Eleanor Holmes Norton keeps a low profile as Trump takes aim at DC
'The stakes are high not just for Washington, D.C., but for the future of democracy in every corner of this country,' Clarke continued.
Most elected Democrats are loath to publicly criticize Norton given her long record of fighting for the city — including during the mid-1990s, when Congress imposed a financial control board to manage most city affairs. Norton was instrumental in pushing through legislation that recalibrated the city's relationship with Congress and is widely seen as setting the stage for its economic rebirth and population growth over the following two decades.
Many also believe that Trump would have gone after the District regardless of what its elected officials said or did in the lead-up to his announcements Monday. But others contend that, without an actual vote in Congress, the D.C. delegate's foremost responsibility is to rally support for the city and make the case for its autonomy to the American public.
Kinney Zalesne, a former DNC official who is running against Norton, said in a Tuesday interview that 'there's an opportunity here for the D.C. delegate to be a loud and consistent and powerful and unrelenting voice for D.C. to Congress, to the administration and to the rest of the nation.'
'One or two statements' did not meet that standard, she said: 'We need to tell the truth about this federal overreach — that it's unnecessary, inappropriate and potentially illegal.'
Norton's Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, voiced support — even as some said they had not spoken to her amid this moment of crisis.
'I'm going to continue to support her and D.C., because many of my constituents work in D.C.,' said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents a district in the Virginia suburbs. 'I know people have brought up the issue of her ability to serve. … I haven't had a problem serving with her.'
Jeffries, speaking to reporters Tuesday in Illinois, said 'I have not had a conversation with Delegate Norton as of yet, but have been in communication with Mayor Bowser [and] indicated that we are going to strongly support her efforts to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the District of Columbia.'
'I look forward to connecting with her at some point later on today,' he added later.
Shia Kapos contributed to this report from Springfield, Illinois.
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