Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.'s longtime delegate to Congress, announces she's retiring

WASHINGTON — Eleanor Holmes Norton, the nonvoting delegate representing the District of Columbia in Congress, announced Tuesday that she will retire after 36 years.

Norton, 88, has represented Washington, D.C., in the House since 1991 and has been a longtime advocate for statehood.

“With fire in my soul and the facts on my side, I have raised hell about the injustice of denying 700,000 taxpaying Americans the same rights given to residents of the states for 33 years," Norton said in a written statement.

“Although I’ve decided not to seek reelection, I will never falter in my commitment to the residents I have long championed. I will continue to serve as D.C.’s Warrior on the Hill until the end of my current term," she added.

The announcement comes two days after Norton's team filed a termination report with the FEC, signaling an end to her campaign. It follows months of chatter about her declining health, causing a stir after she insisted last summer she would run for re-election, a statement her own staff disputed at the time.

Even some of Norton's allies had suggested it's time for her to go. Some supporters noted that she had taken a step back from the spotlight, arguing that the District needed a representative who would be more active in protecting D.C. sovereignty, advancing the fight for statehood and battling recent moves by President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress to reverse local laws in the deep-blue city.

While Washington, D.C.'s delegate cannot vote on the House floor, they can serve on and vote in committees and play an active role in drafting and shaping legislation. They can also speak on the floor.

In the statement announcing her retirement, Norton’s office touted achievements throughout her career like “the revitalization of entire sections of the city — the Wharf, Capitol Riverfront, NOMA, Walter Reed and St. Elizabeths West campus for the Department of Homeland Security,” as well as “the transfer of the RFK Stadium site to the District of Columbia,” along with education programs.

The 2026 election in Washington, D.C., includes an array of candidates who have already jumped in to replace Norton — city council members, a former legislative staffer to Norton and other former congressional aides.

“Thank you to my constituents for choosing and trusting me to fight for you in Congress 18 times," Norton said in her statement. "I will leave this institution knowing that I have given you everything I have. And while my service in Congress is ending, my advocacy for your rights, your dignity, and your capacity to govern yourselves is not.”

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com