WASHINGTON — Muriel Bowser is seeking a third term as mayor of D.C. She made the announcement on Twitter early Thursday morning.
Bowser's decision to run for a third term broadens the pool of mayoral candidates after two city council members announced intentions to run last month.
Bowser has served in elective office for about 17 years and first ran for mayor in 2014 after two terms representing Ward 4 on the D.C. Council.
In a statement posted to Twitter Thursday, she pointed to her work guiding the city through the coronavirus pandemic. She also referenced social justice protests that took place in the city in 2020, and her decision to transform the street outside the White House into Black Lives Matter Plaza. The move gained national attention and sparked other cities to create similar murals.
"DC residents know how to rise to a challenge. 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."
Bowser, 49, has become a popular figure on the national stage, pushing for statehood for the District. She summarized her work for D.C. in a Tweet, saying the city is making a comeback, but there is still work to do.
"We’ve pushed for more affordable housing, for better schools, for women’s rights, for public safety, for #DCValues, for #DCStatehood. Our finances are excellent, and our government is ethical, accountable, & transparent. We managed through a pandemic & we are making a comeback But there are still challenges for us to tackle, and we have more work to do."
She'll face at least two challengers in her run for a third term in D.C. Councilmember Robert White and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, both of who say Bowser has not done enough in her role as mayor.
If she wins, she'd become just the second mayor to be elected to three consecutive terms. The other is Marion Barry.
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