Incumbent
Who will win the 2026 DC Democratic Mayoral Primary?
$53.3K
JUN 17, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleMayor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age53 years old (Aug 2, 1972)
GenderFemale
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LocationDistrict of Columbia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationChatham University — B.A. (History)
Notable personal detailsMuriel Elizabeth Bowser is an American politician who has served as Mayor of the District of Columbia since 2015. She previously served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (2004–2006) and represented Ward 4 on the Council of the District of Columbia (2007–2015). She holds a B.A. from Chatham University and a Master of Public Policy from American University. She is the adoptive mother of a daughter, Miranda.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
As mayor, Muriel Bowser has proposed targeted revenue increases (notably raising the sales tax and increasing employer payroll contributions for paid family leave) while opposing broad property tax increases on most residents; her budgets have also cut or proposed cutting some tax-credit programs. She has pursued revenue-generating measures (e.g., legalizing certain gambling, hotel fees) alongside business-friendly and spending-cutting proposals, producing a mix of tax increases and restraints. Overall her record shows both targeted tax increases and efforts to limit broader tax hikes, without
Healthcare
Muriel Bowser has led initiatives to strengthen Medicaid-funded maternal health services, expand health-care workforce training, and urged Congress to preserve DC’s Medicaid funding, while her proposed budgets have also included reductions to locally funded health programs for some immigrants and low-income adults. Her record shows both defending federal Medicaid support and taking fiscal measures that would scale back certain local coverage programs.
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Immigration & Border
Muriel Bowser has described Washington, D.C. as a sanctuary city and has funded local immigrant legal services and programs to help residents pursue citizenship and defend against deportation. Her administration created an Office of Migrant Services and declared a public emergency to coordinate local support when large numbers of migrants were bused to the District, while also calling for greater federal coordination and resources. Recent reporting has questioned the degree of local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, prompting oversight scrutiny of the administration’s handling.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Muriel Bowser has described Washington, D.C. as a pro‑choice city and framed abortion access as health care and bodily autonomy. As mayor she has spoken against efforts to restrict reproductive health decisions and supported policies to preserve and expand access to care in the District.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive climate action and rapid clean-energy transition, including city targets for carbon neutrality and 100% renewable electricity and programs to expand solar, resilience projects, and municipal clean-energy procurement. Has signed local clean-energy legislation and released multi-decade carbon-neutrality/Carbon Free DC strategies. Oversees investments in community solar, workforce programs, microgrids, and large municipal renewable power purchases to reduce emissions and increase resilience.
Public Safety & Guns
Muriel Bowser has supported a mix of gun-safety legislation and public-health–focused violence-prevention investments while also empowering law enforcement to target illegal firearms. Her administration has pushed emergency and permanent restrictions on ghost guns, invested in gun-violence prevention programs, and defended local restrictions on assault-style weapons. Bowser pairs these restrictions with policing and prosecutorial tools rather than proposals to defund police.
News
Muriel Bowser said she will not seek reelection, opening Washington, D.C.’s first open mayoral race since 2014. Her decision has set off a crowded Democratic primary, with candidates now debating city leadership, public safety, budget priorities, and youth curfew policy ahead of the June 16 vote. Bowser is also being criticized in the race as contenders position themselves to replace her.
Why is Muriel Bowser not running for reelection in DC? Who is?
DC mayoral hopefuls face-off at community forum
D.C. Mayoral candidates clash over youth curfew, city leadership
DC Mayoral candidates blast Bowser, Council over budget priorities at Northwest Forum
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising