Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Tuesday she will not seek re-election next year for a fourth term.
Bowser, who has been mayor since 2015, says she was looking to the future and that her administration had "laid the groundwork for others to build upon".
The Democratic mayor oversaw the US capital city through several periods of turmoil over the last decade, most recently clashing with US President Donald Trump over his deployment of National Guard troops across the city as well as the mass lay-offs of federal workers.
Her decision is likely to open up a crowded field of candidates seeking to replace her in the Democratic stronghold.
"It has been the honour of my life to be your mayor," Bowser said in a video announcement. "But today, with a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not seek a fourth term... For the next 12 months, let's run through the tape and keep winning for DC."
