance of community involvement. She stated that her father "loved that I was mayor" and would be "very proud." She shared an anecdote where a campaign worker noted how well-known and respected her father was, leaving a "good name" for her.

Decision Not to Run Again and Future Aspirations

When asked about President Trump's law enforcement surge and its impact on her decision not to run again, Mayor Bowser stated, "It did. No, it didn't." She characterized the situation as an "unprecedented action by a president" and noted that her administration "laid out a way to get out of it and we got out of it."

Regarding her future in elected office, Mayor Bowser, who has never lost an election in her 20 years of public service, indicated that her time in elected office will end with her mayorship. She expressed that she has "the best job in Washington" as the mayor of her hometown and will "leave it at that." However, she added a caveat: "Now if we become a state, maybe I'll come back and run for governor."

Reflections on Tenure and Accomplishments

Mayor Bowser expressed feeling "fantastic" about her decision to step down, acknowledging that it's "hard to walk away from a job that you love." She highlighted the benefit of her 12-year tenure, stating it has provided continuity and leadership on "really complicated issues," citing the example of DHS leadership. She believes this continuity allows for the continuation of programs and the ability to "start and finish" initiatives.

When asked to define her legacy, she found it difficult to rank accomplishments but acknowledged being remembered as a "sports mayor." However, she hoped to also be remembered for her "unprecedented" housing efforts, which have helped produce 36,000 units in less than five years. She believes she will be seen as a mayor committed to fiscal responsibility, a good steward of government funds, and someone who can "get deals done on both sides of the aisle." She also noted her role in solidifying DC's status as the "sports capital," with plans for all professional teams, including women's teams, to be within the District's boundaries by 2030.

Ranked-Choice Voting and Election Integrity

Mayor Bowser stated she does not have a say in the potential delay of ranked-choice voting (RCV) and that it was an initiative she "did not support." She emphasized that the Board of Elections is independent of her office and that she needs to catch up on the details of the testimony and the council's stance. She expressed concern about implementing RCV by June, especially with an open mayoral seat and potential for many candidates, prioritizing a "glitch-free election" where voters have ample time to get to know candidates.

Advice to Successor and Federal Relations

Her advice to her successor on balancing advocacy for DC with federal dealings is that these are not mutually exclusive. She described her administration's approach as consistently stating "who we are," "how they can help," and "how they can stay out of the way," regardless of the White House or congressional party in power. She believes the mayor of DC will always have a unique relationship with the president and Congress until statehood is achieved.

Priorities and Statehood

While not providing a detailed "comprehensive plan," she mentioned that she would discuss priorities for the next 12 months at another time. She has heard from Chairman Comr and seen the president's remarks following her announcement.

Mayor Bowser reiterated that DC statehood is the "north star" and expressed belief that it will happen. She believes the key factors will be the "right makeup of the Congress" and potentially a "carve out from the filibuster for certain types of votes" like "democracy votes." She noted that DC is ready, has a new constitution, strong congressional support, and over 80% voter approval for statehood. She also observed that the nation now sees the issue not just as a local problem but as a national one, particularly regarding representation in the Senate.

Stance on Federal Agents and Immigration Enforcement

Addressing criticism about her stance on federal agents and ICE, Mayor Bowser asserted her freedom and stated her choices are made for a reason. She clarified that the use of federal agents in DC is not new and that her administration's emphasis on working with DOJ agencies was always clear. She stressed that "immigration enforcement has never been our job" and suggested that making this clearer in a mayoral order might have improved perceptions regarding federal agents' presence.

Personal Life and Future Endeavors

When asked about driving, she humorously stated she drives "all the time" and owns a 2010 car she bought in 2009, planning to keep it for another decade.

Upon leaving office in January 2027, she anticipates exploring "many wonderful opportunities." She declined to endorse a specific candidate, stating that "DC residents are going to decide." She believes the next mayor must convince voters they will "protect home rule," maintain the trajectory of schools under mayoral control and council accountability, and grow the economy by attracting good-paying jobs.

Unresolved Cases and Transition Planning

Regarding any lingering cases that might "nag" her, she stated she has 13 months to resolve them and would not reduce her service to "the one that got away." She prefers to focus on successful outcomes.

For succession planning, she aims for a "strong transition" with "great plans" and qualified staff. She shared a key lesson from her own transition: the importance of hiring the "right person" and not rushing the process, emphasizing that she prioritizes talent and dedication over political expediency. She advised future mayors to focus on their jobs and avoid politics.

Interest in Delegate Seat and Decision to Step Down

Mayor Bowser definitively stated she is "not interested" in running for Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton's seat, explaining simply, "I don't want to be in the Congress."

She expressed surprise that people expected her to run for a fourth term, noting that the idea of "third terms are hard" was always her response to questions about third terms. She views a fourth term as "gratuitous" given her administration's success in delivering on its agenda. While she loves her job and the city, she recognizes that voters eventually look for new leadership. She is proud of her accomplishments and believes "it's time" to step down.

Gratitude and Changes in DC Politics

For Thanksgiving, she is thankful for her health, family, and her "great great team of people." She expressed gratitude to the people of Riggs Park, Ward 4, and all eight wards for their trust and belief in her throughout her career.

Reflecting on 20 years in DC politics, she stated that "everything has changed." She noted significant shifts in campaign fundraising, the introduction of public financing for elections (with a call for analysis on its impact), and changes in party structure. She believes that if ranked-choice voting emerges, it will be a "huge huge difference" in how voices are counted, potentially diluting some.

RFK Stadium and Personal Aspirations

Regarding the RFK Stadium project, her plan is to establish a schedule that makes it "unassalable" before she leaves office, expressing confidence in the current path and the team's diligent work.

On a lighter note, she looks forward to activities she currently lacks time for, such as attending "boozy brunches on Sunday for like four hours."