History of Muriel Bowser in Timeline

Muriel Bowser is an American politician currently serving as the mayor of the District of Columbia since 2015. A Democrat, Bowser previously served as the Councilmember for Ward 4 from 2007 to 2015. She is the second female mayor of Washington D.C., following Sharon Pratt, but the first woman to be re-elected to the position. Her tenure as mayor has focused on affordable housing, education, and economic development in the district.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

August 2, 1972: Muriel Bowser's Birth

On August 2, 1972, Muriel Elizabeth Bowser was born. She is now an American politician and the current mayor of the District of Columbia since 2015.

Others born on this day/year

1990: Graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School

In 1990, Muriel Bowser graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School, a private all-girls Catholic high school located in Bladensburg, Maryland.

1997: Reference point for homicide statistics

In 2023, homicides in the District of Columbia reached a level not seen since 1997, when the number of homicides was lower. This increase occurred while many other major cities experienced a decrease in homicides.

2000: Living in Riggs Park Duplex

In 2000, Bowser lived in a Riggs Park duplex.

2003: Latest homicides milestone

July 2021, DC had recorded 100 homicides, the earliest point in the year it had reached this milestone since 2003.

2004: Began political career in Advisory Neighborhood Commission

In 2004, Muriel Bowser began her political career, running unopposed for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) representing district 4B09, which includes the neighborhood of Riggs Park.

2004: Elected to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission

In 2004, Muriel Bowser was elected to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

2004: Paul E. Montague recalled

In 2004, Paul E. Montague, who ran against Muriel Bowser in 2008, had been Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner of 4B07 before being recalled.

2006: Re-election to Advisory Neighborhood Commission

In 2006, Muriel Bowser ran unopposed again when she ran for re-election to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

2006: Campaign Coordinator for Adrian Fenty

In 2006, Muriel Bowser was the campaign coordinator for Ward 4 for Adrian Fenty, Member of the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 4, ran for Mayor of the District of Columbia.

2007: Elected to the Council in a Special Election

In 2007, Bowser was elected to the council in a special election, succeeding Adrian Fenty, who had been elected mayor.

2007: Became a Member of the Council of the District of Columbia

In 2007, Muriel Bowser represented the 4th ward as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia.

2008: Re-elected to the Council

In 2008, Bowser was re-elected to the council.

2008: Reelection campaign for the council

In 2008, Muriel Bowser announced her reelection campaign for the council. Three individuals ran against her in the Democratic primary: Baruti Akil Jahi, Malik Mendenhall-Johnson, and Paul E. Montague.

2011: Appointed to the WMATA board of governors

In 2011, Bowser was appointed to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) board of governors.

2012: Ran for Reelection

In 2012, Bowser ran for reelection for the council. Candidate Max Skolnik criticized Bowser for receiving campaign contributions from developers, corporate bundlers, and lobbyists, saying that Bowser would favor the interests of these corporate donors.

2012: Re-elected to the Council

In 2012, Bowser was re-elected to the council.

March 23, 2013: Announced Candidacy for Mayor

On March 23, 2013, Muriel Bowser announced that she would run for Mayor of the District of Columbia in the 2014 election. Her campaign's chair was former council member William Lightfoot.

2013: Homeless Population Exceeded Total in 2013

In 2018, the total homeless population of 6,904 was still slightly higher than it had been in 2013, despite a 7.6% drop in the homeless population from 2017 and a 17.3% drop the year before.

2014: Accepted illegal campaign donations

In 2014, Bowser accepted illegal campaign donations during her campaign.

2014: Ran for Mayor

In 2014, Bowser ran for mayor, defeating incumbent mayor Vincent C. Gray in the Democratic primary and winning the general election with 55% of the vote.

2014: Husband of Veritas CEO Donates to Bowser Campaign

In 2014, the husband of the Veritas CEO, who later received the United Medical Center contract in 2016, was a major donor to the Bowser campaign.

January 2, 2015: Took Office as Mayor

On January 2, 2015, Muriel Bowser took office as Mayor of the District of Columbia after winning the election with 80,824 votes (54.53%).

January 2015: Bowser Inaugural Speech Focuses on Gun Control

In her inaugural speech in January 2015, Bowser characterized herself as "a mayor who hates guns", signaling her strong stance on gun control.

February 2015: Bowser Cancels Institute for Contemporary Expression Project

In February 2015, Muriel Bowser cancelled the creation of a public facility for art exhibitions, lectures and educational activities by the Institute for Contemporary Expression. Bowser cited financial concerns, though critics suggested her decision was influenced by donors who had unsuccessfully competed for the property.

March 2015: DC Streetcar Promise

As part of her first State of the District Address in March 2015, Bowser promised to get the DC Streetcar "up and running".

September 2015: Bowser Announces Deal for Washington Wizards Practice Facility

In September 2015, Bowser announced a deal with Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis to build a practice facility for the Washington Wizards, with District taxpayers covering 90% of the estimated $55 million cost.

September 2015: Original Planned Event Date for Institute for Contemporary Expression Project

The first event for the Institute for Contemporary Expression project was originally planned for September 2015, but was later cancelled by Bowser in February 2015 due to financial concerns. The project involved converting the historic Franklin School into a public facility for art exhibitions, lectures and educational activities.

October 2015: Proposals Still Being Considered for Franklin School Project

As of October 2015, proposals were still being considered for the Franklin School project after Bowser cancelled the initial Institute for Contemporary Expression project in February 2015 due to financial concerns. Firms who had earlier competed unsuccessfully for the property were among her donors.

October 2015: Exelon and Pepco Merger Support

In October 2015, Bowser changed her position to support the $6.4-billion merger between Exelon and Pepco, drawing criticism for a lack of transparency and potential ethics concerns. Community activists alleged Bowser was swayed by a $25 million pledge to rename the future MLS Soccer Stadium as Pepco Park.

November 2015: FreshPAC Shut Down

In November 2015, FreshPAC, a political action committee intended to advance Bowser's agenda, was shut down following outcry from the Washington Post, members of the D.C. Council, and other stakeholders. FreshPAC accepted unlimited contributions and was chaired by Earle "Chico" Horton III.

December 2015: Exelon Payment to FreshPAC Chairman

In December 2015, it was revealed that Exelon had paid the chairman of FreshPAC, a political action committee affiliated with Bowser's allies, as a lobbyist, further fueling ethics concerns surrounding Bowser's support for the Exelon-Pepco merger.

2015: Increase in Homeless Families in Shelters

During the winter of 2015, the District saw an increase of more than 250 percent over any previous year, in homeless families housed in shelters and overflow motel rooms. This was partly due to the administration's decision to move families into motel rooms.

2015: Vision Zero Initiative Launch

In 2015, Bowser announced Vision Zero, a traffic safety initiative aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2024. The launch involved Bowser and supporters waving green signs at intersections to urge motorists to slow down.

2015: Home Purchase in Colonial Village

In 2015, Bowser bought a home in Colonial Village, moving from a Riggs Park duplex where she had lived since 2000.

2015: Creation of New Cabinet Post

In 2015, Bowser created a new cabinet post to focus on development in the city's poorest areas and named Courtney Snowden to the position.

2015: Left the WMATA board of governors

In 2015, Bowser left her position on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) board of governors.

2015: DC Public Schools Chancellor Allows Preferential Treatment

In 2015, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson routinely bent or broke school placement rules to give preferential treatment to well-connected parents. Senior Bowser appointees benefited from this misuse of authority, bypassing the competitive DCPS lottery system.

2015: Became Mayor of the District of Columbia

In 2015, Muriel Bowser became the mayor of the District of Columbia. She is the second female mayor of the District of Columbia after Sharon Pratt, and the first woman to be reelected to that position.

2015: Bowser Sets Goal to Halve HIV/AIDS Cases

In 2015, upon taking office, Bowser set a goal to halve the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the District by 2020.

2015: Homicide spike

Prior to 2015, homicides spiked in the District of Columbia.

January 2016: Credit Card Abuse by Former Executives

In January 2016, the D.C. Trust's board learned that former executives used funds to pay tens of thousands of dollars in credit-card charges, including some for personal use.

January 2016: Traffic Paralysis and Apology

In January 2016, traffic throughout the D.C. region was paralyzed by an inch of snow. Bowser apologized for an inadequate response, stating, "we should have been there earlier."

February 2016: Bowser Unveils Plan for Housing Homeless Families

In February 2016, Bowser unveiled a plan to provide housing for homeless families following the closure of District of Columbia General Hospital, announcing the location of one shelter in each of the District's eight wards without community consultation.

February 2016: Fire Department Medical Director Resigns

In February 2016, Bowser's appointee as medical director of the fire department, Jullette Saussy, resigned after one year on the job, citing a failed agency and risk to Washingtonian's lives. Bowser's spokesperson stated her commitment to change in response.

February 27, 2016: H Street/Benning Line Public Service Operations

The H Street/Benning DC Streetcar line began public service operations on February 27, 2016.

March 2016: Sites Selected for Homeless Shelters Linked to Bowser's Contributors

In March 2016, it was revealed that many of the sites selected for homeless shelters were connected to Bowser's contributors. The monthly cost per unit was $4,500 on average each year for at least the next 20 years. Bowser lashed out at Chairman Phil Mendelson due to the D.C. Council's efforts to devise its own plan.

April 2016: D.C. Trust Bankruptcy

In April 2016, the D.C. Trust declared bankruptcy and announced plans to dissolve, attributed in part to overspending. The agency suffered a history of abuse and mismanagement.

May 2016: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton

In mid-May 2016, Bowser endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy ahead of the 2016 District of Columbia Democratic primary.

July 2016: Costs Exceed Estimates for Washington Wizards Practice Facility

In July 2016, before construction had started, it was announced that costs for the Washington Wizards practice facility would exceed estimates by $10 million while the number of seats in the facility would likely decrease. The District is responsible for cost overruns under the agreement.

2016: Democratic National Convention Speech

Bowser delivered a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, advocating for D.C. statehood.

2016: Praising Raul Castro

In 2016, Bowser praised Raul Castro, leading to later criticism in 2021 when she removed the "CUBA LIBRE" painting in front of the Cuban embassy.

2016: District homicides fell by 17%

In 2016, District homicides fell by 17%, to 135.

2016: United Medical Center Management Awarded to Veritas

In 2016, United Medical Center was the sole government-owned hospital in D.C. In March of that year, the D.C Council awarded the management of UMC to Veritas, a two-year-old politically connected firm.

2016: Department of General Services Resignation and Firings

In 2016, the head of D.C.'s Department of General Services resigned and contracting officials were fired following the award of a large construction project, leading to allegations of contracts being channeled to a major Bowser campaign donor, Fort Myer Construction.

January 2017: Reaffirmation of Sanctuary City Status

In January 2017, following Trump's inauguration and an executive order threatening to withhold Federal funding from sanctuary cities, Bowser affirmed that the District would maintain its status as a sanctuary city, despite protests calling for a stronger denouncement of Trump's policies.

March 2017: Warning about Safety Lapses at United Medical Center

By March 2017, the director of D.C.'s Department of Health was warning the UMC board about serious safety lapses in the hospital's obstetrics unit.

July 2017: Hospital Allowed Week Between Death and Notification

Earlier in July 2017, the United Medical Center hospital allowed a week to pass between the death of a nursing home patient and notification to his family.

October 2017: $3 Million Infusion into Wards 7 and 8

In October 2017, Bowser announced a $3 million infusion into housing and retail projects in D.C. Wards 7 and 8 to address the scarcity of grocery stores. This included $2.1 million to the Jair Lynch group and $880,000 to South Capitol Affordable Housing.

November 2017: Citizenship Assistance Partnership

In November 2017, Bowser announced that the District was partnering with the National Immigration Forum to assist green card holders working for the D.C. Government and their families in applying for U.S. citizenship. The partnership would offer information, legal help, citizenship test coaching, and language classes, potentially saving applicants up to $2,000 in legal fees.

December 2017: Sexual Harassment Training Order

In December 2017, Bowser ordered that 30,000 employees of the District receive sexual harassment training by February 2018, with 1,500 supervisors also required to complete advanced, in-person training.

2017: Proposed Animal Regulations

In 2017, Bowser proposed several animal regulations, including a ban on backyard chickens, a requirement that all cats be licensed, and a provision regarding dog feces in private yards. The proposals were later withdrawn following public backlash.

2017: Cheh Report Findings

In 2017, Councilmember Mary Cheh's report found questionable firings and illegal sharing of confidential information with Fort Myer Construction, a major Bowser campaign donor. The report also found that the D.C. City Administrator had urged quick settlement of unresolved contract disputes with Fort Myer, leading to $4 million in payouts to the firm.

2017: District homicides dropped again

In 2017, District homicides dropped again to 116, or about the same level prior to a 2015 spike.

2017: Fined for Campaign Finance Violations

In 2017, the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance fined Bowser's campaign committee $13,000 for accepting contributions beyond legal maximums during her 2014 mayoral campaign. The campaign returned the illegal contributions.

2017: Snowden Misuse of City Employees

In 2017, the Inspector General found that Snowden had improperly used city employees to care for her child. Bowser stated that appropriate management action had been taken without specifying the action.

2017: Opioid Epidemic Ravages D.C.

In 2017, the opioid epidemic ravaged D.C., with a higher rate of fatal overdoses among African Americans in D.C. than whites in West Virginia or New Hampshire. The Department of Behavioral Health failed to establish adequate treatment programs.

2017: Homelessness Decreases in D.C.

In 2017, there was a 17.3% drop in the homeless population from the year before, prior to a 7.6% drop in 2018.

2017: Increase in Traffic Fatalities

In 2017, traffic fatalities continued to rise despite the launch of Vision Zero in 2015.

January 2018: Bowser Invests in Anacostia River Islands

In January 2018, Bowser announced a $4.7 million investment in Kingman Island and Heritage Island in the Anacostia River. She also designated portions of each island as a state conservation area, restricting their use to recreation and education, and plans to add outdoor classrooms, walkways, a floating lab platform and bathrooms.

February 2018: Formation of Autonomous Vehicle Work Group

In February 2018, Bowser announced the formation of a work group to explore the benefits of autonomous vehicle technology. The city and the Southwest Business Improvement District explored a pilot shuttle program along 10th Street, S.W.

March 2018: Bowser Supports March for Our Lives Rally

In March 2018, Bowser was "unusually supportive" of the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., and was said to be positioning herself as a national figure in the gun control movement.

April 2018: Lopez Makes Anti-Semitic Remark at Rally

In April 2018, Joshua Lopez, Bowser's nominee to the D.C. Housing Authority board, held a loudspeaker at a rally while a representative of the Nation of Islam spoke, calling Councilmember Elissa Silverman "a fake jew". Bowser called for an apology but resisted calls for his resignation.

May 2018: Adoption of Miranda Elizabeth Bowser

In May 2018, Bowser announced that she had adopted a baby whom she named Miranda Elizabeth Bowser.

December 2018: District Announces Plan to Cut Opioid Deaths

In December 2018, the District announced an "ambitious" plan aiming to cut opioid deaths by half within about two years, using treatment, tracking, and education. The plan's recommendations were described as vague or expanding existing programs.

2018: Cyclist Protests

Following a pair of biking fatalities in the summer of 2018, cyclists protested that Bowser had failed at promoting traffic safety.

2018: Re-election Campaign

In 2018, Bowser filed to run for re-election. She won the June 19 Democratic Primary with 83% of the vote and went on to win the November 8 general election with just under 80% of the vote.

2018: Won Second Term as Mayor

In 2018, Bowser won a second term as mayor with 76.4% of the vote.

2018: Bowser's School Chancellor Manipulates School System; Investigation Launched

In 2018, Bowser's Schools chancellor Antwan Wilson manipulated the system to transfer his daughter to a preferred school, leading to his resignation and prompting investigations by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Education, and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General into D.C. Public Schools management.

2018: Opposed Campaign Finance Legislation

In 2018, the D.C. Council unanimously passed campaign finance legislation to remove the influence of large donors. Bowser staunchly opposed the act and said she would not provide financing for its implementation.

2018: Homelessness Decreases in D.C.

In 2018, the results of an annual survey reflected a 7.6% drop in the homeless population from 2017, following a 17.3% drop the year before in D.C.

2018: Homicides increased

In 2018, there were 160 homicides, an increase of 40 percent from the previous year and the most since 2015.

2018: Non-Renewal of Contract for Office of Open Government Head

In early 2018, the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability voted not to renew the contract of Traci Hughes, head of the Office of Open Government. It was said that Hughes was being punished for enforcing District regulations on government transparency, and that she had been subjected to pressure to ease off her role.

March 2019: Released first budget of second term

In March 2019, Bowser released the first budget of her second term, which increased spending by 8.2%. D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson said the budget was not sustainable and fiscally irresponsible. Bowser responded by hailing her plan to make the DC Circulator free of charge.

April 2019: Limited Release of Body Cam Footage

As of April 2019, out of 25 involved officer shootings from 2016 to 2018, only three instances of body cam footage from the Metropolitan Police Department were released, despite Bowser's support for body cameras.

May 2019: D.C. Auditor Finds Funding Issues with Housing Production Trust Fund

In May 2019, the D.C. auditor found that the Housing Production Trust Fund had awarded funding to poorly rated proposals, including one with the lowest score, and that the successful but low rated projects were all proposed by developers who had made contributions to the mayor's campaign.

2019: Reorganized D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities

In 2019, Muriel Bowser took steps to reorganize the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities to bring it under her administration's guidance.

2019: Bike Advocate Fatality

In 2019, a prominent bike advocate was struck and killed by a driver along a stretch of road that was known to be dangerous, further highlighting the challenges in achieving Vision Zero's goals.

2019: Local Organizations Missed Funding

In 2019, local organizations providing assistance to at-risk populations missed out on $3.75 million due to a failure to submit a timely application by the D.C. Government. Organizations affected included Reading Partners D.C., The Literacy Lab, and City Year D.C.

2019: Homicide rate increased

In 2019, murders continued to rise, and by September 19, the homicide rate in the District reached 125, a 17 percent increase from the previous year.

2019: District Still Has High HIV/AIDS Rate

In 2019, the District continued to have one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the country. The number of diagnoses in the previous year was 360, decreasing by 13 and 5 during each of the previous two years of Bowser's term.

2019: Handcuffing of Young Children

In 2019, the Metropolitan Police Department handcuffed a 9-year-old and a 10-year-old in separate incidents, sparking public outrage. Bowser responded by saying "every case is different" and questioning the appropriateness of circulating photos of juveniles.

January 2020: Endorsement of Michael Bloomberg

In late January 2020, Bowser endorsed Michael Bloomberg's campaign in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

May 2020: Speed Limit Reduction

In May 2020, Bowser announced that the default speed limits in D.C. would be reduced to 20 mph, claiming that "slower speeds can help improve safety".

June 2020: Removed Data From Government Website

In June 2020, during a rush to reopen the District, Bowser's administration removed data from the government's website to avoid displaying how it had failed to meet a key metric regarding COVID-19.

November 2020: Traveled to Delaware for Biden Victory Celebration

In November 2020, Bowser traveled to Delaware with senior staff for a celebration of Joe Biden's victory, despite the elevated risk of Coronavirus and a travel advisory discouraging visits, leading to criticism that she violated her own protocols.

2020: Democratic National Convention Speech

At the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Bowser delivered a speech remotely from Black Lives Matter Plaza.

2020: Goal to Halve HIV/AIDS Cases by 2020

In 2015, Bowser set a goal to halve the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the District by 2020, however in 2019 the District continued to have one of the highest rates in the country.

January 6, 2021: Capitol Riot and Curfew Imposition

On January 6, 2021, during the storming of the US Capitol, Bowser imposed a curfew in response to the pro-Trump rioters and insurrectionists protesting the results of the 2020 presidential election.

February 24, 2021: Death of Sister Mercia

On February 24, 2021, Bowser's eldest sister, Mercia, died of COVID-19.

April 2021: Masking Order Confusion

In April 2021, Bowser issued a mayoral order that patrons could enter dining establishments unmasked if they provided proof of vaccination upon request. After confused businesses owners asked for clarification, the mayoral order was removed.

July 2021: Recorded 100 homicides in DC

By July 2021, DC had recorded 100 homicides, the earliest point in the year it had reached this milestone since 2003.

July 2021: Announced and Violated Indoor Mask Mandate

In July 2021, Bowser announced a new indoor mask mandate in response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases. On the day that the reinstated mandate took effect, Bowser was found to have officiated an indoor wedding while unmasked.

October 2021: Neil Albert Resignation

In October 2021, the Chair of the D.C. Housing Authority, Neil Albert, resigned after it was revealed he had channeled contracts to a romantic partner. Bowser had supported Albert before his departure. His replacement, Dionne Bussey-Reeder, also had issues with unpaid income taxes.

2021: "CUBA LIBRE" Painting Controversy

During the 2021 Cuban protests in July, the words "CUBA LIBRE" were painted in front of the Cuban embassy in support of the Cuban people, but were removed by the Bowser administration, who classified the words as "unauthorized", causing controversy.

2021: Controversy over Bowser's Tweet after Carjacking Murder

In 2021, following the murder of Mohammad Anwar, an Uber Eats driver, during a carjacking, Muriel Bowser tweeted that carjackings were crimes of opportunity, which was perceived as blaming the victim. This tweet was later deleted, but the incident sparked accusations of racial bias. Carjackings in DC that year were four times higher than the previous year.

2021: District's Crime Lab Loses Accreditation; Bowser Honors Head of Lab

In 2021, the District's forensic crime lab lost its accreditation after concealing conflicting findings and pressuring examiners. Subsequently, a criminal investigation and the resignation of the lab's head, Dr. Jenifer Smith, occurred. Days after the news broke, Bowser honored Smith as part of the 'Washington Women of Excellence Awards'.

February 2022: Bowser Reappoints Karima Holmes to Lead Office of Unified Communications

In February 2022, Muriel Bowser reappointed Karima Holmes to lead the Office of Unified Communications, a position Holmes previously held for six years. During her prior tenure, the city's 911 system had fallen short of national standards, resulting in fatal consequences.

April 2022: Migrant Crisis

Beginning in April 2022, Texas and Arizona started sending migrants to D.C., leading to a 'migrant crisis'. Bowser criticized the governors of Texas and Arizona and requested assistance from the National Guard.

September 8, 2022: Public Emergency Declaration and Office of Migrant Services Establishment

On September 8, 2022, Bowser declared a public emergency in D.C. and established an Office of Migrant Services to provide services to migrants arriving from Texas and Arizona.

2022: Won Third Term as Mayor

In 2022, Bowser won a third term as mayor with 74.6% of the vote.

2023: District Homicides Reach a High Since 1997

In 2023, the District of Columbia experienced more homicides than in any year since 1997, despite a decrease in homicides in many other major cities. Bowser attributed this to the city's approach to public safety, which she believed allowed criminal offenders to avoid sufficient consequences.