D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Thursday she wants Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City and a Democratic presidential nominee, to be the next occupant of the White House.
“We can resolve our nation’s most pressing problems if we have the right leaders in place to turn innovative ideas into reality,” Bowser said with Bloomberg by her side at a campaign rally at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in northeast D.C. “Mike Bloomberg is the only candidate who will unify our country and defeat Donald Trump and has a blueprint to rebuild America and improve the quality of life for all Americans. He is committed to giving every American a fair shot through his housing affordability and All-in-Economy plans, putting an end to gun violence with common-sense reforms, and mitigating the causes of climate change.
“I have known Mike for many years and his long-standing commitment to making cities stronger, more prosperous and inclusive is why I’m endorsing him for president,” she said.
Bloomberg, who led New York City from 2002-2013, announced at the rally that Bowser will be a national co-chair of his campaign.
Bowser said she endorsed Bloomberg while fully understanding the concerns of Black leaders in New York City about the city’s police department’s stop-and-frisk policy that tends to target African Americans more than Whites. Bloomberg was a longtime supporter of the tactic but apologized days before declaring his presidential bid in November.
“I held a conversation with Mike on that and he expressed regret for pursuing that policy,” she said.
Bowser said that when Bloomberg becomes president, he will work to prevent discriminatory police practices with a Department of Justice that will be sensitive to such issues.
Bowser said that she likes Bloomberg’s approach to housing affordability which includes ideas such as federally guaranteed rental assistance and a goal of one million African Americans becoming homeowners in a few years. She mentioned that Bloomberg wants to open two campaign offices in the District and has pledged to work for D.C. statehood as president “from day one.”
Bowser’s endorsement pleased Bloomberg, who pointed out that the District has two elected executives — the president and the mayor.
“One has broken promise after promise on the issues that matter,” he said. “The other has emerged as a national leader on affordable housing, economic opportunity, sustainability, safe streets, good schools and equal rights — and that’s Mayor Bowser. Washington, D.C., could not be in better hands, but she and local leaders around the country deserve a true partner in the White House — and that’s what I’ll be.”