Eleanor Holmes Norton, 89, Will Not Seek 19th Term as D.C. Delegate

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton announced she would not seek reelection to a 19th term as the District of Columbia’s nonvoting delegate. Norton, 89, has served in the role for more than 34 years. She did not endorse a successor even though two former staffers are running.

President Donald Trump has discussed invoking the Home Rule Act in Washington as recently as last week. He previously invoked the act in August 2025 to declare a public safety emergency and place the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control for up to 30 days.

“Well, I wouldn’t like it, and maybe we’d take back Washington and run it on the federal basis,” Trump said of mayoral front-runner Janeese Lewis George.

“We won’t put up with it. We’re not going to lose our businesses. ” The federal takeover of the police department ended last September, but the National Guard remains in the city under Trump’s order.

Republican governors have also sent some of their Guard troops to Washington. C. Council and former legislative aide to Norton, has raised roughly $700,000. ’s shadow delegation.

5 million. She has focused on public safety and said she would act as “our full-time quarterback” in strengthening relationships with Congress and the White House. Zalesne, a former local school board chairwoman who worked for the Clinton administration and the Democratic National Committee, is running on her national political experience.

Norton won the 2024 election with more than 80 percent of the vote. The Democratic primary for her seat is scheduled for June 16. The District uses ranked-choice voting after voters approved the system in 2024.