Muriel Bowser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muriel Bowser
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Mayor of the District of Columbia | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Vincent C. Gray |
| Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 4 |
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| In office January 2, 2007 – January 2, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Adrian Fenty |
| Succeeded by | Brandon Todd |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Muriel Elizabeth Bowser
August 2, 1972 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Chatham University (BA) American University (MPP) |
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Muriel Elizabeth Bowser (born August 2, 1972) is an American politician and the current Mayor of the District of Columbia. She has served as mayor since 2015. As a member of the Democratic Party, she is the first African-American woman to win three elections for mayor of Washington, D.C.
Before becoming mayor, Bowser was a member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 2007 to 2015, representing Ward 4. She is the second woman to be mayor of the District of Columbia, after Sharon Pratt.
Bowser first entered politics in 2004 when she was elected to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, a local community board. In 2014, she ran for mayor and won the election. She was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022.
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Early Life and School
Muriel Bowser was born in Washington, D.C., and was the youngest of six children. Her parents were Joe and Joan Bowser. She grew up in the North Michigan Park neighborhood.
In 1990, she graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School, a private all-girls Catholic high school in Bladensburg, Maryland. Her good grades earned her a scholarship for college.
Bowser attended Chatham College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor's degree in history. Later, she earned a Master's degree in Public Policy from American University. She has said that she never planned to be a politician, but thought she might work for a government agency.
Starting Her Political Career
Advisory Neighborhood Commission
Bowser's political career began in 2004. She ran for a seat on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) and won. The ANC is a group of local leaders who advise the city government on issues affecting their neighborhoods. She represented the Riggs Park area. She was re-elected in 2006.
Council of the District of Columbia
In 2007, a special election was held to fill a seat on the D.C. Council for Ward 4. The seat became open after the previous council member, Adrian Fenty, was elected mayor. Bowser decided to run for the position.
Several newspapers and local groups supported her. Bowser won the election with 40% of the vote. She was re-elected to the council in 2008 and 2012. During her time on the council, she focused on issues important to the people in her ward.
Running for Mayor in 2014
On March 23, 2013, Bowser announced she was running for Mayor of the District of Columbia. During her campaign, she talked about connecting with long-time residents who were concerned about changes in the city. She also said she wanted to stop corruption in the government.
Some people thought she did not have enough experience for the job. However, she gained support from groups like EMILY's List and The Washington Post.
Bowser won the Democratic primary election, which is an election where voters from the same party choose their candidate. She then won the main election in November 2014 with over 54% of the vote. She officially became mayor on January 2, 2015.
Mayor of the District of Columbia
As mayor, Muriel Bowser has focused on many issues, including housing, transportation, and public safety. She has worked on projects to improve the city and provide more services for its residents.
Major Projects and Policies
One of her goals was to end long-term homelessness in the city. Her administration created a plan to build new shelters for families across Washington, D.C.
Bowser also worked on transportation projects. She helped get the DC Streetcar running in 2016. In 2015, she announced a plan called Vision Zero to make streets safer and eliminate traffic deaths by 2024.
She has also been a strong supporter of making Washington, D.C., the 51st state. She has spoken about this issue at national events, including the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Protests and National Attention
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In 2020, during the nationwide protests for racial justice, Bowser showed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement. She had the section of 16th Street NW in front of the White House officially renamed "Black Lives Matter Plaza." A large mural with the words "Black Lives Matter" was also painted on the street.
On January 6, 2021, when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Bowser put a city-wide curfew in place to help restore order and keep people safe.
Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowser's administration took many steps to protect public health. This included setting up testing sites, issuing mask mandates, and managing the city's response to the health crisis. She also worked to get vaccines to residents as they became available.
Immigration and Migrant Support
In 2022, when buses of migrants began arriving in Washington, D.C., from states like Texas and Arizona, Bowser declared a public emergency. She created the Office of Migrant Services to provide food, housing, and other support to the newly arrived people.
Re-election Campaigns
Bowser ran for re-election in 2018 and won easily with nearly 80% of the vote. This victory made her the first mayor of D.C. to win a second term since 2002.
In 2022, she ran for a third term. She won the election, becoming the first African-American woman to be elected to three terms as mayor of Washington, D.C.
Personal Life
Bowser is a lifelong Catholic. In 2015, she moved from her home in Riggs Park to a new house in the Colonial Village neighborhood.
In May 2018, Bowser announced that she had adopted a baby girl named Miranda Elizabeth Bowser.
Her older sister, Mercia, passed away from COVID-19 in February 2021. Her father, Joe Bowser, passed away in August 2024.
Images for kids
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Bowser at a March for Our Lives rally in 2018
See also
In Spanish: Muriel Bowser para niños
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
- List of female governors in the United States
