DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she will not be seeking reelection this November. She has been DC’s mayor since 2015, serving three consecutive terms.
She’s seen the city through a lot, from a population boom to the COVID-19 pandemic to the tumultuous times of the second Trump administration. So, let’s take a look back at some of the key moments of the Bowser administration–her policies and the legacy she will leave behind.
When Mayor Bowser took office in 2015, she began with a strong focus on affordable housing and urban development. She faced a widening wealth gap and growing housing crisis, but managed to lead the city, increasing tax revenue and development.
Another characteristic of her early years was a strong focus on education. She stressed the need to “make sure our system of education is holding up” in her first State of the District address and supported programs that helped students beyond the classroom. Her administration increased funding for DCPS, expanded early childhood education, and invested in school modernization projects. Despite this, educational outcomes were and are still unequal across ward, racial, and socioeconomic lines.
Then comes the part of Bowser’s tenure most students are familiar with: the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus hit DC hard, devastating the local economy. In March 2020, the District declared a public health emergency.
School went virtual, businesses shut their doors, and public health measures went into effect. During this time, the District made an effort to distribute laptops to students and ensure they had access to WiFi, but many families still faced challenges. The hardships and consequences of the pandemic highlighted the already present disparities in the school system.
Also during the pandemic was a national era of racial justice protests. DC became a national focal point as Bowser ordered the creation of Black Lives Matter Plaza, (later renamed Freedom Plaza) painting the street with the phrase in bold yellow letters, right next to Donald Trump’s White House.
While some praised the act and others called it performative, it was still one of the most nationally visible moments that Bowser experienced as mayor. During the 2020 BLM protests, Bowser also condemned the deployment of National Guard on protesters, an act in clear defiance of the president.
After the pandemic, Bowser made efforts to lead the city towards recovery. She recognized the shift from in-person to remote work and introduced proposals to convert office buildings into housing in hopes of attracting new residents.
Another area of controversy, particularly during her later years in office, was her focus on public safety. The mayor increased funding for the Metropolitan Police Department and passed legislation like the Addressing Crime Trends Act (ACT Now) as homicide rates rose in the District.
Through all of this, she continued to battle with Congress, being in the unique position of having to report to Congress and defend her choices regarding DC’s law enforcement due to DC’s complicated home-rule laws.
During her tenure, Bowser continuously encountered the problem of DC’s limited autonomy. Though she consistently advocated for statehood and home rule, she faced federal pushback–especially from the second Trump Administration–on her demands for self governance.
With the introduction of the National Guard and a surge of ICE agents in the city, she walked a fine line of which measures to resist or cooperate on. For instance, she signed an order in September 2025 authorizing coordination between federal forces and local police in a move largely seen as acquiescing to the Trump Administration’s DC takeover.
As we enter an election year, understanding Bowser’s term is vital. Her legacy remains complex and will continue to be debated by her supporters and critics. For students and young voters, an understanding of her administration provides important context as the city enters a new chapter •