Five things you should know about Muriel Bowser, the woman who will likely be D.C.'s next mayor.

Washington, D.C., City Councilwoman Muriel Bowser defeated Washington Mayor Vincent Gray in a race Tuesday night to select the Democratic nominee for mayor. Ms. Bowser, who was neck-and-neck with Mr. Gray before surging ahead in the final week of the race, is heavily favored to win November’s election against independent David Catania. That gives Washington voters eight months to get to know the candidate who will likely be their next—and Washington’s seventh—mayor. Here are five things to know about the candidate:

1. FIFTH-GENERATION WASHINGTONIAN

Ms. Bowser, 41, is a fifth-generation Washingtonian with nearly two decades of experience working in local and city governments. She worked for State Farm before working in Montgomery County government and on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Since 2007, she has represented Ward 4, an area that runs along Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington and is made up largely of middle- and upper-income African-Americans