Skip to main content

Why Eleanor Holmes Norton’s former campaign manager encouraged her to retired

By WTOP Staff

One of the people who encouraged D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton to retire from Congress is her close friend: political strategist Donna Brazile.

Norton, who served in Congress for 35 years, said Tuesday she will retire at the end of her term on Jan. 3, 2027.

The 88-year-old had been facing pressure to retire, including from Brazile, who previously led the Democratic National Committee as acting chair.

In September 2025, Brazile wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post calling on Norton to step aside and let a new leader take charge.

Brazile joined WTOP’s Nick Iannelli to discuss why she pushed for Norton to retire.

Read and listen to the interview below.

The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Did matcha start trending at the worst possible time for DC teahouses?

By Ciara Wells
When you walk into the Teaism teahouse in Penn Quarter, the frantic energy of the downtown D.C. neighborhood melts away on a floral breeze. Hundreds of pounds of dried tea line the walls in decorative boxes, and for Lela Singh, daughter of co-founder Michelle Brown and manager of the Teaism Shop, it has become a kind of second home.
Read Next Story