Chicago – October 14, 2025
As federal troops patrol the nation’s capital and masked agents detain District of Columbia residents, calls are mounting for Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington’s 18-term nonvoting House delegate, to step aside. At 88, Norton’s diminished public presence and perceived lack of resistance to Republican President Donald Trump’s intervention in the city have drawn criticism.
In August, Trump issued an emergency order federalizing the city’s police force to address rising crime, limiting D.C.’s autonomy under its 1973 Home Rule Act. While the order expired in September, a federal presence remains, compounding challenges for local governance.
Norton’s visibility waned during this federal escalation, with city officials like Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb leading opposition efforts. Some longtime allies, including former chief of staff Donna Brazile, urge Norton to retire to allow a new generation of leaders to emerge. Norton, however, plans to seek reelection in 2026 despite mounting competition from members of the D.C. Council.
Her role, though nonvoting, is vital as Washington strives to regain self-governance amid escalating federal oversight, making the coming election a crucial moment for the city’s future.
