Former Senior Aide Trent Holbrook Launches Bid for Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Long-Held D.C. Seat

Trent Holbrook, a former senior legislative counsel to long-serving District of Columbia Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, announced Wednesday that he has filed paperwork to run for Norton’s non-voting seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Holbrook left Norton’s office on Monday after more than eight years and launched a fundraising committee with the Federal Election Commission the same day.

Holbrook framed his campaign as an effort to continue and strengthen the work on issues that defined his tenure on Norton’s staff. In a news release, he said:

“As the District of Columbia is looking to a new era in the fight for D.C. statehood and protecting home rule, I feel that I am best positioned to take on this incredibly important role. I have already been the leader in Congress at the staff-level for eight years on these important issues, and I have a strong, historic record of success to run on.”

Holbrook told CNN he does not view his run as a personal challenge to Norton. “I don’t see myself as running against Congresswoman Norton,” he said. “I just don’t think that she is going to run again, at least not in an effective way.” He also said his decision is about his record and priorities rather than a focus on Norton’s age.

Background and Experience

Holbrook first connected with Norton while a student at Georgetown Law School, where he took a yearlong class she taught. He joined her office in 2017 and rose from legislative assistant to senior legislative counsel, working extensively on D.C. statehood, home rule and federal employee protections. In his announcement, Holbrook praised Norton’s mentorship:

“Congresswoman Norton is one of the greatest lawmakers in American history. She has trained me for this position unlike anybody else. I am grateful for the opportunities she afforded me. Because of them, I am ready to lead.”

Norton’s Record and The Political Context

Norton, a native Washingtonian, has represented the District since 1991 and has built her career around civil rights and D.C. autonomy. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 as the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. While the D.C. delegate cannot cast a final vote on the House floor, Norton has used committee work and floor debates to press for statehood and equal-rights measures for decades.

At 88, Norton is the oldest member of the House, and in recent months her age and reduced public profile have prompted questions about whether she should seek another term. Last September, Donna Brazile — a former DNC chair and one-time Norton chief of staff — published an op-ed urging Norton not to run again and to consider stepping aside after her current term.

The Contest Ahead

The race for the D.C. delegate seat has become crowded: more than a dozen candidates are reported to be seeking the office Norton has held since 1991. Notable candidates include D.C. State Board of Education President Jacque Patterson, DNC official Kinney Zalesne, and D.C. Councilmembers Brooke Pinto and Robert C. White Jr. Holbrook’s inside experience and ties to Norton’s office add a high-profile, well-connected contender to the field.

The campaign will also unfold against a backdrop of broader questions about federal oversight of the capital — including debates that intensified during the Trump administration over federal policy changes and an increased federal law enforcement presence in the city — and the long-running push for D.C. statehood and full voting representation in Congress.

CNN has reached out to Norton’s office for comment. The Washington Post first reported Holbrook’s bid.

This story has been updated.