Longtime DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Retiring
U.S. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a cornerstone of District of Columbia politics for 35 years, has officially confirmed her retirement. The announcement followed the filing of paperwork by her team to terminate her re-election campaign.
“With pride in our accomplishments, gratitude to DC, and confidence in the next generation, I announced I’ll retire at the end of this term,” said Norton, who currently serves as the oldest member of Congress. “The privilege of public service is inseparable from the responsibility to recognize when it’s time to lift up the next generation of leaders. For D.C., that time has come.”
The decision from this revered giant in local and national politics follows recent calls for her to step aside. Some colleagues and staff had expressed concerns regarding her ability to serve amidst signs of decline. These concerns became more prominent during a federal crackdown in the nation’s capital, where President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency despite local data showing crime at a decades low. This executive action was seen by many as a threat to the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
Despite the challenges of the current term, Norton remains focused on her lifelong mission. “While my service in Congress is ending, my advocacy for your rights, your dignity, and your capacity to govern yourselves is not,” she stated.
Norton has long been the champion of D.C. statehood. First elected as a non-voting member of Congress in 1990, her resume is one of historic achievement. She was an accomplished attorney who won a case before the Supreme Court and served as a tenured professor at Georgetown Law. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed her as the first woman to lead the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Furthermore, she was a key organizer for the 1963 March on Washington.
The Congressional Black Caucus reacted to the news by saluting the woman they call the dean of the caucus. CBC Chairwoman Yvette D. Clarke described her as a guiding force who shared wisdom and helped shape generations of leadership. “In the District of Columbia, Congresswoman Norton has been a fierce defender and advocate for D.C. Home Rule and statehood on behalf of residents who have long been denied voting representation in the national legislature,” Clarke said. “The CBC is deeply grateful for her leadership, mentorship, and lasting impact on D.C. and our nation.”
D.C. Councilman Robert White, a major candidate in the 2026 primary, also praised the outgoing delegate. He called her an icon with a storied career that transformed civil rights. “Congresswoman Norton has fought every day to advance civil and human rights, expand gender equality, promote inclusive economic growth, and strengthen a judiciary that reflects the full diversity of the American people,” White said. “Without Congresswoman Norton’s leadership, many of the neighborhoods and iconic developments in the District as we know it today would not exist, and the movement for statehood would be dramatically less advanced.”
The primary election for the U.S. delegate of D.C. is scheduled for June 26. Given the political landscape of the district, the winner of this primary is widely expected to secure the seat in the general election.
Longtime DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Retiring was originally published on praisedc.com
