Eleanor Holmes Norton commits to reelection, her office pumps brakes
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 87-year-old Delegate of the District of Columbia, has confirmed her intent to run for reelection despite concerns about her age as she approaches 88. Addressing questions about her candidacy, she stated, “I’m going to run,” and expressed confusion over why her age was a topic of discussion. However, her office has been cautious, indicating she’s in discussions with family and advisors regarding her campaign strategy.
Norton, who has served as 1990 and advocates for D.C. statehood, faces scrutiny from some Washington officials regarding her engagement and effectiveness on Capitol Hill.Notably, D.C. Councilwoman Christina Henderson and Brooke Pinto have raised concerns about her current involvement as being insufficient, especially given ongoing challenges like a $1 billion budget shortfall facing the city. Moreover, there are worries about the implications of the Trump administration’s actions on D.C.’s autonomy.
In a recent interview, when asked about essential legislation needed for the district, Norton seemed to misinterpret the question, leading to further doubts about her ability to advocate for her constituents effectively. These issues have prompted discussions that include comparisons with President Biden’s cognitive health as well, as mentioned in a recent book addressing the topic.
Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton, 87, commits to reelection as her office pumps brakes
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the District of Columbia‘s congressional representative, said she plans to run for reelection next year as she fields age concerns, turning 88 this week.
“I’m going to run,” Norton told reporters for Politico and NBC News. “I don’t know why anyone would even ask me.”
However, Norton’s office stopped short of confirming she will run in conversations with the Washington Examiner.
“She wants to run but is in conversations with her family and close advisers to determine the best course of action,” a spokesperson for Norton said.
First elected in 1990 and a long advocate of the district achieving statehood, Norton has continued to push legislation to grant it greater autonomy. However, some officials have raised concerns that Norton, the oldest member of Congress, is not as present and involved on Capitol Hill as she once was.
“I just feel like the past few months, we’ve been behind — we’re reactive,” D.C. Councilwoman Christina Henderson told the Washington Post, raising concerns over Norton’s level of engagement.
The Trump administration has been accused of infringing on the district’s home rule, which allows it to govern independently of the federal government.
Councilwoman Brooke Pinto said the district is facing great uncertainty over its autonomy and that she does not think Norton is performing at the level necessary to advocate her constituents, in a statement to the Washington Post.
“Our future depends in part on building relationships with the federal government and having an effective advocate in Congress on our behalf, and I do worry about where things stand right now with that advocacy,” Pinto said. “I don’t think it’s where it needs to be.”
The city is facing a $1 billion shortfall in its 2025 budget due to a stopgap measure failing to pass Congress in March. While the Senate passed legislation to fix the shortfall, the House has yet to pick up the measure.
Politico asked Norton if it was important for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to pick up the legislation, to which she replied: “No.”
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However, her spokesperson suggested that Norton misunderstood the question, believing that she was asked about district-related bills on the House floor. She meant to say that those bills went against her constituents’ best interests.
Concerns over Norton’s ability to serve constituents come amid revived discussions over former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline while serving in the Oval Office, prompted by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s new book Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, which details the extent to which White House aides hid Biden’s ailing health from the public, press, and members of his own administration.
Lauren Green contributed to this report.
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