Eleanor Holmes Norton announces retirement at end of term

DC's longtime delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton prepares to step aside

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s longtime delegate to Congress, has filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign. Norton, 88, has had a career that has spanned more than three decades on Capitol Hill. 

WASHINGTON - Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s longtime delegate to Congress, has announced her retirement at the end of her term.

Her campaign filed a termination report with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday. Norton, 88, has had a career that has spanned more than three decades on Capitol Hill. 

"With fire in my soul and the facts on my side, I’ve raised hell about the injustice of denying 700K taxpaying Americans in DC the same rights given to residents of the states for 35 years," she wrote in a post online. "Now, 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."

Norton prepares to ride off into political sunset: NOTUS

A weekend filing by the campaign of longtime D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton signals the end of her re-election campaign, but while many political figures are lauding her trailblazing career, she hasn't said anything yet herself. Taylor Giorno of NOTUS has more on The Final 5 with Jim Lokay.

The backstory:

Norton has represented D.C. since 1991 as its sole, nonvoting member of the House.

Her decision to end her reelection campaign comes after months of growing scrutiny over her age and effectiveness.  

What they're saying:

"Eleanor Holmes Norton has been a warrior for us, three and a half decades of service, and she's delivered a lot. And people forget because she's been so effective that she doesn't have a vote," said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Sunday to FOX 5's David Kaplan. "She's been able to help us deliver even on our control of [Franklin Park}, the Wharf, the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, so many things that have put D.C. residents to work and created more economic opportunity for the city."

D.C. Mayor: Crews fully deployed as cold locks in snow

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser joined FOX 5 DC out in the snow in Franklin Park. 

What's next:

Her retirement sets the stage for a competitive Democratic primary in an overwhelmingly Democratic city. Among those running to replace her are D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto and at-large Councilmember Robert White, both of whom have launched campaigns to succeed Norton in Congress.