Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 88-year-old delegate representing Washington, D.C., in the House of Representatives without voting rights, is being urged by a notable Democratic strategist to consider 2026 as her final complete year in office.
Donna Brazile, a former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, who was Norton’s campaign manager during her initial election in 1990 and later served as her chief of staff for eight years, expressed in a Washington Post opinion piece on Monday that Norton shouldn’t pursue re-election in the upcoming midterms.
Brazile, 65, called Norton her “dear friend for 44 years,” her “role model and mentor” and “a second mother.”
“Currently, Norton, a Democrat, holds the distinction of being the oldest member in the House. Although she was once a vibrant force, the demands in D.C. now call for the kind of dynamic representation she gave for many years,” Brazile remarked.
“It’s in both her best interest and that of D.C. for her to complete her current term and then conclude her remarkable tenure in Congress by not running again next year,” she further stated.
Brazile elaborated on Norton’s numerous achievements while in Congress but pointed out that Washington is presently facing unprecedented challenges, and a new defender is required to address these.
“Understanding her commitment to Congress after dedicating so much to D.C., it’s only natural she would wish to stay. Service defines her, yet no position is forever, and everyone is replaceable. As I’ve personally conveyed to her, retiring from Congress represents the right step forward for both her and the District,” Brazile wrote.
She noted that members of Congress such as Rep. Jerry Nadler, 78; Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, 78; Sen. Dick Durbin, 80; and Sen. Mitch McConnell, 83, all decided not to seek re-election at ages younger than Norton.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is the oldest member of the Senate. He turns 92 this week.
Norton said twice in June that she would seek re-election, but her office walked it back both times. Norton told Axios this month that she would “of course” run for re-election — this time, her office did not walk back.
Norton’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night on Brazile’s op-ed or Norton’s plans for 2026.
Norton already faces primary challenges from several candidates, including former DNC official Kinney Zalesne.
Norton brushed off reports of criticism this year about whether she was fit to be D.C.’s delegate as the Trump administration placed the district in its crosshairs.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said in an interview with The New York Times in June that Norton was “an icon,” but he said that “it’s going to take a new generation of leadership to win statehood and the battles of the day.”
Norton appeared to struggle to walk on her own as she left a news conference about the federal crime crackdown in D.C. two weeks ago. She held on to the arm of an aide who walked her up to the podium and told her, “I’ll be right there.” After she spoke, Norton seemed to hold on to the podium until the aide returned to help support her as she walked away.
Norton has served in the House since 1991. Before that, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter named her the first woman to lead the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
