Muriel Bowser (D) on Thursday announced that she is running for a third term as mayor of Washington, D.C.
“There are still challenges for us to tackle, and we have more work to do. That’s why I am running for reelection to be your mayor of the greatest city in the world, my hometown and soon to be the 51st state,” Bowser said in a statement.
She touted her leadership of the nation’s capital during the pandemic and during the Jan. 6 insurrection, as well as her office’s efforts towards D.C. statehood, to improve affordable housing, education and public safety.
Bowser’s 2018 campaign garnered criticism for being heavily funded by large corporate donations. This go around, however, she has announced her support to the city’s public financing program, which provides funding to candidates who pledge to accept only small donations.
Before being elected mayor, Bowser served the city as the Ward 4 ANC commissioner and Ward 4 council member.
Bowser has served as mayor since 2015 and said in a statement that she can “execute a vision to bring the city back.”
“I ran my first campaign in 2004, where I asked Riggs Park residents to trust me,” said Bowser. “And that’s what I’m asking D.C. residents to do again: Trust that I know where we are as a city better than most, and that I can execute a vision to bring the city back.”
Announcing her plans to run for reelection, Bowser took a stab at former President Trump as well.
“When the pandemic upended our lives, we didn’t panic, rather we put on our masks, took care of our neighbors & persevered. When Trump attacked us with rubber bullets & tear gas, we organized a few courageous artists and some cans of paint, and we pushed back with a powerful message of unity. In these unprecedented times, we have moved our city forward together, and despite all that we have faced, we have given more Washingtonians a fairshot.”
If re-elected she would become the city’s second-longest serving mayor.
However, while in 2018 Bowser faced no major opposition to her re-election campaign, this time she is facing serious competition from D.C. council members Robert C. White Jr. (D) and Trayon White Sr. (D).