Maryland, Virginia governors meet privately with DC Mayor Bowser

WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the governors of Virginia and Maryland gathered for their first official meeting on Thursday in the District.

7News was the only media present as Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Gov. Wes Moore walked into the Wilson Building. The three Democratic leaders met in the mayor’s office for about an hour and a half.

Officials described the meeting as a renewed effort to strengthen regional cooperation on issues ranging from transportation to economic development.

Spanberger, who arrived first and departed quickly after the meeting, offered only a brief comment as she headed to her car.

“It was very productive,” she said, adding that the discussion focused on “transportation and how we can work together as a region.”

Moore credited Spanberger with arranging the meeting and Bowser for hosting. He also said there was no such meeting when Republican Glenn Youngkin was Governor of Virginia.

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7News asked Moore what the leaders discussed in the private meeting.

“We had a great meeting and [a chance] to work with our partners in Virginia and the District on issues from energy to housing to transportation,” Moore said. “We know we’ve got to work together because so many of the opportunities and the challenges we are facing are regional. They’re not just about our individual jurisdiction. So knowing we have real partners in this work, it feels different.”

Following the meeting, the three leaders released a joint statement emphasizing the importance of regional coordination.

“Today’s meeting reaffirmed what we know to be true: the future of this region depends on our ability to work together during a time of significant challenges and opportunities,” the statement read.

They highlighted the interconnected economies of the region and the shared reliance on a mobile workforce and a strong transit system.

“Our competitiveness as a region and our ability to deliver for our residents rests on how well we coordinate and invest in shared priorities, from attracting great jobs, to getting our residents trained for and connected to those jobs, and ensuring we have a worldclass transit system that gives people the freedom and ability to live, work, and move around the national capital region,” the statement said.

The leaders said they plan to continue meeting as they pursue “bold solutions” to strengthen the Washington metropolitan area.