Muriel Bowser facing lack of challengers in DC mayoral race despite education scandals

WASHINGTON - The deadline to enter the mayoral primary in the District of Columbia is more than two weeks away, but there are currently no challengers to face off against Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The deadline for the June primary is March 21, but at this point, no opponents have come forward to pose any sort of significant challenge to Bowser. However, she is not rounding out her first term without flaws. Washington Post reporter Paul Schwartzman recently wrote about the lack of opposition currently against the current mayor despite scandals involving her administration.

"The graduation rates in the high schools are now in question, her school chancellor violated his own policy as far as where he sent his child," Schwartzman said. "These are issues that are not escaping the notice of Washingtonians, but no one stepped forward to challenge her so she doesn't really have a problem in the immediate sense."

He added, "I think also people are really focused on [President Donald] Trump. I think Trump eats a lot of oxygen and I think that people don't have the bandwidth for much more than Trump."

Mayor Bowser has accomplishments to tout with the unemployment and crime rate both down.

"She is doing a good job because violence is down," said one D.C. resident. "A lot of people are not dying."

"She is doing terrific," another resident said. "It's a big change in D.C. A real big change."

"It's a lot of things that need to be done and addressed to make a better community and I feel she is not doing a good job," said another.

"She is doing a little better, but she is not doing what she was expected. I thought she was going to do better, but she's got my vote though," another District voter said.

FOX 5 has reached out to the mayor's campaign for comment on the lack of opposition she is facing, but has not heard back as of Monday evening.

If Bowser wins re-election, she will be the first incumbent mayoral candidate to win a second term since Anthony Williams in 2002.