DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton terminates campaign, indicating she won’t seek reelection

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 88-year-old who’s served as Washington, D.C.’s nonvoting representative in Congress for 18 terms, won’t seek reelection, documents filed by her office indicate.

Norton’s campaign filed a termination notice with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday, signaling the end of her campaign. The report tells the FEC that a campaign no longer plans to receive or spend money.

News4 is reaching out to Norton’s office for comment.

In the past year, as President Donald Trump intervened in D.C.’s affairs, even longtime allies called on Norton to step down. That included Donna Brazile, a onetime Norton chief of staff.

“She is no longer the dynamo she once was, at a time when D.C. needs the kind of energetic representation in Congress she provided for decades,” Brazile wrote in a Washington Post opinion essay.

Last year, Norton was scammed in her home by people who said they were part of a cleaning crew, her office told News4. The suspects charged almost $4,400 to her credit card for work they did not perform, police said.

At-Large Councilmember Robert White previously announced he would run to take the seat. D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto also had plans to run for the seat, sources told News4 in the fall.

D.C. elects a delegate to the U.S. House. That elected official can introduce legislation and sit on committees, but doesn’t have a vote in the House.

Norton’s departure represents another major shakeup for local politics in 2026. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced she won’t seek reelection, leaving the top position in open. Multiple D.C. Council members are also departing or running for higher offices.