Muriel Elizabeth Bowser (born August 2, 1972, in Washington, D.C.) is an American politician and the current Mayor of the District of Columbia, a position she has held since January 2, 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she grew up in the North Michigan Park neighborhood and attended local public schools, including graduating from Elizabeth Seton High School and later earning a B.A. from Chatham University and an M.P.A. from American University. Bowser previously served as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 4 from 2007 to 2015, after being elected in a 2007 special election. Before entering politics, she worked in the private sector, including roles in property management and community organizing. Her election as mayor marked her as the second woman to hold the office (following Sharon Pratt) and she has since won three consecutive terms, becoming the first African-American woman to achieve this in D.C. history. As mayor, she oversees city development, budgeting, approvals for major projects, public safety, and infrastructure, including real estate developments and sports facilities. Her administration has focused on economic development, affordable housing, and education reform, while navigating challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Bowser's leadership style emphasizes pragmatism and bipartisanship, and she has advocated for equity and opportunity, drawing from her roots in a working-class family (her father, Joseph Bowser, was a traffic court judge and her mother, Joan Bowser, worked in the court system). She remains a prominent figure in Democratic circles nationally and has been involved in issues such as D.C. statehood, hosting the 2020 Black Lives Matter Plaza protests, and managing the city's response to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.