Muriel Bowser

The youngest of six children of Joe and Joan Bowser,{{cite news |title=Five things you don't know about Muriel Bowser, promising 'fresh start' as D.C. mayor |last=DeBonis |first=Mike |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 4, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1504030014/}} Her father was a D.C.-based public advocate who worked as a public servant and employee in D.C.-area schools.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/08/04/dc-mayor-bowser-father-died/|title=Mayor Bowser's father dies after life in public service, city schools|first=Lauren|last=Lumpkin|newspaper=Washington Post|date=August 4, 2024|accessdate=August 4, 2024}} Bowser was born in Washington D.C., and grew up in North Michigan Park in northeast D.C.{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Nikita |title=In Primary, Bowser Asserts Independence |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081902822.html |access-date=March 31, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 20, 2008 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017094015/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081902822.html }} In 1990, she graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School, a private all-girls Catholic high school located in Bladensburg, Maryland.{{cite web |url=http://www.elizabeth-seton.pvt.k12.md.us/docs/Annual%20Report%2006-07.pdf |title=Annual Report, 2006-2007 |work=Elizabeth Seton High School |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910101453/http://www.elizabeth-seton.pvt.k12.md.us/docs/Annual%20Report%2006-07.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2008}}{{cite news |title=Elizabeth Seton: Class of 1990 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 14, 1990 |page=MD11A |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/140216594/}} She received a college scholarship because of her above average grades.{{cite news |title=Academics Pay Off for Teen Individualists |first=Keith |last=Harriston |date=May 19, 1990 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=B1 |id={{ProQuest|140204721}} }} Bowser graduated from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a bachelor's degree in history, and she graduated from the American University School of Public Affairs with a Masters in Public Policy.[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/votersguide/2007/dc/candidates/muriel-bowser/ Local elections 2008: Muriel Bowser] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080425234706/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/votersguide/2007/dc/candidates/muriel-bowser/ |date=April 25, 2008 }}. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 27, 2008. According to Bowser, she never envisioned herself as an elected politician, but possibly an appointed agency administrator.

Bowser began her political career in 2004, running unopposed for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). She represented district 4B09, which includes the neighborhood of Riggs Park.Woodlee, Yolanda; Silverman, Elissa. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR2006091901941.html "Hopefuls Begin Staking Out Fenty's and Gray's Seats"], The Washington Post. September 20, 2006.[http://www.dcboee.org/serv/maps/maps_index.shtm Ward 4 with ANC & SMD Boundary]. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. Retrieved June 30, 2008. She was unopposed again in 2006 when she ran for re-election.

File:Muriel Bowser dc.gov photo.jpg

Adrian Fenty, Member of the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 4, ran for Mayor of the District of Columbia. Bowser was his campaign coordinator for Ward 4.{{cite news|first=Elissa|last=Silverman|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/22/AR2007012201277.html|title=Fenty a Strong Presence in Crowded Ward 4 Race to Replace Him|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 23, 2007}} When Fenty was elected mayor in 2006, a special election was called to fill his council seat. Bowser, among many others, announced her candidacy.

While an ANC commissioner, Bowser had voted in favor of a zoning variance for a condominium development to be built by a developer who had contributed several hundred dollars to her campaign, which some critics derided as a conflict of interest.Woodlee, Yolanda; Silverman, Elissa. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/07/AR2007030700874_pf.html Who Will Fenty Support in Ward 7?], The Washington Post. March 8, 2007. Bowser maintained that she had supported the development project before running for Council.Woodlee, Yolanda. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/26/AR2007042602963_pf.html Top Fundraisers Feel The Heat in Ward 4]. The Washington Post. April 27, 2007. "Robert Malson, a longtime community leader and husband of Ward 4 Democrats President Deborah Royster, said he has no complaints about Bowser's leadership and hasn't heard any. "People say she's professional, easy to work with, everything you want in a council member," he said. "And she has not always agreed with me on all issues. . . . I'm not sure what they're looking for."{{Cite news |title=Top Fundraisers Feel The Heat in Ward 4 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/26/AR2007042602963_pf.html |access-date=2025-03-23 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

The editorial page of The Washington Post favored Bowser in the election.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/14/AR2007041401205.html The D.C. Special Election: Muriel Bowser in Ward 4 and Victor Vandell in Ward 7 are the best bets for council]. The Washington Post. April 15, 2007. The local councils of the AFL–CIO, Service Employees International Union, and the Fraternal Order of Police also endorsed Bowser in the election, but the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees endorsed her opponent, Michael A. Brown.[http://www.murielbowser2008.com/news/pr-AFLCIOEndorsesMuriel.pdf Muriel Bowser Receives the Metropolitan Council, AFL–CIO Endorsement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910101452/http://www.murielbowser2008.com/news/pr-AFLCIOEndorsesMuriel.pdf |date=September 10, 2008}} (pdf). Muriel Bowser for Ward 4 2008. Press release. April 10, 2007.Silverman, Elissa; Labb, Theola. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/21/AR2007032100822_pf.html Dueling Endorsements for Vacant Seats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101413/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/21/AR2007032100822_pf.html |date=March 4, 2016}}. The Washington Post. March 22, 2007.[http://www.murielbowser2008.com/news/news-fop-endorsement.pdf Muriel Bowser Endorsed By The Fraternal Order of Police, Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910101453/http://www.murielbowser2008.com/news/news-fop-endorsement.pdf |date=September 10, 2008}} (pdf). Fraternal Order of Police, Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee. Press release. March 15, 2007.

Bowser won the special election with 40% of the vote.

In 2008, Bowser announced her reelection campaign for the council. Three individuals ran against her in the Democratic primary,[http://www.dcboee.org/nws/pdf_files/pn_146.pdf List of Candidates for the September 9, 2008 Congressional and Council Primary Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730181508/http://www.dcboee.org/nws/pdf_files/pn_146.pdf |date=July 30, 2008 }} (pdf). District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. July 3, 2008. namely: Baruti Akil Jahi, former president of the Shepherd Park Citizens Association;Stewart, Nikita. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/10/AR2008051002624.html Local Election Season Quietly Kicks Off]. The Washington Post. May 11, 2008. Malik Mendenhall-Johnson, then serving as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner of 4B04;[http://app.anc.dc.gov/wards.asp?ward=4&office=%27B%27 Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B]. Government of the District of Columbia. Retrieved July 15, 2008. and Paul E. Montague, who had been Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner of 4B07 before being recalled in 2004.Stewart, Nikita R. [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dc/2008/05/and_theyre_off.html And They're Off!] The Washington Post. May 11, 2008.

No candidates' names were on the ballot for the Republican or D.C. Statehood Green primaries.

The Washington Post{{'}}s editorial department endorsed Bowser's candidacy.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090202444.html "The D.C. Council Primary: Our choices in next Tuesday's election"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106113529/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090202444.html |date=November 6, 2012 }}. The Washington Post. September 3, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2008. The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club also voted to endorse Bowser's reelection.DeBonis, Mike. [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/19/incumbents-rake-in-stein-club-endorsements/ Incumbents Rake In Stein Club Endorsements]. Washington City Paper. June 19, 2008.

Bowser won the Democratic Party primary election, receiving 75 percent of votes. Jahi received 19%, Montague received 3%, and Mendenhall-Johnson received 2%. With no one else appearing on the subsequent general election ballot,{{cite web |title=List of Candidates in Ballot Order for the November 4, 2008 General Election |work=District of Columbia Board of Board of Elections and Ethics |url=http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/November_2008_Presidential_Election_List.pdf}} Bowser won the general election with 97 percent of the vote.

In 2011, Bowser was appointed to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority board of governors, a position she held until 2015.[http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4984 Bowser, Bulger join Metro Board; New members represent the District of Columbia] July 21, 2011 WMATA.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319083906/http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4984 |date=March 19, 2016 }}[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/15/two-dc-council-members-concerne-by-metro-hiring-pr/?page=all Two D.C. Council members concerned by Metro hiring practices] By Chuck Neubauer - Washington Times - Sunday, April 15, 2012[http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24530/muriel-bowser-answers-your-questions/ Muriel Bowser talks Metro, bikes, development, education, and more] by David Alpert; GreaterGreaterWashington.org October 13, 2014

Bowser ran for reelection in 2012.{{cite news |title=Bowser Defends Corporate Giving, And Lots of It |first=Alan |last=Suderman |date=January 20, 2012 |work=Washington City Paper |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/01/20/bowser-defends-corporate-giving-and-lots-of-it/}} Bowser said she would not turn down donations from corporations. 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. Bowser said she was not in favor of banning corporations from making political donations altogether, saying that doing so would make it more difficult to track where campaign donations come from. She also said that corporations are banned from donating to federal elections, but that corporations still find ways to give to campaigns.{{cite news |title=Bowser looks to be bouncing back |last=Stewart |first=Nikita |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 8, 2012 |page=B1 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/926622151/}}

Bowser's candidacy was endorsed by the editorial boards of The Washington Post{{cite news |title=Our choices for D.C. Council |format=editorial |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 18, 2012 |page=A20 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/929132335/}} and the Washington City Paper.{{cite news |title=Vote This Way on April 3! |first=Michael |last=Schaffer |date=March 21, 2012 |work=Washington City Paper |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2012/03/21/vote-this-way-on-april-3/}}

Bowser won the Democratic primary with 66% of the vote, to Renee L. Bowser's (no relation) 13%, Max Skolnik's 9%, Baruti Jahi's 5%, Judi Jones' 3%, and Calvin Gurley's 2%. Unopposed in the general election,{{cite news |title=How Many People Does It Take to Host a Party? |first=Alan |last=Suderman |date=July 30, 2012 |work=Washington City Paper |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/07/30/how-many-people-does-it-take-to-host-a-party/}} she was elected with 97% of the vote.

On March 23, 2013, Bowser announced that she would run for Mayor of the District of Columbia in the 2014 election.{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser launches bid for D.C. mayor |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 23, 2013 |first1=Mike |last1=DeBonis |first2=Nikita |last2=Stewart |url=https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-23/local/37958349_1_muriel-bowser-childhood-home-adrian-m-fenty |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401053653/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-23/local/37958349_1_muriel-bowser-childhood-home-adrian-m-fenty }} Her campaign's chair was former council member William Lightfoot.{{cite news |title=Minority parties see power grab for D.C. vote |work=The Washington Times |first=Andrea |last=Noble |date=April 16, 2014 |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/16/minority-parties-see-power-grab-for-dc-vote/?page=1 |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420071655/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/16/minority-parties-see-power-grab-for-dc-vote/?page=1}}

Bowser emphasized that she can connect with longtime residents concerned about the rapid changes occurring in the District, while still celebrating the changes that had occurred.{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser tries to escape Fenty's shadow, other Gray challengers in D.C. mayor race |last=DeBonis |first=Mike |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 4, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1503758226/}} Bowser disdained business-as-usual and corruption in the District's government. She favored free Metro fares for students.{{cite news |title=Sales tax cut likely to get D.C. Council's okay |last=DeBonis |first=Mike |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 26, 2013 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1371080075/}} She was against increasing the minimum wage only for employees of large retailers.{{cite news |title=Higher minimum pay nearer in District |last=DeBonis |first=Mike |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 27, 2013 |page=B1 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1371643637/}} Bowser was criticized for being too inexperienced for the position, with too few legislative accomplishments while on the council,{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser seems to be the candidate to beat among rivals to D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 10, 2014 |first=Robert |last=McCartney |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1497179750/ |access-date=December 24, 2016 |archive-date=September 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924121333/https://search.proquest.com/docview/1497179750 }} and for having a platform that was short on details.{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser runs for mayor, ready or not |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Jonetta Rose |last=Barras |date=September 10, 2014 |format=editorial |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1561406879/}} She limited the number of debates by only agreeing to participate after the field of candidates had been set, which postponed the first debate until August.{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser runs for mayor, ready or not |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Colbert |last=King |date=September 10, 2014 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/colbert-king-can-muriel-bowser-be-beaten/2014/07/25/f7d14ab6-1378-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_story.html}}

Bowser was endorsed by EMILY's List{{cite news |title=Political Groups Line Up to Endorse DC's Mayoral Candidates, Real and Hypothetical |work=Washingtonian Magazine |date=February 25, 2013 |first=Benjamin |last=Freed |url=http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/political-groups-line-up-to-endorse-dcs-mayoral-candidates-real-and-hypothetical.php}} and the editorial board of The Washington Post.{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser for District Mayor |newspaper=The Washington Post |format=editorial |date=February 20, 2014 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/muriel-bowser-for-district-mayor/2014/02/20/c5c0f7d8-9a3d-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_story.html}} She won the Democratic mayoral primary election with 43 percent of the vote.{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser wins |first=Mike |last=DeBonis |date=April 2, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2014/04/02/muriel-bowser-wins/ |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311065057/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2014/04/02/muriel-bowser-wins/ }} To raise funds for her campaign she accepted contributions in excess of legal limits, for which she was fined after winning the election. Lightfoot, Bowser’s campaign chairman, called the excess campaign contributions mistakes and said the mayor was accepting responsibility and would not appeal the fines {{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Aaron C. |date=2017-06-07 |title=D.C. Mayor Bowser fined $13,000 for illegal campaign contributions |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-filed-13000-for-illegal-campaign-contributions/2017/06/07/c7d0ad66-4ba6-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html |access-date=2025-04-01 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

In the general election, Bowser was on the ballot with Independents David Catania, Nestor Djonkam and Carol Schwartz, D.C. Statehood Green Faith Dane and Libertarian Bruce Majors. No Republican filed.{{cite web |title=Sample Ballot, General Election, November 4, 2014 |work=District of Columbia Board of Elections |access-date=October 15, 2014 |date=2014 |url=https://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_1616.pdf}} Bowser won the election with 80,824 votes (54.53%) to Catania's 35% and Schwartz's 7%, and took office on January 2, 2015.{{cite news |title=Bowser is elected D.C. mayor, defeating independents Catania and Schwartz |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 5, 2014 |first1=Mikie |last1=DeBonis |first2=Aaron C. |last2=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayoral-candidates-bowser-catania-schwartz-await-voters-decision/2014/11/04/494fe0d6-533f-11e4-892e-602188e70e9c_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014052744/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayoral-candidates-bowser-catania-schwartz-await-voters-decision/2014/11/04/494fe0d6-533f-11e4-892e-602188e70e9c_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop }}

In 2017, Bowser proposed several animal regulations, including a ban on backyard chickens, a requirement that all cats be licensed, and a provision that seemed to outlaw leaving dog feces in private yards for more than 24 hours.{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=May 11, 2017 |title='This is not a war on pets': D.C. mayor backs off proposed chicken ban |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/this-is-not-a-war-on-pets-dc-mayor-backs-off-proposed-chicken-ban/2017/05/11/390fc6f2-3684-11e7-b412-62beef8121f7_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=May 11, 2017}} Following public backlash, the City Administrator clarified that "this is not a war on pets" and the proposals were withdrawn. Later the same year, the Department of Health began to enforce an existing law banning dogs from outdoor bar patios.{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=October 1, 2017 |title=D.C. tries to ban dogs from bar patios, and lawmakers bite back |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-tries-to-ban-dogs-from-bar-patios-and-lawmakers-bite-back/2017/10/01/b58d5e0a-a45d-11e7-8cfe-d5b912fabc99_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC|access-date=October 1, 2017}} Following public objections, the D.C. Council changed the law to allow business owners to decide whether or not to allow dogs.{{cite news |last=Chason |first=Rachel|date=October 3, 2017 |title=Dc Politics After howls of protest, pups can return to restaurant patios in D.C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/after-howls-of-protest-pups-can-return-to-the-patios/2017/10/03/59ea93c0-a85d-11e7-850e-2bdd1236be5d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=October 3, 2017}}

Asserting legal authority that was questioned by the D.C. Council, in 2019 Bowser illegally took control of the art collection owned by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and sought to bring the organization under her control.{{Cite web|url=http://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/177960/mayor-bowser-loses-twice-in-arts-commission-scuffle-veto-override-and-damning-legal-memo/|title=With Veto Override and Damning Legal Memo, Bowser Loses Twice in Latest Arts Commission Scuffle|date=October 23, 2019|website=Washington City Paper}} Bowser's power struggle saw staff of the Commission locked out of their jobs without warning.{{cite news |last= McGlone|first= Peggy|date=September 12, 2019 |title=Battle between D.C. Mayor Bowser and the city's arts commission escalates |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/battle-between-dc-mayor-bowser-and-the-citys-arts-commission-escalates/2019/09/11/52ceb6e6-d0f3-11e9-87fa-8501a456c003_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=September 12, 2019 }} Bowser used her third ever veto to block legislation that would have preserved the independence of the organization, which also provides grants to hundreds of artists.{{cite news |last=Lefrak |first=Mikaela |date=October 8, 2019 |title= Mayor Bowser Issues Third-Ever Veto Amid Power Struggle Over Arts Commission|url=https://wamu.org/story/19/10/08/mayor-bowser-issues-third-ever-veto-amid-power-struggle-over-arts-commission/ |work= Wamu|location=Washington DC |access-date=October 8, 2019 }}

In February 2018, Bowser announced the formation of a work group, with members drawn from various agencies, to explore the benefits of, and prepare the District for autonomous vehicle technology. The city and the Southwest Business Improvement District are also exploring possibilities for a pilot shuttle program along 10th Street, S.W., possibly to supplement an existing service that connects visitors to popular District destinations. A "Request for Information" was released to firms with expertise in autonomous vehicle development.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2018/02/13/d-c-mayor-muriel-bowers-lays-out-the-welcome-mat-for-self-driving-cars/ D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser lays out the welcome mat for self-driving cars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213160844/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2018/02/13/d-c-mayor-muriel-bowers-lays-out-the-welcome-mat-for-self-driving-cars/ |date=February 13, 2021 }}, The Washington Post, February 13, 2018.

Bowser released the first budget of her second term in March 2019. The budget increased spending by 8.2% though revenue growth was expected around three percent. 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.{{cite news |last=Henry|first=John|date=March 26, 2019 |title=DC Auditor: Mayor Bowser's budget proposal 'not sustainable'|url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc-auditor-mayor-bowsers-budget-proposal-not-sustainable/65-62fd67bf-cab9-4592-9b1d-a32c98165401 |work=WTOP |location=Washington DC |access-date=March 26, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=March 25, 2019 |title=D.C. auditor says mayor's budget is 'not fiscally responsible' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-auditor-says-mayors-budget-is-fiscally-irresponsible/2019/03/25/21916e32-4f1d-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310204303/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-auditor-says-mayors-budget-is-fiscally-irresponsible/2019/03/25/21916e32-4f1d-11e9-a3f7-78b7525a8d5f_story.html?noredirect=on }}

On multiple occasions, D.C. government agencies under Bowser's authority and led by her appointees lost millions in federal money because deadlines were missed. Over the course of Bowser's first administration, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development offered the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development millions for lead remediation of its aging housing supply. The DHCD target of remediating lead paint in 225 homes was not met, federal grant money was not spent, and eventually the program closed.{{cite news |last=Baskin |first= Morgan|date=February 21, 2019 |title= D.C. Chronically Failed to Spend Federal Funds to Remediate Lead Paint Hazards, HUD Says

|url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/21048191/dc-chronically-failed-to-spend-federal-funds-to-remediate-lead-paint |work=Washington City Paper |location=Washington DC |access-date=April 25, 2019 }}

In 2019, local organizations providing assistance to at risk populations missed out in $3.75 million when the responsible D.C. Government body failed to submit a timely application. Eleanor Holmes Norton and other D.C. officials pleaded with federal authorities to grant D.C. leniency so that local programs including Reading Partners D.C., The Literacy Lab, and City Year D.C. could receive funding.{{cite news |last=Abamu |first=Jenny|date=April 4, 2019 |title= D.C. Officials Miss AmeriCorps Application Deadline, Putting Funding At Risk

|url=https://wamu.org/story/19/04/04/d-c-officials-miss-americorps-application-deadline-putting-funding-at-risk/ |work=WAMU|location=Washington DC |access-date=April 25, 2019 }}

In 2015, Bowser's allies formed FreshPAC, a political action committee intended to advance her agenda. The initiative was the first PAC in District politics so closely aligned with a sitting mayor and created by a former campaign treasurer. Thanks to a legislative loophole regulating off-year fundraising, FreshPAC accepted unlimited contributions. Bowser supporters had quickly raised more than $300,000 and had a goal of collecting $1 million by year's end.{{cite news |title=Divided D.C. Council takes aim at Mayor Bowser's super PAC |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 20, 2015 |first=Aaron C. |last=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/divided-dc-council-takes-aim-at-mayor-bowsers-super-pac/2015/10/20/0a24289a-7765-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html}} FreshPAC was chaired by Earle "Chico" Horton III, a lobbyist for a major corporation that sought Bowser's support.{{cite news |title=FreshPAC's chairman lobbying for Exelon was legal, but unseemly |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 18, 2015 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/freshpacs-chairman-lobbying-for-exelon-was-legal-but-unseemly/2015/12/17/b403d4de-a508-11e5-b53d-972e2751f433_story.html}} Many of the highest donors participated in a trip to China with the mayor.{{cite news |title=D.C. mayor's delegation to China includes some top PAC contributors |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 7, 2015 |first=Aaron C. |last=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayors-delegation-to-china-includes-some-top-pac-contributors/2015/11/06/7d1b2a5a-8418-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_story.html}} Following outcry from the Washington Post, members of the D.C. Council, and other stakeholders, FreshPAC was shut down in November 2015.{{cite news |title=D.C. mayor's allies reluctantly shut down controversial PAC |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 11, 2015 |first=Aaron C. |last=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayors-allies-reluctantly-shut-down-controversial-pac/2015/11/11/63d48b32-884a-11e5-be39-0034bb576eee_story.html}} Bowser said she thought FreshPAC was a good thing but its message was distorted.{{cite news |title=There's nothing to fear in fair elections |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 15, 2016 |first=Craig |last=Holman |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/theres-nothing-to-fear-in-fair-elections/2016/04/15/e6b878dc-019a-11e6-9203-7b8670959b88_story.html}}

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 excess contributions totaled more than $11,000 from more than a dozen developers and contractors, as well as from landlord Sanford Capital, whom the Bowser administration had been slow to fine despite being responsible for more than 1,000 housing code violations. Some of the same contributors later contributed to FreshPAC. Bowser's campaign returned the illegal contributions.{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Aaron |date=June 8, 2017 |title=D.C. Mayor Bowser fined $13,000 for illegal campaign contributions |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-filed-13000-for-illegal-campaign-contributions/2017/06/07/c7d0ad66-4ba6-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=December 8, 2017 |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107010925/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-filed-13000-for-illegal-campaign-contributions/2017/06/07/c7d0ad66-4ba6-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html }}

In 2018, the D.C. Council unanimously passed campaign finance legislation that sought to remove the influence of developers and other large donors from politics by publicly financing campaigns. Bowser was staunchly opposed to the act and said that she would not provide financing for implementation of the law.{{cite news |title=D.C. Council unanimously votes to create public campaign finance program |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 9, 2018 |first=Rachel |last=Chason |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-unanimously-votes-for-bill-to-create-public-campaign-finance-program/2018/01/09/c5eb031e-f553-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html}}{{cite news |title=Mayor Bowser and D.C. Council at odds over public campaign financing |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 5, 2018 |first=Rachel |last=Chason |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mayor-bowser-and-dc-council-at-odds-over-public-finance-program/2018/01/05/13f5b202-f261-11e7-b390-a36dc3fa2842_story.html |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109134004/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mayor-bowser-and-dc-council-at-odds-over-public-finance-program/2018/01/05/13f5b202-f261-11e7-b390-a36dc3fa2842_story.html }}

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.{{cite news |title=Whistleblower suit: D.C. employee fired after refusing to steer contracts to Bowser donor |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 8, 2016 |first1=Fenit |last1=Nirappil |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/whistleblower-suit-dc-employee-fired-after-not-steering-contracts-to-bowser-donor/2016/12/07/a15ea512-bcc1-11e6-94ac-3d324840106c_story.html |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-date=December 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210113212/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/whistleblower-suit-dc-employee-fired-after-not-steering-contracts-to-bowser-donor/2016/12/07/a15ea512-bcc1-11e6-94ac-3d324840106c_story.html }} One of the fired employees filed a $10 million whistleblower lawsuit alleging that he had been terminated for the failure to channel contracts to Fort Myer Construction, a major Bowser campaign donor; the other made similar allegations in an administrative proceeding. The episode prompted an investigation by Councilmember Mary Cheh. In 2017, Cheh's report found that in addition to the questionable firings, a city employee had illegally shared confidential information with Fort Myer about a competitor's bid on a separate project. The report found that the D.C. City Administrator - the top Bowser appointed official - had urged quick settlement of unresolved contract disputes with Fort Myer in an attempt to appease it. These actions led to a $4 million in payouts to the firm, an outcome that the District has previously opposed.{{cite news |title=D.C. Council report: Bowser administration favored top donor in contracting |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 14, 2017 |first1=Aaron |last1=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-report-bowser-administration-favored-top-donor-in-contracting/2017/06/14/5799a712-5134-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204121710/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-report-bowser-administration-favored-top-donor-in-contracting/2017/06/14/5799a712-5134-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html }} After fighting unsuccessfully to keep the findings from public view, Bowser refused to comment on any of the points in the report.{{cite news |title=Bowser says she will not investigate evidence of illegal leak in contracting process |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 15, 2017 |first1=Peter |last1=Jamison |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-says-she-will-not-investigate-evidence-of-illegal-leak-in-contracting-process/2017/06/15/41ee2b56-51f5-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-date=January 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125190646/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-says-she-will-not-investigate-evidence-of-illegal-leak-in-contracting-process/2017/06/15/41ee2b56-51f5-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html }}

Black residents in D.C. were killed by COVID-19 at 5.9 times the rate of white people, the worst disparity in any major city. An investigation attributed the unequal toll to multiple strategic missteps by Bowser's administration. Among the shortcomings, a testing site was not established anywhere east of the Anacostia River and Bowser's health team was slow to solicit bids.{{cite news |last=Christopher |first=Peak |date=July 15, 2020 |title= Investigation Uncovers Missteps In Washington, D.C.'s Coronavirus Response |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/15/888945511/investigation-uncovers-missteps-in-washington-d-c-s-coronavirus-response |work=NPR |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=July 15, 2020}} In a rush to reopen the District in June 2020, her administration removed data from the government's website to avoid displaying how it had failed to meet a key metric.{{cite news |last=Cheslow |first=Daniella |date=September 14, 2020

|title= Emails Suggest D.C. Removed COVID-19 Data From Website As Officials Pushed To Reopen|url=https://www.npr.org/local/305/2020/09/14/912695054/emails-suggest-d-c-removed-c-o-v-i-d-19-data-from-website-as-officials-pushed-to-reopen |work=NPR |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=September 14, 2020}}

In November 2020, Bowser traveled to Delaware with senior staff for a celebration of Joe Biden's victory despite the elevated risk of Coronavirus in the state and a travel advisory discouraging visits. Bowser claimed the trip to the festivities were "essential" while critics pointed out that she violated her own protocols.{{cite news|last=Zauzmer|first=Julie|date=November 10, 2020|title=Bowser defends trip to Delaware to celebrate Biden win, despite travel advisories|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-delaware-biden/2020/11/10/ce3cec68-2358-11eb-8672-c281c7a2c96e_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209012452/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-delaware-biden/2020/11/10/ce3cec68-2358-11eb-8672-c281c7a2c96e_story.html}}

As the pandemic subsided and vaccines became more readily available, Bowser's instructions on masking created confusion among business owners and the public. 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.{{cite news |last=Stein|first=Perry |date=May 1, 2021

|title=To mask or not to mask? Mayor's order stokes confusion in D.C.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-vaccine-canvass-bowser/2021/05/01/a0144aa0-a951-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html?%20va._3|newspaper=Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=May 1, 2021}}

In response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant, in July 2021 Bowser announced a new indoor mask mandate. On the day that the reinstated mandate took effect, Bowser was found to have officiated an indoor wedding while unmasked.{{cite news |last=Stein|first=Perry |date=August 1, 2021 |title=VIDEO: DC Mayor Bowser officiates large wedding after new indoor mask mandate|url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/video-dc-mayor-bowser-officiates-large-wedding-after-new-indoor-mask-mandate|work=Fox 5 DC |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=August 1, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Analysis {{!}} Mayor Bowser's poor spin about not following her own mask mandate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/04/mayor-bowsers-poor-spin-about-not-following-her-own-mask-mandate/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804142914/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/04/mayor-bowsers-poor-spin-about-not-following-her-own-mask-mandate/ }}

Bowser went under scrutiny for her actions during the COVID-19 pandemic for attending protests to "defund the police" while restricting people of faith from meeting in religious gathering as a congregation, even outside.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-09 |title=McConnell blasts Bowser for restricting church services but allowing protests |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2020/06/09/mcconnell-blasts-bowser-for-restricting-church-services-while-allowing-protests-during-covid-19-pandemic/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Roll Call |language=en}}

During her first year as mayor, the district saw a 40% increase in homicides. Bowser sought to address the spike by proposing legislation allowing law enforcement officials to perform warrantless searches of violent ex-offenders. The bill was widely opposed by citizen's groups and the D.C. Council, and did not pass.{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Aaron|title=D.C. mayor's plan for 'warrantless searches' appears dead on arrival |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayors-plan-for-warrantless-searches-appears-dead-on-arrival/2015/10/21/9346d624-779a-11e5-b9c1-f03c48c96ac2_story.html|access-date=October 22, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 21, 2015}}

In 2016, District homicides fell by 17%, to 135,[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/homicides-remain-steady-in-the-washington-region/2016/12/31/f30b7db4-cc51-11e6-a747-d03044780a02_story.html Homicides remain steady in the Washington region], The Washington Post, December 31, 2016 and dropped again in 2017 to 116, or about the same level prior to a 2015 spike.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/homicides-were-down-in-the-region-but-2017-was-marked-by-sobering-teen-deaths/2017/12/31/cf0a8f10-e675-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html Homicides were down in the region, but 2017 was marked by sobering teen deaths] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108043732/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/homicides-were-down-in-the-region-but-2017-was-marked-by-sobering-teen-deaths/2017/12/31/cf0a8f10-e675-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html |date=January 8, 2021 }}, The Washington Post, December 31, 2017{{cite news |last=Michelle Basch |first=Michelle |date=May 15, 2018 |title=DC's top cop predicts 'good summer' despite rise in homicides |url=https://wtop.com/dc/2018/05/dcs-top-cop-predicts-good-summer-despite-rise-in-homicides/ |access-date=May 15, 2018}} There were 160 homicides in 2018, an increase of 40 percent from the previous year and the most since 2015.{{cite news|date=October 11, 2018|title=D.C.'s homicide rate is spiking. The city must take action.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dcs-homicide-rate-is-spiking-the-city-must-take-action/2018/10/11/ace5800a-cd53-11e8-920f-dd52e1ae4570_story.html?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 11, 2018|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310204329/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dcs-homicide-rate-is-spiking-the-city-must-take-action/2018/10/11/ace5800a-cd53-11e8-920f-dd52e1ae4570_story.html?noredirect=on}}{{cite news |date=December 31, 2018 |title=Homicides spike in District as shootings become more lethal, police say|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/homicides-spike-in-district-as-shootings-become-more-lethal-police-say/2018/12/31/a781b28e-02c6-11e9-b5df-5d3874f1ac36_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post|location=Washington DC|access-date=October 11, 2018}} Murders continued to rise in 2019, and by September 19, the homicide rate in the District reached 125, a 17 percent increase from the previous year.{{cite news |last=Haynes |first= Madisson |date=September 19, 2019 |title= Police search for 2 suspects with AK-style weapons in Columbia Heights shooting that left 1 dead, 5 injured

|url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/shooting-in-northwest-dc/65-75eb1689-ff96-47d7-8e3e-914393be421f |access-date=September 19, 2019 }} 2021 marked the fourth straight year of increasing homicides, including a weekend in May in which 11 people were shot in the District.{{cite news |last=Hermann|first= Peter |date=May 3, 2021 |title= At least 11 people shot during a violent weekend in the District

|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/washington-gun-violence-bowser-/2021/05/03/cc74a06e-ac0c-11eb-b476-c3b287e52a01_story.html|access-date=May 3, 2021 }} By July 2021, DC had recorded 100 homicides, the earliest point in the year it had reached this milestone since 2003, and 217 killings were recorded by the end of the year, the highest in nearly two decades.{{cite news |last=Leshan |first= Bruce |date=July 12, 2021 |title= Mayor Bowser asks White House for help after 100 homicides in DC|url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/dc-mayor-joe-biden-meet-discuss-dc-gun-violence-100-homicides/65-6b53348e-5faa-4ff6-930b-599151b0d7f1|access-date=July 12, 2021 }}{{cite news |last=Lynch |first= Tom |date= December 31, 2021 |title=DC, Suburbs End 2021 With Higher Homicide Counts

|url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-suburbs-end-2021-with-higher-homicide-counts/2923926/|access-date=July 12, 2021 }}

In 2021, carjackings in DC skyrocketed, reaching more than four times the level of the previous year.{{cite news |last=Satterfield| first=Kolbie|date=March 18, 2021 |title= Police: More than 100 carjackings reported in DMV so far this year, a drastic jump from last year|url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/more-than-100-carjackings-reported-in-dmv-so-far-this-year/65-9b001736-e398-4ece-a7e1-2a9c978f7314|access-date=March 29, 2021 }} Following an attack in which a Pakistani Uber Eats driver Mohammad Anwar was murdered as the result of a brazen carjacking, Bowser released a tweet explaining that carjackings were a crime of opportunity, giving the impression that Anwar was responsible for his own death. Bowser later deleted the tweet, claiming that it was scheduled to go out before the death, but did not apologize or immediately offer any condolences to Anwar's family or condemnation of his killers, who are black, sparking backlash and accusations of racial bias.{{cite news |last=Pusatory |first= Matt |date=September 19, 2019 |title= DC mayor faces criticism over carjacking tweet|url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dc-mayor-bowser-carjacking-tweet-criticism/65-dd037662-0929-404a-9200-7006096ce705|access-date=March 29, 2021 }}

In 2021, the District's forensic crime lab lost its accreditation following a probe that determined the lab concealed conflicting findings and pressured examiners to change results in a firearms case and other mistakes.{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Jack |date=19 May 2021 |title=Director of embattled DC crime lab stepping down |url=https://wtop.com/dc/2021/05/director-of-embattled-dc-crime-lab-stepping-down/ |work=WTOP |access-date=19 May 2021}}{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Jack |date=30 April 2021 |title=Probe of DC crime lab could 'blow up' criminal justice system |url=https://wtop.com/dc/2021/04/probe-of-dc-crime-lab-could-blow-up-criminal-justice-system/|work=WTOP |access-date=30 April 2021}} The investigation led to a criminal investigation of the lab's errors and the resignation of its head, Dr. Jenifer Smith. Days after the news about the lab was first reported, Bowser honored Smith as part of the "Washington Women of Excellence Awards".

In 2023, the District experienced more homicides than in any other year since 1997. The uptick in homicides occurred while many other major cities saw a decrease in homicides in 2023. Bowser said that she believed the city's current approach to public safety allowed criminal offenders to avoid sufficient consequences.{{cite news |date=December 23, 2023 |title= Homicides Are Falling In Other Major Cities. Why Are They So High In D.C.?|url=https://dcist.com/story/23/12/29/dc-homicides-2023-highest-since-1997/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229232218/https://dcist.com/story/23/12/29/dc-homicides-2023-highest-since-1997/|url-status=live|archive-date=December 29, 2023|work = DCist}}{{cite news |date=January 1, 2024 |title= 2023 was District's deadliest year in more than two decades|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2024/dc-crime-homicide-victims-shooting-violence/| newspaper =The Washington Post}}

In February 2015, Bowser cancelled the creation of a public facility for art exhibitions, lectures and educational activities by the Institute for Contemporary Expression. Approved by Gray, the project involved a privately funded conversion of the historic but unused Franklin School and had its first event planned for September 2015.{{cite news |title=A setback for D.C. arts and culture, years in the making |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 11, 2015 |first=Philip |last=Kennicott |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/a-setback-for-dc-arts-and-culture-years-in-the-making/2015/02/16/94371d20-b3b7-11e4-854b-a38d13486ba1_story.html}}{{cite news |title=Six Reasons Bowser Should Reconsider Pulling ICE from the Franklin School |work=The Washington City Paper |date=February 13, 2015 |first=Kriston |last=Capps |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2015/02/13/six-reasons-bowser-should-reconsider-pulling-ice-from-the-franklin-school/}} Bowser cited financial concerns for the decision, but critics noted that several of the firms who earlier competed unsuccessfully for the property were among her donors. As of October 2015, proposals were still being considered.{{cite news |title=D.C. receives new proposals for historic Franklin School |work=Washington Business Journal |date=October 23, 2015 |first=Jeff |last=Clabaugh |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2015/10/d-c-receives-new-proposals-for-historic-franklin.html}}

In September 2015, Bowser announced a deal with Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis to build a practice facility for the Washington Wizards.{{cite news |title=Taxes Will Fund 90 Percent of Wizards Practice Site |work=washingtoncitypaper.com |date=September 15, 2015 |first=Will |last=Sommer |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2015/09/15/taxes-will-fund-90-percent-of-wizards-practice-site/}} Under the deal, District taxpayers would pay 90 percent of the estimated $55 million cost. The government's portion was split between direct government expenditure and Events DC, a D.C.-government-funded body which operates with an independent board.{{cite news |title=Taxpayer-Backed Arena Deal Gets New Scrutiny Amid Radical Housing Shortage |work=Thinkprogress.org |date=March 22, 2016 |first=Alan |last=Pyke |url=http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2016/03/22/3762131/washington-wizards-practice-arena-housing/}} In July 2016, before construction had started, it was announced that costs would exceed estimates by $10 million while the number of seats in the facility would likely decrease.{{cite news |title=Cost of Wizards practice facility rises $10 million before construction can even begin |first=Jonathan |last=O'Connell |date=July 28, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/07/28/before-construction-can-begin-cost-of-wizards-practice-facility-rises-10-million/?postshare=6821469735085188&tid=ss_tw-bottom}} Under the agreement with the developer, the District will be responsible for cost overruns.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2015/12/16/d-c-to-pay-cost-overruns-for-wizards-facility/ D.C. to pay cost overruns for Wizards facility], The Washington Post, December 16, 2015 Once the CareFirst Arena was completed, operations costs exceeded estimates and the Events DC board approved more than $1 million in additional costs to cover the shortfall.{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Rebecca |date=May 15, 2019 |title= D.C. reconciles true costs of running new arena at St. Elizabeths|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/05/15/d-c-reconciles-true-costs-of-running-newarena-at.html |work=Washington Business Journal |location=Washington DC |access-date=May 15, 2019}} A contract for a firm to find naming rights for the facility was funded at $180,000 per year.

In May 2019, the D.C. auditor found that the Housing Production Trust Fund, which gives developers funding for affordable housing, had awarded funding to proposals that scored poorly and in one case received the lowest score. The successful but low rated projects were all proposed by developers who had made contributions to the mayor's campaign.{{cite news |last=Nirappil |first= Fenit |date=May 30, 2019 |title= Audit: Bowser administration awarded millions to developers with low-ranking proposals

|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/audit-bowser-administration-awarded-millions-to-developers-with-low-ranking-proposals/2019/05/30/57c17368-82f7-11e9-bce7-40b4105f7ca0_story.html?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=May 30, 2019}}

In 2015, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson routinely bent or broke school placement rules to give preferential treatment to well-connected parents seeking prized enrollments at particular D.C. public schools. Two senior Bowser appointees were among seven parents who benefited from Henderson's misuse of authority by being permitted to bypass the competitive DCPS lottery system.{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=May 10, 2017 |title=Second mayoral appointee identified in school-lottery scandal |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/second-mayoral-appointee-implicated-in-school-lottery-scandal/2017/05/10/17e72092-35b2-11e7-b373-418f6849a004_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004135508/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/second-mayoral-appointee-implicated-in-school-lottery-scandal/2017/05/10/17e72092-35b2-11e7-b373-418f6849a004_story.html }} Deputy Mayor Courtney Snowden, who makes $196,000 a year, jumped a waitlist of more than 1000 names to enroll her child.{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=May 17, 2017 |title=Secret report shows 'special' treatment for public officials in D.C. school lottery |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/secret-report-shows-special-treatment-for-public-officials-in-dc-school-lottery/2017/05/17/55b0b1fc-3a82-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-date=September 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908090117/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/secret-report-shows-special-treatment-for-public-officials-in-dc-school-lottery/2017/05/17/55b0b1fc-3a82-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html }} In 2018, it was revealed that Bowser's recently appointed Schools chancellor Antwan Wilson had similarly manipulated the system to transfer Wilson's teenage daughter to a preferred school. Wilson and other staff resigned while Bowser refused a request to testify about Wilson's statement that she was aware of the placement, calling an inquiry "political circus".{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=March 8, 2018|title=A short guide to the D.C. Public Schools scandals |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-short-guide-to-dc-public-schools-scandals/2018/03/08/c40e2c4e-2170-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=March 8, 2018}} By 2018, management of D.C. Public Schools prompted investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Education and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.{{cite news |last=Devork |first=Petula |date=May 17, 2017 |title=D.C.'s school scandals are barely registering with the public. That shows how little we value education|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dcs-school-scandals-are-barely-registering-with-the-public-that-shows-how-little-we-value-education/2018/04/19/a6738d78-43fd-11e8-8569-26fda6b404c7_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post|location=Washington DC |access-date=September 17, 2017}}

In February 2016, Bowser's appointee as medical director of the fire department resigned from her post after one year on the job. Explaining her decision, Jullette Saussy said that she could not be complicit in a failed agency and that its performance was putting Washingtonian's lives at risk. In response, Bowser's spokesperson said that she was committed to achieving change.{{cite news |title=D.C. Council unanimously votes to create public campaign finance program letter|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 9, 2016 |first=Peter |last=Hermann |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/dc-fire-departments-medical-director-resigns/2016/02/09/e8c8edd0-cf6f-11e5-88cd-753e80cd29ad_story.html}}

In February 2022, Bowser reappointed Karima Holmes to lead the Office of Unified Communications, a position she previously held for six years. During her earlier period as director, the city's 911 system fell short of national standards and resulted in fatal consequences when first responders were sent to the wrong address.{{cite news |title='It just doesn't make sense': Safety advocate on former head of DC 911 system's return to post|work=WTOP|date=February 25, 2022 |first=Ivy |last=Lyons |url=https://wtop.com/dc/2022/02/it-just-doesnt-make-sense-safety-advocate-on-former-head-of-dc-911-systems-return-to-post/}}

In January 2018, Bowser announced a $4.7 million investment in two islands in the Anacostia River, 45 acre Kingman Island and 5 acre Heritage Island. She also designated portions of each island as a "state conservation area", which restricts their use to limited purposes including recreation and education. The funds will be used for improvements to the islands, including outdoor classrooms, walkways, a floating lab platform and bathrooms.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-commits-47-million-to-long-neglected-islands-in-anacostia-river/2018/01/12/06f50df2-f7c3-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html Bowser commits $4.7 million to long-neglected islands in Anacostia River] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724131447/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-commits-47-million-to-long-neglected-islands-in-anacostia-river/2018/01/12/06f50df2-f7c3-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html |date=July 24, 2018 }}, The Washington Post, January 12, 2018

In early 2018, the members of the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability voted unanimously not to renew the contract of Traci Hughes, head of D.C.'s government transparency entity, the Office of Open Government. Activists said Hughes was being punished for her enforcement of District regulations on government transparency. In the preceding year, she had faulted at least two public boards controlled by Bowser appointees for failure to comply with the city's Open Meetings Act, and had issued a decision that the board of United Medical Center, the District's troubled public hospital, had broken that law by secretly discussing and voting to close the facility's nursery and delivery rooms.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-will-not-reappoint-open-government-watchdog-who-ruled-against-city/2018/02/01/b1f1d230-07a4-11e8-8777-2a059f168dd2_story.html D.C. will not reappoint open government watchdog who ruled against city], The Washington Post, February 2, 2018 Hughes said after her dismissal that she had had to resist pressure to ease off in her role of policing District agencies' compliance with the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act; and that she had been subjected to "personal attacks in an effort to keep [her] from issuing an opinion" relating to Open Meetings Act compliance by the D.C. Commission on Selection and Tenure of Administrative Law Judges.{{cite news |title=D.C.'s open-government watchdog took her job seriously. Then she lost it.|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 5, 2018 |first=Peter |last=Jamison |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dcs-open-government-watchdog-took-her-job-seriously-then-she-lost-it/2018/02/05/5343441a-0a99-11e8-8890-372e2047c935_story.html}}

File:Muriel Bowser at Rally for DC Lives before March For Our Lives, Washington DC.jpg rally in 2018]]

Bowser is a strong advocate of gun control, characterizing herself in her inaugural speech in January 2015 as "a mayor who hates guns".[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2015/01/09/muriel-bowser-you-have-a-mayor-who-hates-guns/ Muriel Bowser: 'You have a mayor who hates guns'], The Washington Post, January 9, 2015 Bowser has encouraged the D.C. Council to ban bump stocks, with the aim of forcing congressional Republicans to take a stand on the record on gun control and gun violence. "Americans are demanding common-sense action, and as leaders, we must listen and act. Bump stocks, which turn already dangerous weapons into lethal machines, have no place in our society," said Mayor Bowser.{{Clarify|reason=Surely the aim is stop people being killed? If not how does DC council ban force congressional action?|date=January 2021}} {{cite web |title=Mayor Bowser to Introduce Legislation Banning Bump Stocks in Washington, DC |url= https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-introduce-legislation-banning-bump-stocks-washington-dc|website=Executive Office of the Mayor |access-date= 15 April 2023 }}[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/bowser-to-introduce-legislation-banning-bump-stocks-in-district/2018/02/26/8f86c8a4-1b18-11e8-b2d9-08e748f892c0_story.html Bowser to introduce legislation banning bump stocks in District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705033036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/bowser-to-introduce-legislation-banning-bump-stocks-in-district/2018/02/26/8f86c8a4-1b18-11e8-b2d9-08e748f892c0_story.html |date=July 5, 2018 }}, The Washington Post, February 26, 2018 Bowser was also "unusually supportive" of the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C. in March 2018, and in 2018 was said to be positioning herself as a national figure in the gun control movement.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser--proud-dc-mayor-who-hates-guns--champions-march-for-our-lives/2018/03/23/efbe4844-2e0c-11e8-8688-e053ba58f1e4_story.html Bowser — the 'mayor who hates guns' — champions March for Our Lives and steps into national spotlight], The Washington Post, March 23, 2018

In 2016, United Medical Center was the sole government-owned hospital in D.C. In March of that year, on the advice of the Director of Health Care Finance, the D.C Council awarded the management of UMC to Veritas, a two-year-old politically connected firm.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dcs-public-hospital-needs-17-million-taxpayer-subsidy-officials-say/2017/12/12/6e85bbcc-df6f-11e7-8679-a9728984779c_story.html|title=D.C.'s public hospital needs $17 million taxpayer subsidy, officials say|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 12, 2017}} The husband of the Veritas CEO was a major donor to the Bowser campaign in 2014, and a longtime health care executive with experience overseeing troubled hospitals.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Jamison|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-approves-subpoenas-for-public-hospitals-former-consultants/2018/03/14/4e7dad3c-279d-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html|title=D.C. Council approves subpoenas for public hospital's former consultants|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 14, 2018}}

Veritas, however, failed to improve the quality of care and its tenure saw several cases of preventable patient deaths and negligence. 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. By August, the Department of Health had shut down the ward due to its failure to meet minimum standards.{{cite news |last=Simmons-Duffin |first=Selena |date=October 30, 2017 |title=Timeline: A Quick Guide To Veritas' United Medical Center Contract |url=https://wamu.org/story/17/10/30/timeline-quick-guide-veritas-united-medical-center-contract/ |work=WAMU |access-date=October 30, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=August 14, 2017 |title=Dangerous mistakes led to shutdown of United Medical Center obstetrics ward|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dangerous-mistakes-led-to-shutdown-of-united-medical-center-obstetrics-ward/2017/08/14/5639006a-8114-11e7-b359-15a3617c767b_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 14, 2017}} Earlier, in July 2017, the hospital allowed a week to pass between the death of a nursing home patient and notification to his family. In August, another patient died under questionable circumstances. In September, the nurses union voted "no confidence" in the hospital's leadership and said that it had failed to address unsafe nurse-patient ratios and a lack of proper equipment.{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Tina |date=October 3, 2017 |title=Nurses union votes 'no confidence' in United Medical Center leadership|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/10/03/d-c-nurses-union-votes-no-confidence-in-united.html|work=Washington Business Journal |access-date=August 14, 2017}} Bowser administration officials refused repeated requests to disclose the specific medical lapses, and ultimately the council voted to remove Veritas.{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=October 30, 2017 |title='Simply unacceptable': D.C. Council members press hospital operator on patient's death |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/simply-unacceptable-dc-lawmakers-press-hospital-operator-on-patient-death/2017/10/30/dce49d0e-bd7d-11e7-97d9-bdab5a0ab381_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 30, 2017 |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620135059/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/simply-unacceptable-dc-lawmakers-press-hospital-operator-on-patient-death/2017/10/30/dce49d0e-bd7d-11e7-97d9-bdab5a0ab381_story.html?noredirect=on }}

The opioid epidemic ravaged D.C., with a higher rate of fatal overdoses in 2017 among African Americans in D.C. than whites in West Virginia or New Hampshire. Though funding was available, the Department of Behavioral Health failed to establish adequate treatment programs.{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=December 19, 2018 |title=Pure incompetence|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/local/dc-opioid-epidemic-response-african-americans/|work=Washington Business Journal |access-date=December 19, 2018}} In December 2018, the District announced an "ambitious" plan aiming to cut opioid deaths by half within about two years, using a combination of treatment, tracking and education. The plan was written by a "group of D.C. agencies, doctors, substance abuse treatment providers, council members and individuals in recovery." Several of the plan's recommendations were described as "vague", or merely expanding on existing programs.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/in-long-awaited-plan-dc-aims-to-reduce-opioid-deaths-by-half-by-late-2020/2018/12/24/2c44e99c-078a-11e9-85b6-41c0fe0c5b8f_story.html|title=In long-awaited plan, D.C. aims to reduce opioid deaths by half by late 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108030739/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/in-long-awaited-plan-dc-aims-to-reduce-opioid-deaths-by-half-by-late-2020/2018/12/24/2c44e99c-078a-11e9-85b6-41c0fe0c5b8f_story.html |archive-date=January 8, 2021 }}{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Quander|url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dc-plans-to-cut-opioid-deaths-in-half-by-2020/65-a9265276-0446-41e1-bc53-4b17d992e9f0|title=DC plans to cut opioid deaths in half by 2020|website=WUSA-9|date=December 26, 2018}}

Upon taking office in 2015, Bowser set a goal to halve the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the District by 2020. In 2019, the District continued to have one of the highest rates 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.{{cite news |first=Fenit |last=Nirappil |title= D.C. will not meet goal of cutting in half new HIV diagnoses by 2020|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-is-not-on-track-to-cut-new-hiv-diagnoses-in-half-by-2020/2019/08/29/376a771e-c36f-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html?arc404=true |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 29, 2019 |access-date= August 29, 2019}}

Bowser pledged to end chronic homelessness in the District. In 2018, the results of an annual survey required by federal law reflected a 7.6% drop in the homeless population from 2017, following a 17.3% drop the year before. The estimated total homeless population of 6,904 was, however, still slightly higher than it had been in 2013.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Jamison|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-homeless-population-drops-for-second-straight-year-report-finds/2018/05/08/5505b828-5238-11e8-abd8-265bd07a9859_story.html|title=D. C. homeless population drops for second straight year, report finds|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 8, 2018}}

Bowser's approach to resolving the homelessness issue, focusing on homeless families, has been the subject of criticism. 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, although part of the increase was due to the administration's decision to move families into motel rooms before freezing temperatures would require it do so under the law.{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Aaron|title=More D.C. families are living in homeless shelters at the start of winter than ever before — and it's by design |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/more-dc-families-are-living-in-homeless-shelters-at-the-start-of-winter-than-ever-before--and-its-by-design/2015/10/31/0bcc5e9c-7f44-11e5-b575-d8dcfedb4ea1_story.html|access-date=March 19, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 31, 2015}}

In February 2016, Bowser unveiled a plan to provide housing for homeless families following the closure of District of Columbia General Hospital. Without any community consultation or input, Bowser announced the location of one shelter in each of the District's eight wards and refused to say how the sites were selected.{{cite news|last=McDermott|first=Ryan|title=D.C. mayor's homeless shelter plan lacks transparency, critics say |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/16/dc-mayor-muriel-bowsers-homeless-shelter-plan-lack/?page=all|access-date=March 19, 2016|newspaper=Washington Times |date=October 21, 2015}}{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Aaron|title=District mayor reveals sites proposed for homeless shelters across city |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/homeless-shelters-to-be-spread-across-capital-under-plan-by-mayor-bowser/2016/02/09/318bc360-cf31-11e5-88cd-753e80cd29ad_story.html|access-date=March 19, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 9, 2017}}{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Aaron|title=D.C. mayor refuses to say how she picked sites for new homeless shelters |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-refuses-to-say-how-she-picked-sites-for-new-homeless-shelters/2016/02/15/8a6817c6-d199-11e5-b2bc-988409ee911b_story.html?tid=a_inl|access-date=February 15, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 31, 2015}}

In March 2016, it was revealed that many of the sites selected were connected to Bowser's contributors. Under Bowser's plan, the monthly cost per unit was $4,500 on average each year for at least the next 20 years.{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Aaron|title=Homeless shelter plan could be profitable for Bowser's backers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/homeless-shelter-plan-could-be-profitable-for-bowsers-backers/2016/03/16/cbab0e76-eadc-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html|access-date=March 15, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 16, 2016}} Frustrated by the D.C. Council's efforts to devise its own plan, Bowser lashed out with expletives at Chairman Phil Mendelson.{{cite news|last=Nirappali|first=Firat|title=D.C. Council head blasts Bowser for 'obfuscation" over shelters; she fires back with expletive|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-head-blasts-bowser-for-obfuscation-over-shelters-she-fires-back/2016/05/17/811645e8-1c45-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html|access-date=March 15, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 17, 2016|archive-date=September 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070627/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-head-blasts-bowser-for-obfuscation-over-shelters-she-fires-back/2016/05/17/811645e8-1c45-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html}}{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Austermuhle|title=Words Fly After D.C. Council Alters Plan To Close D.C. General Homeless Shelter |url=https://wamu.org/story/16/05/17/dc_council_approves_bowsers_plan_to_close_dc_general_homeless_shelter/ |work=WAMU |date=May 17, 2016 |access-date=May 17, 2016}}

In 2018, Bowser nominated Joshua Lopez, former chief campaign aide to both Bowser and ex-Mayor Adrian Fenty, to serve on the board of the D.C. Housing Authority, which reviews contracts and sets policy for public housing. Over the objections of certain council members who considered Lopez unqualified for the position, Bowser proceeded with the nomination, which the Council approved by a vote of 10–3.{{cite news |last=Giaborone |first=Andrew |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Bowser Buddy Joshua Lopez Finally Gets a Seat on a High-Stakes D.C. Board |url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/20993476/bowser-buddy-joshua-lopez-finally-gets-a-seat-on-a-highstakes-dc-board |work=Washington City Paper|location=Washington, DC|access-date=February 22, 2018}} In April 2018, Lopez held a loudspeaker at a rally while a representative of the Nation of Islam spoke, calling Councilmember Elissa Silverman "a fake jew". Bowser called upon Lopez to apologize but resisted public calls for his resignation.{{cite news |first1=Fenit |last1=Nirappil |first2=Peter |last2=Jamison |date=April 27, 2018 |title=At a rally to end divisive politics in D.C., speaker calls lawmaker a 'fake Jew' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/at-a-rally-to-end-divisive-politics-in-dc-a-speaker-called-a-lawmaker-a-fake-jew/2018/04/27/e3c0b182-4a34-11e8-827e-190efaf1f1ee_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=April 27, 2018}}{{cite news |first=Mikaela |last=Lefrak |date=April 27, 2018|title=Bowser Appointee Apologizes For Rally Speaker's Anti-Semitic Statements |url=https://wamu.org/story/18/04/27/bowser-appointee-apologizes-rally-speakers-anti-semitic-statements/ |work=WAMU|location=Washington, DC |access-date=April 27, 2018}}

In October 2021, the Chair of the D.C. Housing Authority, Neil Albert, abruptly resigned after it was revealed that he had channeled multiple contracts to a romantic partner.{{cite news |first1=Paul|last1=Schwartzman |date=November 6, 2021|title=D.C. Housing Authority Board Chair Neil Albert Will Resign|url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/536432/d-c-housing-authority-board-chair-neil-albert-will-resign/|work=The Washington City Paper |location=Washington DC |access-date=November 6, 2021}} While Chair, Albert had awarded the Housing Authority's headquarters to a developer, who hired his partner as the architect of record. Bowser had championed Albert's accomplishments in the months before his departure and responded to news that Albert's home had been raided by the FBI with a statement that she holds employees to high standards.{{cite news |first1=Paul|last1=Schwartzman |date=November 6, 2021|title=At a rally to end divisive politics in D.C., speaker calls lawmaker a 'fake Jew' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/neil-albert-dc-bowser/2021/11/06/f4b033fc-3903-11ec-91dc-551d44733e2d_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=November 6, 2021}} Bowser's replacement for Albert, Dionne Bussey-Reeder, owed thousands in unpaid income taxes leading the government to place liens on her property, in violation of DCHA bylaws.{{cite news |first1=Paul|last1=Schwartzman |date=November 19, 2021|title=Bowser's new chair of D.C. public housing board did not pay $15,000 in taxes, records show |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-public-housing-scandal-neil-albert-bowser-dionne-bussey-reeder/2021/11/19/5b744eba-4585-11ec-b8d9-232f4afe4d9b_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=November 19, 2021}}

Upon the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, and following statements by the President-elect threatening to pull federal funding from sanctuary cities, Bowser issued a statement reaffirming the District's status as a sanctuary city.[https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-issues-statement-reaffirming-dc-sanctuary-city Press release], November 14, 2016 Soon thereafter, Bowser was confronted by a throng of about 100 protesters who were angry that she had not responded more forcefully—as had mayors of some other sanctuary cities—in denouncing Trump's policies and in defending immigrants.{{cite news |last=Ackland |first=Matt |date=November 17, 2016|title=Protesters confront Mayor Bowser over DC immigrant raids; resolution hearing held |url=http://www.fox5dc.com/news/protesters-confront-bowser-over-dc-immigrant-raids-resolution-hearing-to-be-held |work=Fox 5 |access-date=November 17, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=November 19, 2016 |title=In the District, jitters over impending Trump era |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-surprising-reason-why-immigration-activists-assailed-dc-mayor/2016/11/18/d300a914-ad06-11e6-a31b-4b6397e625d0_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 20, 2018}}[http://dcist.com/2016/11/bowser_gets_in_heated_confrontation.php Video: Bowser Gets In Heated Confrontation With Protesters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720070812/http://dcist.com/2016/11/bowser_gets_in_heated_confrontation.php |date=July 20, 2018 }}, DCist, November 16, 2016 In January 2017, following Trump's inauguration and the issuance of an executive order threatening to withhold Federal funding from sanctuary cities, Bowser affirmed that the District would maintain its status as such.{{cite web|first=Rachel|last=Kurzias|url=http://dcist.com/2017/01/mayor_bowser_1.php |title=D.C. Is Still A Sanctuary City, Mayor Bowser Says, Regardless Of Trump's Threats|website=DCist|date=January 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523015045/http://dcist.com/2017/01/mayor_bowser_1.php |archive-date=May 23, 2018 }}

In November 2017, Bowser announced that the District was joining seven other cities in a partnership with the National Immigration Forum to assist some 2,000 green card holders who work for the D.C. Government, as well as family members, in applying for U.S. citizenship. The partnership would provide information, legal help, citizenship test coaching and assist in finding language classes. Participation in the program could save an applicant as much as $2,000 in legal fees.{{cite news|first=Rachel|last=Chason|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-announces-partnership-to-help-dc-employees-families-become-citizens/2017/11/14/de5417a2-c960-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html|title=Bowser announces partnership to help D.C. employees, families become citizens|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203094224/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-announces-partnership-to-help-dc-employees-families-become-citizens/2017/11/14/de5417a2-c960-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html |archive-date=December 3, 2018 }}

In 2022, the governors of Texas and Arizona instituted policies to offer migrants released by federal authorities in their states free bus rides to Washington, D.C. Since April 2022, over 9,000 migrants have been sent to D.C. from the two states.{{cite news |last=Goodman |first=J. David |date=April 6, 2022|title=Texas Governor Targets Migrants in Anticipation of Influx at Border |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/us/greg-abbott-texas-border-migrants.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 8, 2022}}{{cite web |date = September 8, 2022|title=Mayor Bowser Establishes Office of Migrant Services |url=https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-establishes-office-migrant-services |website=mayor.dc.gov |access-date=September 8, 2022}} Bowser stated that the city and the nation was facing a "migrant crisis" and criticized the governors of Texas and Arizona for what she characterized as "political gamesmanship".{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Miriam |date=August 4, 2022|title=G.O.P. Governors Cause Havoc by Busing Migrants to East Coast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/04/us/migrants-buses-washington-texas.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 8, 2022}} Bowser has twice requested assistance from the National Guard in managing the migrants and was denied both times.{{cite news |last=Olivo |first=Antonio |date=August 22, 2022|title=Pentagon again denies Bowser request for National Guard help for migrants |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/08/22/bowser-migrant-national-guard-denial/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 8, 2022}} 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.

Bowser has shown strong police support and has not complied with numerous legal requirements regarding transparency in policing. Her administration repeatedly blocked the release of stop and frisk data as required by the NEAR Act.{{cite web |date=May 18, 2018 |title="CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS SEEK COURT ORDER AGAINST D.C. MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER FOR LONG-DELAYED STOP-AND-FRISK DATA" |url=https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/civil-rights-groups-seek-court-order-against-dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-long-delayed-stop |website=ACLU |access-date=May 11, 2022 }}{{cite web |date=February 21, 2020 |title="DC's ACLU criticizes Bowser's defense of Bloomberg on 'Stop and Frisk'" |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dcs-aclu-criticizes-bowsers-defense-of-bloomberg-on-stop-and-frisk |website=Fox5DC |access-date=May 11, 2022 }}

Although Bowser supported the outfitting of Metropolitan Police Department with body cameras,[http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2015/04/13/bowser-wants-body-cam-footage-exempt-from-open-records-law/ Washington City Paper: "Bowser Wants Body Cam Footage Exempt from Open Records Law" by Will Sommer] April 13, 2015[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/14/police-body-cameras-dc-mayor_n_7064060.html "D.C. Mayor Doesn't Want You To See Police Body Camera Footage" by Jason Cherkis] The Huffington Post April 14, 2015[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-raises-alarms-over-mayor-bowsers-budget/2015/04/13/b592e6a6-e1df-11e4-81ea-0649268f729e_story.html "D.C. Council raises alarms over Mayor Bowser's budget" By Aaron C. Davis] The Washington Post, April 13, 2015 out of 25 involved officer shootings from 2016 to 2018, only three instances of body cam footage were released as of April 2019.{{cite web |date=April 1, 2019 |title="D'Quan Young was killed by an off-duty DC cop 10 months ago. His mother still has no answers." |url= https://archive.thinkprogress.org/dc-police-department-secrecy-transparency-cop-killings-dquan-young-b4ddcd7dc0a7/ |website=Think Progress |access-date=May 11, 2022 }}

File:Mayor Muriel Bowser, Hands Off DC Rally (32055042814).jpg

Mayor Bowser demonstrated support for the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests. She renamed the stretch of 16th Street NW in front of the White House, "Black Lives Matter Plaza" and had a mural painted spanning the entire street.{{cite news |author1=Fenit Nirappil |author2=Julie Zauzmer |author3=Rachel Chason |date=June 5, 2020 |title='Black Lives Matter': In giant yellow letters, D.C. mayor sends message to Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-black-lives-matter-street/2020/06/05/eb44ff4a-a733-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617021648/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-black-lives-matter-street/2020/06/05/eb44ff4a-a733-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html }} DC-based leaders of Black Lives Matter said the act was a distraction from real policy changes and called on the Mayor to defund the police. In response, Black Lives Matter organizers painted "DEFUND THE POLICE" in the same bright letters, feet away from the mural Bowser ordered.{{cite news |author=Rebecca Tan |author2=Michael E. Miller |author3=Rachel Chason |author4=Samantha Schmidt |author5=Teddy Amenabar |date=June 7, 2020 |title= Protesters paint 'Defund the police' right next to D.C.'s 'Black Lives Matter' mural|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/06/07/dc-black-lives-matter-defund-police/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=June 7, 2020 }}

On January 6, 2021, pro-Trump rioters and insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol, in protest of the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. Bowser imposed a curfew in response, to 6:00 pm that night and end at 6:00 am the following day,{{Cite web|last=Durkee|first=Alison|date=January 6, 2021|title=D.C. Mayor Orders Curfew As Trump Supporters Storm Capitol Building|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/01/06/dc-mayor-orders-curfew-as-pro-trump-protesters-storm-capitol-building/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Forbes|language=en}} though it was ignored by numerous pro-Trump rioters and insurrectionists.{{Cite web|title=After Chaos, Insurrection And Death, Pro-Trump Rioters Defy D.C. Curfew|website=NPR|date=January 6, 2021|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/congress-electoral-college-tally-live-updates/2021/01/06/954218720/after-chaos-insurrection-and-death-pro-trump-rioters-defy-d-c-curfew|access-date=January 7, 2021|language=en|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107032311/https://www.npr.org/sections/congress-electoral-college-tally-live-updates/2021/01/06/954218720/after-chaos-insurrection-and-death-pro-trump-rioters-defy-d-c-curfew|url-status=live|last1=Romo|first1=Vanessa}}

During the 2021 Cuban protests in July, the words "CUBA LIBRE" (translated to "FREE CUBA") were painted in front of the Cuban embassy in support of the Cuban people and opposition to the country's communist regime. By July 20, the words were removed by the Bowser administration, who classified the words as "unauthorized". Bowser received criticism for her double standard of praising Raul Castro in 2016, her allowance of painting "Black Lives Matter" on the same street and her future plans to make the area a permanent dedication to Black Lives Matter.{{Cite web|last=Drenan|first=Courtney|title=DC officials remove 'Cuba Libre' tribute, but plan to shut down streets to make BLM mural permanent|date=July 20, 2021|url=https://www.bizpacreview.com/2021/07/20/dc-officials-remove-cuba-libre-tribute-but-plan-to-shut-down-streets-to-make-blm-mural-permanent-1106258/|access-date=July 20, 2021|publisher=BPR|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Andrew Mark|title=Washington DC removes 'Cuba Libre' street painting from in front of Cuban embassy|date=July 20, 2021|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dc-mayor-removes-unauthorized-street-sign-supporting-cubas-anti-communist-protesters|access-date=July 20, 2021|publisher=Fox News|language=en}}

In January 2016, traffic throughout the D.C. region was paralyzed by an inch of snow on untreated roads. More than 1,000 accidents were reported and some commuters abandoned their cars amidst impassable roads.{{cite news |title=An inch of snow, icy roads unleash 9 hours of traffic chaos across D.C. region |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 21, 2016 |first=Fred |last=Barbash |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/21/an-inch-of-snow-icy-roads-unleash-9-hours-of-traffic-chaos-across-d-c-region/?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_commute-545am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory| access-date=January 22, 2016}} Bowser apologized for an inadequate response in the District, explaining that "we should have been there earlier."{{cite news |title=Forget ISIS. The most powerful city on earth can't handle a dusting of snow. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 21, 2016 |first=Petula |last=Devorak |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/forget-isis-the-most-powerful-city-on-earth-cant-handle-a-dusting-of-snow/2016/01/21/7e1a7a7a-c04d-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html|access-date=January 22, 2016}}

For a larger storm later in the same season, a report by the D.C. auditor found that the District had spent over $40 million on removal, much of it charged to the District's credit cards. The District incurred tens of thousands of dollars in credit card fees. In an unprecedented move, JPMorgan Chase shut off the government's line of credit until some of the card balances could be paid. Some of the contractors who benefited most from the snow removal expenses were important Bowser donors, the D.C. auditor found.{{cite news |title=For 1 storm, D.C. spent $40 million on snow removal, some of the funds improperly, audit finds |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 11, 2017 |first=Aaron |last=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dcs-credit-card-was-shut-off-and-that-wasnt-the-worst-of-snowzilla-audit-finds/2017/01/11/5b84921a-d7f9-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html|access-date=January 22, 2017}}

In October 2015, Bowser changed her position to support the $6.4-billion merger between two public utilities, Exelon and Pepco. Opponents of the merger decried the lack of transparency in the deal and Bowser's reversal.{{cite news |title=D.C. Mayor reverses course and backs Pepco-Exelon merger |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 6, 2015 |first=Aaron C. |last=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/dc-mayor-reverses-course-and-backs-pepco-exelon-merger/2015/10/06/15bf2b60-6c5b-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_story.html}} Community activists raised ethics concerns, claiming that Bowser was swayed by a $25 million pledge to rename the future MLS Soccer Stadium as Pepco Park.{{cite news |title=Opponents of Pepco-Exelon merger call for ethics investigation of Bowser |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 11, 2015 |first=Aaron C. |last=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/opponents-of-pepco-exelon-merger-call-for-ethics-investigation-into-dc-mayors-about-face-on-deal/2015/11/11/795c5228-889f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html}} 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.{{cite news |title=Exelon Paid FreshPAC Chairman To Lobby D.C. Government About Merger |work=WAMU |date=December 16, 2015 |first=Patrick |last=Madden |url=http://wamu.org/news/15/12/16/exelon_paid_freshpac_chair_to_lobby_DC_government_about_merger}}

In December 2017, Bowser ordered that 30,000 employees of the District receive sexual harassment training by February 2018. Under the order, 1,500 supervisors must also complete advanced, in-person training.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-mandates-sexual-harassment-training-for-30000-district-employees/2017/12/18/3b127f5c-e445-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html Bowser mandates training for 30,000 District employees to combat sexual harassment], The Washington Post, December 19, 2017 At the time, Bowser administration personnel could not say how much taxpayers had paid to resolve sexual harassment claims against the city, or how many such claims there had been. In March 2018, it was reported that taxpayers had recently spent at least $735,000 to settle such suits. Bowser's aides acknowledged they did not have a full grasp of the problem, and the city plans to set up a system to track complaints and settlements.{{cite news |last=Nirappil|first=Fenit |date=March 15, 2018|title=D.C. taxpayers have recently paid at least $735,000 to settle sexual harassment lawsuits|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-taxpayers-have-paid-at-least-735000-to-settle-sexual-harassment-lawsuits/2018/03/15/4848864e-215d-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post|location=Washington, DC |access-date=March 15, 2018}}

In 2015, Bowser announced Vision Zero, a traffic safety initiative that aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2024. To launch the event, Bowser, supporters, and D.C. government employees stood at intersections and waved green signs imploring motorists to slow down.{{cite news |title=Bowser Kicks Off First Day of School With "Slow Down" Campaign |work=The Washington City Paper |date=April 24, 2015 |first=Andrew |last=GIAMBRONE |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13069869/bowser-kicks-off-first-day-of-school-with-slow-down-campaign}} The following year, the number of traffic fatalities increased from 26 to 28 and the number of crash injuries increased from 12,122 to 12,430. Pedestrian fatalities within the total dropped from 15 to 9, during a period when pedestrian deaths nationally had jumped upward by 11 percent.{{cite news |title=How Is D.C. Doing One Year Into 'Vision Zero' Plan To Eliminate Roadway Fatalities?|work=The Washington City Paper |date=March 31, 2017 |first=Martin|last=DiCaro |url=http://wamu.org/story/17/03/31/d-c-year-vision-zero-plan-eliminate-pedestrian-fatalities/}} In 2017, traffic fatalities continued to rise.{{cite news |title=Traffic deaths continue to soar despite cities' pledges to get them to 'Zero' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 14, 2018 |first=Luo|last=Lazo |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/traffic-deaths-continue-to-soar-despite-cities-pledges-to-get-them-to-zero/2018/03/14/36c57386-26c7-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html?noredirect=on}} Following a pair of biking fatalities in the summer of 2018, cyclists protested that Bowser had failed at promoting traffic safety.{{cite news |title=Bike And Pedestrian Advocates Plan To Protest D.C.'s Failure To Prevent Road Deaths |work=DCist |date=July 18, 2018 |first=Luo |last=Lazo |url=http://dcist.com/2018/07/vision_zero_protest.php |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723061912/http://dcist.com/2018/07/vision_zero_protest.php |archive-date=July 23, 2018 }} In 2019, a prominent bike advocate was struck and killed by a driver along a stretch of road that was known to be dangerous.{{cite news |title=Driver fatally strikes beloved bike advocate in Northeast, marking first 2019 D.C. cyclist death

|work=Curbed |date=April 19, 2019 |first=Andrew|last=Giambrone |url=https://dc.curbed.com/2019/4/19/18508271/dc-cycling-death-driver-vision-zero-fatality}}

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".{{cite news |last1=Lazo |first1=Luz |title=D.C. cuts speed limit to 20 mph to curb pedestrian deaths |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/dc-speed-limit-cut/2020/05/29/3be40f74-36ee-11ea-9541-9107303481a4_story.html |access-date=May 29, 2020 |agency=The Washington Post |date=May 29, 2020}} While overall traffic declined during the pandemic, DC reported 37 traffic fatalities in 2020, the most in over a decade.{{cite news |last1=Bentsen |first1=Jackie |title=Residents of DC Neighborhood Say Drivers Run Stop Signs, Endanger Pedestrians|url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/residents-of-dc-neighborhood-say-drivers-run-stop-signs-endanger-pedestrians/2810698/ |access-date=September 22, 2021 |agency=NBC Washington |date=September 22, 2021}} 2021 was deadlier, and by mid-November, the number of traffic deaths had already reached 2020's level.{{cite news |last1=Solomon |first1=Libby |title=2021 reaches 2020 traffic death numbers in DC, and it's not even December|url=https://ggwash.org/view/83107/2021-reaches-2020-traffic-death-numbers-in-dc-and-its-not-even-december |access-date= November 16, 2021 |agency=Greater Greater Washington |date= November 16, 2021}}

As part of her first State of the District Address in March 2015, Bowser promised to get the DC Streetcar "up and running". In September, Bowser as well as the director of the D.C. Department of Transportation promised that the streetcar would be operational by the end of the year.{{cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=September 18, 2015 |title=Bowser: Streetcar Will Run By End of 2015 |url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/new/loose-lips/blog/13135559/bowser-streetcar-will-run-by-end-of-2015 |work=Washington City Paper |location=Washington DC|access-date=September 18, 2017}}{{cite news |title=Big challenges in D.C. Mayor Bowser's vow to activate, expand streetcar line |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 1, 2015 |first=Michael |last=Laris |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/big-challenges-in-dc-mayor-bowsers-vow-to-activate-expand-streetcar-line/2015/04/01/ffcb5ec6-d887-11e4-b3f2-607bd612aeac_story.html}} The H Street/Benning line began public service operations on February 27, 2016.{{cite news |title=The DC Streetcar Won't Run in 2015 |work=Washingtonian |date=December 4, 2015 |first=Benjamin |last=Freed |url=http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/transportation/the-dc-streetcar-wont-run-in-2015.php}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/dc-streetcar-makes-its-first-voyages-on-h-street-is-it-really-happening/2016/02/27/bd0c3234-dd5b-11e5-891a-4ed04f4213e8_story.html |title=D.C. streetcar makes its first voyages on H Street. 'Is it really happening?' |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Michael Laris |date=February 27, 2016 |access-date=February 21, 2019}}

After Bowser took office in 2015, she created a new cabinet post to focus on development in the city's poorest areas. She named former Council candidate Courtney Snowden to the new position.{{cite news |author=Michael Neibauer |date=April 1, 2015|title=Bowser names cabinet member to focus on development in overlooked communities |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2015/04/bowser-names-cabinet-member-to-focus-on.html|work=Washington Business Journal|location=Washington DC |access-date=April 1, 2017}} In 2017, the Inspector General found that Snowden had improperly used city employees to care for her child.{{cite news |author=fox5dc.com staff

|date=November 28, 2017 |title=DC's deputy mayor used city employees to care for child during work, says Inspector General's report |url=http://www.fox5dc.com/news/dcs-deputy-mayor-used-city-employees-to-care-for-child-during-work-says-inspector-generals-report|work=Fox 5 DC |location=Washington DC |access-date=November 28, 2017}} Bowser said that appropriate management action had been taken in response to staff babysitting, without specifying what was done.{{cite news |author=Peter Jamison

|date=November 27, 2017 |title=D.C. deputy mayor used employees for babysitting, inspector general finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-deputy-mayor-used-employees-for-babysitting-inspector-general-finds/2017/11/27/ee1462d8-d3b9-11e7-95bf-df7c19270879_story.html?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |access-date=November 27, 2017}}

In October 2017, Bowser announced a $3 million infusion into housing and retail projects in D.C. Wards 7 and 8 in an effort to remedy the scarcity of grocery stores in the District's poorest wards.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mayor-bowsers-office-awards-3-million-to-begin-closing-the-grocery-gap/2017/10/19/0c0e9c80-b43f-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html Mayor Bowser's office awards $3 million to begin closing the 'grocery gap'], The Washington Post, October 19, 2017 District Wards 7 and 8 have only three grocery stores between them, or 50,000 people for every grocery store, compared to 10,000 per store in wealthy Ward 3.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-news/as-dc-prospers-supermarkets-proliferate--except-in-poor-areas/2017/06/27/412fc0f4-5122-11e7-be25-3a519335381c_story.html As D.C. prospers, supermarkets proliferate — except in poor areas], The Washington Post, June 27, 2017 Bowser awarded $2.1 million to the Jair Lynch group for redevelopment of a shopping center, and $880,000 to South Capitol Affordable Housing to assist in building out the Good Food Markets project, which also includes 195 units of affordable housing as well as commercial space. Previous attempts to attract grocery stores to these areas have failed.

In April 2016, the D.C. Trust, a government-funded entity that disbursed grants throughout the District to non-profits providing youth services, declared bankruptcy and announced plans to dissolve. The decision was attributed in part to overspending by and for staff at the agency.{{cite news |title=Mismanagement has bankrupted a D.C. nonprofit, endangering programs for at-risk youths, board members say |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 26, 2016 |first=Aaron C. |last=Davis |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mismanagement-has-bankrupted-a-dc-nonprofit-endangering-programs-for-at-risk-youth-board-members-say/2016/04/26/51f4a51c-0bb4-11e6-bfa1-4efa856caf2a_story.html}}[https://www.philanthropy.com/article/DC-Youth-Group-That-Got/236260 D.C. Youth Group That Got Taxpayer Millions Goes Bankrupt], The Chronicle of Philanthropy, April 27, 2016 The agency, also known as the City Youth Investment Trust Corp., had suffered a history of abuse and mismanagement.[https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13070799/this-was-a-disaster-youth-nonprofits-speak-out-after-d-c-trusts-collapse 'This Was a Disaster': Youth Nonprofits Speak Out After DC Trust's Collapse], Washington City Paper, April 29, 2016 Former councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. was found guilty on felony charges for embezzling $350,000 of the trust's funds between 2007 and 2009. In 2013, Congressional investigators concluded that the agency lacked controls to properly administer a $20 million-a-year, federally funded school-voucher program. Then in January 2016, the agency's board, four of whom had been appointed by Mayor Bowser, learned that a former executive director and a former senior financial officer had used funds to pay tens of thousands of dollars in credit-card charges, including some for personal use. Bowser had recently provided $700,000 in taxpayer funding to the agency. The board members did not know how much of the funding remained or how youth services could be continued.

In 2019, a 9 year old and a 10 year old were handcuffed by the Metropolitan Police Department in separate incidents, sparking public outrage after videos of the incidents were circulated. While the Attorney General said that he would review department policies, Bowser said that "every case is different" and asked whether it was appropriate to circulate photos of juveniles.{{cite news |title=10-year-old boy handcuffed in robbery case is 'totally innocent,' authorities say |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 5, 2019 |first=Peter |last=Hermann |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/10-year-old-boy-handcuffed-in-robbery-case-was-totally-innocent-authorities-say/2019/04/05/c05d4062-57de-11e9-8ef3-fbd41a2ce4d5_story.html?noredirect=on |access-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310204317/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/10-year-old-boy-handcuffed-in-robbery-case-was-totally-innocent-authorities-say/2019/04/05/c05d4062-57de-11e9-8ef3-fbd41a2ce4d5_story.html?noredirect=on }}{{cite news |title=DC Police investigating after video shows officer handcuffing 9-year-old boy |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 5, 2019 |first=Evan |last=Lambert |url=http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/us-world-news/dc-police-investigating-after-video-shows-officer-handcuffing-9-year-old-boy |access-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713155550/http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/us-world-news/dc-police-investigating-after-video-shows-officer-handcuffing-9-year-old-boy }}

In mid-May 2016, ahead of the 2016 District of Columbia Democratic primary, Bowser endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy.{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Perry |title=D.C. mayor, most council members endorse Hillary Clinton ahead of D.C. primary |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2016/05/16/d-c-mayor-most-city-council-members-endorse-hillary-clinton-ahead-of-d-c-primary/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=12 January 2021}}

Bowser delivered a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, in which she advocated for D.C. statehood.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Aaron C. |title=D.C. mayor pushes statehood issue at Democratic National Convention |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-pushes-statehood-issue-at-democratic-national-convention/2016/07/27/a75764ec-53bf-11e6-b7de-dfe509430c39_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=12 January 2021 |date=27 July 2016}}

In late January 2020, Bowser endorsed Michael Bloomberg's campaign in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.{{cite news |last1=Schwartzman |first1=Paul |last2=Nirappil |first2=Fenit |title=D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser endorses Mike Bloomberg for president |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/bowser-bloomberg-endorsement/2020/01/29/f18e31fc-42b9-11ea-aa6a-083d01b3ed18_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post}} In March, after Bloomberg had withdrawn from the race, she endorsed Joe Biden's campaign.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Elliot C. |title=Morning Roundup: Mayor Bowser Endorses Joe Biden |url=https://dcist.com/story/20/03/11/morning-roundup-mayor-bowser-endorses-joe-biden/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206170920/https://dcist.com/story/20/03/11/morning-roundup-mayor-bowser-endorses-joe-biden/ |archive-date=6 December 2020 |website=DCist |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=en |date=11 March 2020 }}

At the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Bowser delivered a speech remotely from Black Lives Matter Plaza.{{cite web |last1=Wainman |first1=Laura |last2=Valerio |first2=Mike |title='Story of our nation's capital is a story of reckoning' {{!}} Mayor Bowser speaks on racial justice at DNC |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/dc-mayor-bowser-speaks-dnc-night-1-racial-justice-black-lives-matter-plaza/65-24f499c9-bd5a-4f3c-b06b-e590870fd06f |website=wusa9.com |access-date=12 January 2021 |date=17 August 2020}}

Bowser filed to run for re-election in 2018."[https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_2128.pdf List of Democratic Candidates in the June 19, 2018 Primary Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328150405/https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=%2Fpdf_files%2Fnr_2128.pdf |date=March 28, 2018 }}". District of Columbia Board of Elections. March 22, 2018. James Butler, Ernest E. Johnson, and Jeremiah D. Stanback filed to run against her in the Democratic Party primary election. Ann C. Wilcox filed to run as a D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate."[https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_2130.pdf List of DC Statehood Green Candidates in the June 19, 2018 Primary Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329054112/https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=%2Fpdf_files%2Fnr_2130.pdf |date=March 29, 2018 }}". District of Columbia Board of Elections. March 22, 2018. No one filed as a mayoral candidate in either the Republican Party primary election or the Libertarian Party primary election."[https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_2129.pdf List of Republican Candidates in the June 19, 2018 Primary Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327211959/https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=%2Fpdf_files%2Fnr_2129.pdf |date=March 27, 2018 }}". District of Columbia Board of Elections. March 22, 2018."[https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_2131.pdf List of Libertarian Candidates in the June 19, 2018 Primary Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327211958/https://www.dcboe.org/popup.asp?url=%2Fpdf_files%2Fnr_2131.pdf |date=March 27, 2018 }}". District of Columbia Board of Elections. March 22, 2018. Noting the nominal opposition and some "stumbles" during her first term, The Washington Post endorsed Bowser's re-election, citing the District's economic prosperity and Bowser's having fulfilled her promise to restore integrity to government.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/muriel-bowser-for-dc-mayor--and-our-endorsements-for-the-dc-council/2018/06/01/5fab6cd8-642a-11e8-99d2-0d678ec08c2f_story.html?noredirect=on Muriel Bowser for D.C. mayor — and our endorsements for the D.C. Council], The Washington Post, June 1, 2018 She then won the June 19 Democratic Primary with 83% of the vote, after her most formidable potential challenger, former mayor Vincent C. Gray, declined to enter the race.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-student-a-homeless-man-and-an-ex-lawyer-who-says-dc-mayor-has-no-election-challengers/2018/03/11/9568a43e-22ef-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html|title=A student, a homeless man and an ex-lawyer: Who says D.C. mayor has no election challengers?|last=Schwartzman|first=Paul|date=March 11, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129034131/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-student-a-homeless-man-and-an-ex-lawyer-who-says-dc-mayor-has-no-election-challengers/2018/03/11/9568a43e-22ef-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/election-results/district-of-columbia/2018-primary-results|title=District of Columbia Primary Election Results|date=June 18, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124103724/https://www.washingtonpost.com/election-results/district-of-columbia/2018-primary-results/}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/its-official-dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-has-no-serious-primary-challengers/2018/03/22/f8a42c06-2df5-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html|title=It's official: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has no serious primary challengers|last=Jamison|first=Peter|date=March 22, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127172250/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/its-official-dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-has-no-serious-primary-challengers/2018/03/22/f8a42c06-2df5-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html}} She went on to win the November 8 general election with just under 80% of the vote against two Independent candidates and one Libertarian.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/election-results/district-of-columbia|title=District of Columbia Election Results|date=April 6, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104135825/https://www.washingtonpost.com/election-results/district-of-columbia/}}

During the election, Bowser sought to unseat incumbent Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who had frequently questioned the mayor. Bowser endorsed political newcomer Dionne Reeder and provided her with volunteer and fundraising support. Reeder lost by a significant margin and Bowser was not able to deliver a victory in her home base of Ward 4.{{cite news |last=King |first=Colby |date=November 7, 2018 |title=Muriel Bowser won her reelection battle, but she lost clout citywide |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bowser-won-her-reelection-battle-but-she-lost-clout-citywide/2018/11/07/56dd3e8a-e29f-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, DC |access-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310204317/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bowser-won-her-reelection-battle-but-she-lost-clout-citywide/2018/11/07/56dd3e8a-e29f-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html?noredirect=on }}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2004 Advisory Neighborhood Commission, 4B09, general election[http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Summary_2.pdf Certified Summary Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725222439/http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Summary_2.pdf |date=July 25, 2011 }} (pdf). District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 18, 2004.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel E. Bowser

| votes = 966

| percentage = 98

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 22

| percentage = 2

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2006 Advisory Neighborhood Commission, 4B09, general election{{cite web |url= http://www.dcboee.org/nws/news_frame.asp?filename=pn_93.pdf&mid=11&yid=2006&type=Public%20Notices&hl=t |title= Certified Official Results Report |format= pdf |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |date= November 21, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061130000658/http://www.dcboee.org/nws/news_frame.asp?filename=pn_93.pdf&mid=11&yid=2006&type=Public%20Notices&hl=t |archive-date= November 30, 2006 }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel E. Bowser

| votes = 601

| percentage = 90

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 70

| percentage = 10

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2007 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, special election[https://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/pn_111.pdf Certified Official Results Report] (pdf). District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. May 11, 2007.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel Bowser

| votes = 5,064

| percentage = 40

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Michael A. Brown

| votes = 3,433

| percentage = 27

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Charles Gaither

| votes = 683

| percentage = 5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Dwight E. Singleton

| votes = 602

| percentage = 5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = D.C. Statehood Green Party

| candidate = Renee Bowser

| votes = 583

| percentage = 5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Graylan Scott Hagler

| votes = 468

| percentage = 4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Tony Towns

| votes = 390

| percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Robert G. Childs

| votes = 339

| percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Artee Milligan

| votes = 170

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent (politician)

| candidate = Judi Jones

| votes = 154

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Carroll Green

| votes = 117

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Lisa P. Bass

| votes = 110

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Douglas Ned Sloan

| votes = 98

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marlena D. Edwards

| votes = 97

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = T. A. Uqdah

| votes = 82

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Lisa Comfort Bradford

| votes = 72

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Michael T. Green

| votes = 49

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James Clark

| votes = 17

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Roy Howell

| votes = 10

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 29

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2008 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, Democratic Party primary election[http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final.asp?electionid=1&prev=0&result_type=3 Certified Results]. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. September 26, 2008.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel Bowser

| votes = 7,132

| percentage = 75

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Baruti Jahi

| votes = 1,800

| percentage = 19

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul E. Montague

| votes = 302

| percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Malik F. Mendenhall-Johnson

| votes = 236

| percentage = 2

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 58

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2008 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, general election[https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/election_result_new/results_final_gen.asp?prev=0&electionid=2&result_type=3 Certified Results]. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 24, 2008.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel Bowser

| votes = 30,888

| percentage = 97

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 936

| percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2012 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, Democratic Party primary election{{cite web |date= April 19, 2012 |title= Council Primary Official Results |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics |url= http://www.voteresults.org/Results2012/DCBOEEApril32012Summary.pdf |access-date= April 23, 2012 |archive-date= July 10, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120710172058/http://www.voteresults.org/Results2012/DCBOEEApril32012Summary.pdf }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel Bowser

| votes = 7,541

| percentage = 66

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Renee L. Bowser

| votes = 1,523

| percentage = 13

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Max Skolnik

| votes = 1,042

| percentage = 9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Baruti Jahi

| votes = 619

| percentage = 5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Judi Jones

| votes = 371

| percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Calvin Gurley

| votes = 268

| percentage = 2

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 32

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2012 Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 4, general election[http://www.voteresults.org/default1112.asp Certified Results]. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 6, 2012.

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel Bowser

| votes = 33,045

| percentage = 97

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 933

| percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2014 Mayor of the District of Columbia, Democratic Party primary election'{{cite web |date= April 1, 2014 |title= Mayoral Primary Official Results |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections |url= https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2014/April-1-Primary-Election |access-date= November 16, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140412074919/https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2014/April-1-Primary-Election |archive-date= April 12, 2014 }} }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel E. Bowser

| votes = 42,045

| percentage = 43

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Vincent C. Gray

| votes = 31,613

| percentage = 33

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Tommy Wells

| votes = 12,393

| percentage = 13

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Jack Evans

| votes = 4,877

| percentage = 5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Andy Shallal

| votes = 3,196

| percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Vincent Orange

| votes = 1,946

| percentage = 2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Reta Lewis

| votes = 490

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Carlos Allen

| votes = 120

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 235

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2014 Mayor of the District of Columbia, general election{{cite web |date= November 4, 2014 |title= General Election Official Results |work= District of Columbia Board of Elections |url= https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2014/November-4-General-Election |access-date= November 5, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151220165436/https://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/2014/November-4-General-Election |archive-date= December 20, 2015 }} }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Muriel E. Bowser

| votes = 88,439

| percentage = 54

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent (politician)

| candidate = David A. Catania

| votes = 57,375

| percentage = 35

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent (politician)

| candidate = Carol Schwartz

| votes = 11,625

| percentage = 7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = D.C. Statehood Green Party

| candidate = Faith Dane

| votes = 1,348

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Bruce Majors

| votes = 1,164

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent (politician)

| candidate = Nestor Djonkam

| votes = 421

| percentage = 0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party =  

| candidate = write-in

| votes = 1,493

| percentage = 1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2018 Mayor of the District of Columbia, Democratic Party primary election[https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2018-Primary-Election 2018 Primary Election Results], District of Columbia Board of Elections}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Muriel Bowser (incumbent)

|votes = 58,431

|percentage = 80

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = James Quincy Butler

|votes = 7,532

|percentage = 10

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ernest E. Johnson

|votes = 4,444

|percentage = 6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Write-in

|votes = 2,787

|percentage = 4

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes =

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title=2018 Mayor of the District of Columbia, general election{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/election-results/district-of-columbia/|title=District of Columbia Election Results|access-date=November 16, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Muriel Bowser

|votes = 162,199

|percentage = 80

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = D.C. Statehood Green Party

|candidate = Ann Wilcox

|votes = 19,979

|percentage = 10

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Dustin Canter

|votes = 14,783

|percentage = 7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Martin Moulton

|votes = 7,152

|percentage = 3

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 204,113

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Democratic primary results{{cite web |title=Primary Election 2022 - Certified Results |url=https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2022-Primary-Election |website=District of Columbia Board of Elections |access-date=17 July 2022 |date=15 July 2022}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Muriel Bowser (incumbent)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=62,391|percentage=49.01}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Robert White|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=51,557|percentage=40.50}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Trayon White|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=11,193|percentage=8.79}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=James Butler|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,753|percentage=1.38}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=406|percentage=0.32}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=127,300|percentage=100}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = n/a

|candidate = Overvotes

|votes = 219

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = n/a

|candidate = Undervotes

|votes = 812

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |title=2022 Washington, D.C., mayoral election{{Cite web |title=DCBOE Election Results |url=https://electionresults.dcboe.org/election_results/2022-General-Election |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=electionresults.dcboe.org}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=District of Columbia Democratic State Committee|candidate=Muriel Bowser (incumbent)|votes=137,206|percentage=74.66|change=-1.73}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Rodney Grant|votes=27,355|percentage=14.88|change=N/A}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=District of Columbia Republican Party|candidate=Stacia Hall|votes=10,743|percentage=5.85|change=N/A}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Dennis Sobin|votes=2,366|percentage=1.29|change=-2.08}}{{Election box write-in with party link

|votes =6,115

|percentage =3.33

|change =-0.70

}}{{Election box total

|votes =183785

|percentage =100

}}{{Election box end}}

• Why Washington’s sports teams should stay in Washington, Washington Post, February 9, 2024{{Cite news |date=2024-02-09 |title=Opinion {{!}} Why Washington's sports teams should stay in Washington |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/09/mayor-bowser-washington-sports-teams-arena-ted-leonsis/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}

Bowser is a lifelong Catholic.{{cite news |title=Muriel Bowser Is No Adrian Fenty

|work=Washingtonian |date=September 24, 2014 |first=Harry |last=Jaffe |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/09/24/muriel-bowser-is-no-adrian-fenty/}}

In 2015, Bowser bought a home in Colonial Village,{{cite news |title=Here's what Mayor Muriel Bowser paid for her new home |work=Washington Business Journal |date=January 4, 2016 |first=Michael |last=Neibauer |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2015/12/heres-what-mayor-muriel-bowser-paid-for-her-new.html|access-date=January 4, 2016}} moving from a Riggs Park duplex{{cite news |title=Muriel's Vetting |work=Washington City Paper |date=April 26, 2013 |first=Alan |last=Suderman |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/44232/muriels-vetting-who-is-muriel-bowser-and-is-she-ready/}} where she had lived since 2000.Drake, Ingrid. [http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/publications/dcnorth/2007_Jan/34-39-DCN-0107.pdf Possible Contenders in the Ward 4 Race]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (pdf). DC North. January 2007.

In May 2018, Bowser announced that she had adopted a baby whom she named Miranda Elizabeth Bowser.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-says-she-has-adopted-a-baby/2018/05/21/cd14bf22-5d5e-11e8-b2b8-08a538d9dbd6_story.html|title=D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says she has adopted a baby|last=Weil|first=Martin|date=May 21, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 22, 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310204335/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-on-adopting-a-baby-i-had-so-much-to-share/2018/05/22/ef6afb36-5d5e-11e8-a4a4-c070ef53f315_story.html}}{{cite news|last1=Nirappil|first1=Fenit|date=September 6, 2018|title=D.C. Mayor Bowser shows off baby for first time in 'Today' show interview|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-shows-off-baby-for-first-time-in-today-show-interview/2018/09/05/2c3fd10c-b15c-11e8-a20b-5f4f84429666_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=12 November 2020|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129170133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-shows-off-baby-for-first-time-in-today-show-interview/2018/09/05/2c3fd10c-b15c-11e8-a20b-5f4f84429666_story.html}} Bowser's eldest sister, Mercia, died of COVID-19 on February 24, 2021. Bowser wrote, "Mercia was loved immensely and will be missed greatly, as she joins the legion of angels who have gone home too soon due to the pandemic."{{cite news |last1=Zauzmer |first1=Julie |title=Mercia Bowser, sister of D.C. mayor, dies of coronavirus at age 64 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mercia-bowser-covid/2021/02/24/8eed83a6-76dc-11eb-948d-19472e683521_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=25 February 2021 |date=24 February 2021}}

Her father Joe Bowser died on August 2, 2024 at the age of 88.

• List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
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{{Commons category}}

• [http://murielformayor.com/ Campaign website]
• [http://mayor.dc.gov/ Official site]
• {{C-SPAN|9265027}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Mayor of the District of Columbia|years=2014, 2018, 2022}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of the District of Columbia|years=2015–present}}

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{{Current U.S. governors}}

{{District of Columbia political officials}}

{{Mayors of the largest cities in the world by GDP}}

{{Mayors of the 50 largest U.S. cities}}

{{Mayors of US State Capitals}}

{{Leaders of the District of Columbia}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowser, Muriel}}

Category:1972 births

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