Muriel Bowser

D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser has begun showing up at residents' doors asking them to support her as the city's next mayor, walking neighborhoods in three wards over the weekend. Bowser, who announced her 2014 campaign for mayor last month, is hoping to replicate the success of her political mentor, Adrian M. Fenty (D), who began knocking on doors two years before his winning 2006 bid for mayor. On Saturday, Bowser joined several other former Fenty staffers — who still refer to themselves as the...

Mayoral politics and governance collided Thursday as several potential contenders in next year's race pushed through major changes to Mayor Vincent C. Gray's goals. The moves set the stage for a contentious two weeks as the D.C. Council rushes to complete work on the budget and mayoral hopefuls face a Democratic primary in April. On Thursday, the council slowed redevelopment projects near the Anacostia River, added money for school librarians, increased the ranks of parking-enforcement officers and...

D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser will announce Saturday that she is launching a run for mayor, according to campaign advisers, making her the first to officially enter the 2014 race. Bowser, 40, has represented Ward 4 as a Democrat since 2007 and has been much discussed in recent years as a potential citywide candidate. Endorsed by Adrian M. Fenty (D) to fill his council seat after he became mayor, Bowser has followed a similar path, focusing on constituent services and quality-of-life issues.

D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser has begun showing up at residents' doors asking them to support her as the city's next mayor, walking neighborhoods in three wards over the weekend. Bowser, who announced her 2014 campaign for mayor last month, is hoping to replicate the success of her political mentor, Adrian M. Fenty (D), who began knocking on doors two years before his winning 2006 bid for mayor. On Saturday, Bowser joined several other former Fenty staffers — who still refer to themselves as the...

D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser launched a mayoral bid Saturday, kicking off a year-long Democratic primary campaign that is likely to center on the pace of progress in city government, the ethics of elected officials and the direction of the city's remarkable growth. Promising to fight for a "fair chance and a seat at the table" for all District residents, Bowser made her announcement in front of her childhood home in North Michigan Park, a neighborhood of brick duplexes and modest detached homes that have housed...

Mayoral politics and governance collided Thursday as several potential contenders in next year's race pushed through major changes to Mayor Vincent C. Gray's goals. The moves set the stage for a contentious two weeks as the D.C. Council rushes to complete work on the budget and mayoral hopefuls face a Democratic primary in April. On Thursday, the council slowed redevelopment projects near the Anacostia River, added money for school librarians, increased the ranks of...

In just under a year, the 2014 Democratic primary will determine the party's nominee to be the next D.C. mayor, with the winner all but certain to go on to victory in November. One hopeful has already thrown her hat into the ring, and others are poised to join her. It's a perfect moment for a little hot-stove sizing-up of the field. First, the paramount question: Will the incumbent, embattled Mayor Vincent C. Gray , run for a second term? Right now, you can't rule him out. In fact, if you observe him up close at...

D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie endorsed colleague Anita Bonds at a campaign event Thursday night, which may help solidify support in Ward 5 behind Bonds ahead of the April 23 special election . Around 7 p.m., the Bonds campaign uploaded photos on Twitter of McDuffie (D-Ward 5) and Bonds (I-At large) embracing . McDuffie, the president pro-tempore of the council, also vowed to put "his full support behind Anita Bonds. " In a statement supplied by the Bonds campaign, McDuffie said "Ward 5 residents know,...

Former District mayor Sharon Pratt endorsed Anita Bonds's bid for the D.C. Council during a fundraiser at the City Club of Washington on Wednesday, according to the Bonds campaign. Pratt, who was mayor between 1991 and 1995, has generally shied away from politics since she left office. But Pratt occasionally wades into competitive races, including supporting Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) during his 2010 campaign. Like Gray, Bonds worked in Pratt's administration, serving as a special assistant in the mayor's office.

D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At large) told supporters Tuesday night that he is endorsing Democrat Elissa Silverman in the April 23 special election for an at-large council seat. Grosso, the council's newest member , made his announcement minutes after former council member Michael A. Brown announced he's dropping out of the race. "After much thought and reflection on this critical race, I have determined that Elissa's qualifications and strong grassroots campaign make her a viable...

D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie endorsed colleague Anita Bonds at a campaign event Thursday night, which may help solidify support in Ward 5 behind Bonds ahead of the April 23 special election . Around 7 p.m., the Bonds campaign uploaded photos on Twitter of McDuffie (D-Ward 5) and Bonds (I-At large) embracing . McDuffie, the president pro-tempore of the council, also vowed to put "his full support behind Anita Bonds. " In a statement supplied by the Bonds campaign, McDuffie said "Ward 5 residents know, love and respect...

In just under a year, the 2014 Democratic primary will determine the party's nominee to be the next D.C. mayor, with the winner all but certain to go on to victory in November. One hopeful has already thrown her hat into the ring, and others are poised to join her. It's a perfect moment for a little hot-stove sizing-up of the field. First, the paramount question: Will the incumbent, embattled Mayor Vincent C. Gray , run for a second term? Right now, you can't rule him out. In fact, if you observe him up close at...

D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At large) told supporters Tuesday night that he is endorsing Democrat Elissa Silverman in the April 23 special election for an at-large council seat. Grosso, the council's newest member , made his announcement minutes after former council member Michael A. Brown announced he's dropping out of the race. "After much thought and reflection on this critical race, I have determined that Elissa's qualifications and strong grassroots campaign make her a viable...

D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser launched a mayoral bid Saturday, kicking off a year-long Democratic primary campaign that is likely to center on the pace of progress in city government, the ethics of elected officials and the direction of the city's remarkable growth. Bowser made her announcement in front of her childhood home in North Michigan Park, a working-class Northeast neighborhood of brick duplexes and modest detached homes that have housed working-class, mostly African American Washingtonians for generations.

D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser launched a mayoral bid Saturday, kicking off a year-long Democratic primary campaign that is likely to center on the pace of progress in city government, the ethics of elected officials and the direction of the city's remarkable growth. Promising to fight for a "fair chance and a seat at the table" for all District residents, Bowser made her announcement in front of her childhood home in North Michigan Park, a neighborhood of brick duplexes and modest detached...

Former District mayor Sharon Pratt endorsed Anita Bonds's bid for the D.C. Council during a fundraiser at the City Club of Washington on Wednesday, according to the Bonds campaign. Pratt, who was mayor between 1991 and 1995, has generally shied away from politics since she left office. But Pratt occasionally wades into competitive races, including supporting Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) during his 2010 campaign. Like Gray, Bonds worked in Pratt's administration, serving as a special assistant in...

THE MEMBERS of the D.C. Council who supported the failed effort to switch the city's lottery business to a new company had no problem explaining their votes. Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) cited the millions of dollars that would be saved. Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) talked about the competitive process that produced a better deal. Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) warned about the loss of additional revenue during tight budget times. David A. Catania (I-At Large) said that the integrity of how the city does business was at stake.

Chairman Phil Mendelson hoped his sweeping reorganization of the D.C. Council would give members a chance to move beyond the ethics scandals and investigations of the past two years. But it's unlikely he saw those changes as a platform from which to campaign for the 2014 mayoral race. Now the political jockeying has begun. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) said that as the new public safety committee chairman, he wants to push the city to employ more surveillance cameras to fight...