2010 Washington, D.C., mayoral election explained

Country:District of Columbia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2006 Washington, D.C., mayoral election
Previous Year:2006
Next Election:2014 Washington, D.C., mayoral election
Next Year:2014
Election Date:November 2, 2010
Candidate1:Vincent C. Gray
Party1:District of Columbia Democratic State Committee
Popular Vote1:97,978
Percentage1:74.2%
Map Size:235px
Mayor
Before Election:Adrian Fenty
Before Party:District of Columbia Democratic State Committee
After Election:Vincent C. Gray
After Party:District of Columbia Democratic State Committee

On November 2, 2010, Washington, D.C., held an election for its mayor.[1] The primary elections occurred on September 14.[2] Vincent Gray won the general election by a wide margin, although many voters wrote in incumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty, whom Gray defeated in the primary.[3]

Democratic primary

Early polls showed incumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty was not widely supported. On January 31, 2010, The Washington Post reported the results of a voter survey which showed that Fenty's job approval rating was at an all-time low of 42 percent. His support among African-American voters dropped to 29 percent from 68 percent, while his support among whites dropped to 57 percent from 78 percent.[4] More than four in 10 voters doubted his honesty, empathy, and openness.

Despite this lack of support Adrian Fenty's 2010 mayoral campaign was able to raise a record amount of money. On July 31, 2009, prior to Vincent C. Gray entering the race, Fenty's campaign had already exceeded its 2006 primary fundraising total of $2.4 million.[5] By August 2010, Fenty had raised $4.7 million and Gray had raised only $1.3 million, though later it would be revealed that the Gray campaign was also running a $668,800 shadow campaign financed by Jeffery Thompson.[6] [7]

Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray officially entered the mayoral race on March 30, 2010, after long anticipation and speculation about his entrance. Running on the slogan "One City. Leadership We Need", Gray proclaimed that "DC can do better" to a crowd gathered at the Reeves Center the day of his announcement.[8] Some voters complimented Fenty for improvements in the District since he took office, while other voters criticized him for his aloof style.[9] Some voters believed that as mayor, Gray would bring fiscal mismanagement and poor city services that existed in the early 1990s while he worked for the District government.[9]

In his State of the District speech, Fenty noted improvements in students' test scores and a record-low homicide rate.[10] Fenty also discussed the new psychiatric hospital at St. Elizabeths, new housing for homeless people, and a new recreation center in Deanwood.[10] Fenty contrasted the improvements in the District under his administration with the high crime rate and low school test scores in the 1990s.[11] Fenty also highlighted nearly a dozen new housing projects he facilitated that brought about 11,000 affordable apartments to the District.[12] Finally, Fenty pointed to the new supermarkets and restaurants that have opened in Wards 7 and 8 during his administration.[12]

During an interview, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools system Michelle Rhee said that she "could not imagine doing this job without the kind of unequivocal support" from Mayor Fenty.[13] During another interview, Rhee said that Fenty "has not disappointed me one time in the last three years. I would not work under a mayor who was not focused on education in the same way, as dedicated to making some of the really difficult decisions. I think the chairman is certainly interested in education reform. I think that he...is committed to this city and its progress, certainly. But in terms of what I'm talking about with Mayor Fenty and his willingness to make some very difficult decisions, that though may have been unpopular with the adults, they are absolutely the right thing to do for the kids and for the system, no, I haven't seen the same thing with the chairman."[14] Nonetheless, Rhee and Fenty were unpopular with teachers and so Gray benefited greatly from the support of the teachers unions.[15]

Gray's campaign released an education plan, which included holding teachers accountable for student performance and paying them accordingly, strengthening the office of the deputy mayor for education, increasing infant and toddler care, and giving a tax credit for child and dependent care.[16] Gray said he would keep Rhee's reforms in place as mayor, but Gray did not said whether he would retain Rhee as chancellor.[11] [17] [18]

Fenty criticized Gray for his record as director of the Department of Human Services during former mayor Sharon Pratt's administration.[11] During a local radio show in July 2010, Fenty criticized Gray for mismanaging the Department of Human Services .[19] Gray responded to the criticism, saying that he enacted several improvements as director, including in the area of homelessness.[19]

Leo Alexander, meanwhile, criticized Fenty for allowing teachers to be fired, and he criticized Gray for doing nothing to stop the firings as Council Chair.[20] Alexander said that both Gray and Fenty both want to keep the District generally the same as it is now.[21] Gray responded that the Council had no authority to stop the firings, but Alexander recalled that former Council Chair John Ray had successfully done so during former mayor Marion Barry's administration.[20] Alexander also blamed businesses who hire illegal immigrants for the District's unemployment rate.[12]

On September 15, 2010, voters went to the polls and the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics reported unofficial results, with Gray receiving 53 percent of the vote compared to Fenty's 46 percent.[22] Gray won as much as 80% of the vote in predominantly black areas east of the Anacostia River, but did poorly in the city's wealthier northwest, winning just 13% in one Georgetown precinct.[23]

Candidates

Polling

Poll sourceDates administeredVincent GrayAdrian Fenty OtherWouldn't voteNo opinion
Clarus Research GroupAugust 15–16, 2010 align=center44%38%18%
The Washington PostJanuary 24–28, 2010 align=center35%31%11%4%20%
345%
In a straw poll held by Ward 8 Democrats in May 2010, Fenty received the most votes.[32] Fenty received 69 votes, Gray received 61 votes, and Alexander received 10 votes.[32]

In a straw poll held by the District of Columbia Democratic State Convention in June 2010, Gray received the most votes.[33] Gray received 703 votes, Fenty received 190, Alexander received 75, and other candidates received fewer than 10 votes each.[33]

In a straw poll held in June 2010 that was open to Democrats in Ward 3, Gray received the most votes.[34] Gray received 174 votes, Fenty received 168 votes, and Leo Alexander received 4 votes.[34]

A straw poll held in Ward 2 in July 2010 resulted in 97 votes for Fenty, 63 votes for Gray, 1 vote for Alexander, 1 vote for Michael T. Green, and 1 undecided vote.[35]

Ward 4 Democrats held a straw poll in Ward 4 in August 2010.[36] Gray received 581 votes, Fenty received 401 votes, and Alexander received 12 votes.[36]

The Washington Post questioned the reliability of straw polls to predict the winner of mayoral elections.[33] Prior to the 2006 mayoral election, candidates Linda W. Cropp and Michael A. Brown won straw polls, but Fenty won every precinct in the actual Democratic primary election.[33]

Results

Other primaries and candidates

Republican

No Republican filed to run for the office,[26] but Mayor Fenty received 822 write-in votes.[37] Because Fenty was not a registered Republican on primary day, he was ineligible for the Republican nomination.[38]

Statehood Green

The Statehood Green Party candidate was Faith Dane, activist and former Broadway performer.[39] [40] She was the only candidate to file and though she received fewer votes than write-ins in the primary, she was the nominee.

Socialist Workers Party

The Socialist Workers Party candidate was Omari Musa.[39]

Independent

Carlos Allen, former CEO of Hush Society Magazine, a philanthropic online magazine,[41] [42] ran for mayor as an independent.[39] [43]

Also running as an independent was former NBC 4 reporter Leo Alexander.[44]

General election

Fenty endorsed Gray and said he had no interest in running as a Republican or independent.[37] [45] Because he was not registered as a Republican on primary day, he was ineligible to be the Republican candidate.[38] A "Write In Fenty" website was started in October 2010 calling on voters to write in Fenty's name on the November ballot.[46]

Vincent Gray won the general election with over 70%, with write-in votes (mostly for Fenty) at over 20%. The three other candidates on the ballot (Carlos Allen, Faith, and Omari Musa) each won less than 2%.https://web.archive.org/web/20101106010504/http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010

Results

Endorsements

Leo Alexander

Adrian Fenty

Newspapers

Organizations

Individuals

Vincent Gray

Newspapers

Organizations

Individuals

Notes and References

  1. Web site: November 2, 2010 General Election Draft Election Calendar . District of Columbia Board of Elections & Ethics . February 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120301005934/http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Draft_Nov_2010.pdf . March 1, 2012 . dead .
  2. Web site: September 14, 2010 Primary Election Draft Election Calendar . District of Columbia Board of Elections & Ethics . February 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120301005958/http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Draft_Sep_2010.pdf . March 1, 2012 . dead .
  3. News: For Gray, a methodical path to the mayor's office. Washington Post. 2010-11-02. Nikita Stewart.
  4. News: D.C. Mayor Fenty's Approval Ratings Plummet, Poll Finds . Stewart . Nikita; Cohen, Jon . The Washington Post . January 31, 2010 .
  5. News: Fenty campaign collections beat '06's take . Abruzzese . Sarah . August 4, 2009 . The Washington Times . October 25, 2009 .
  6. News: Cella. Matthew. Poll finds Gray has slim lead over Fenty. 2 June 2016. Washington Times. 18 August 2010.
  7. News: Freed. Benjamin. Feds Drop Investigation of Former DC Mayor Vince Gray's 2010 Campaign. 2 June 2016. Washingtonian. 9 December 2015.
  8. News: Updated: Vincent Gray joins D.C. mayor's race . The Washington Post . Tim . Craig . March 30, 2010 .
  9. News: Contradictions in style helping to shape D.C. mayor race . Robert . McCartney . July 8, 2010 . The Washington Post .
  10. News: Fenty sets up reelection bid with State of the District speech . Nikita . Stewart . The Washington Post . April 10, 2010 .
  11. News: Fenty assails Gray; warns future of city at risk . The Washington Post . June 4, 2010 . Tim . Craig .
  12. News: Fenty, Gray spar at forum . The Washington Post . Tim . Craig . June 3, 2010 .
  13. News: Rhee hints that her job as D.C. schools chief hinges on Fenty's reelection . Turque . Bill; Stewart, Nikita . The Washington Post . July 1, 2010 .
  14. News: Rhee praises mayor, says she doesn't see the same dedication from Gray . The Washington Post . Nikita . Stewart . June 30, 2010 .
  15. Web site: Smith. Ben. Teachers union helped unseat Fenty. Politico. 15 September 2010 . 2 June 2016.
  16. News: Gray outlines his agenda for education in District . Turque . Bill; Stewart, Nikita . The Washington Post . July 2, 2010 .
  17. News: Gray outlines his agenda for education in District . Turque . Bill; Stewart, Nikita . The Washington Post . July 2, 2010 .
  18. News: Pat . Wingert . July 2, 2010 . How School Reformer Michelle Rhee May Be a Factor in the D.C. Mayoral Race . Newsweek .
  19. News: Fenty, Gray duke it out on air . Nikita . Stewart . The Washington Post . July 15, 2010 .
  20. News: Lesser-known mayoral candidates bait Gray at forum . Tim . Craig . The Washington Post . June 24, 2010 .
  21. News: D.C. mayor hopeful touts different goal . Deborah . Simmons . July 8, 2010 . The Washington Times .
  22. News: Mayoral Primary Election Unofficial Results . September 15, 2010 . District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics . September 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100918221402/http://www.dcboee.us/election_results092010/EL45.HTM . September 18, 2010 . dead .
  23. Tim Craig Gray: 'Onus is on me' to assure D.C.'s wary voters The Washington Post October 5, 2010
  24. News: Leo Alexander Explains His D.C. Mayor Run . Washington City Paper . Mike . DeBonis . September 19, 2009 .
  25. News: Chamber leader wants vigorous mayoral race . The Washington Post . January 12, 2010 . Tim . Craig .
  26. Web site: List of Candidates in Ballot Order for the September 14, 2010 Mayoral Primary Election . District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172657/http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_497.pdf . March 3, 2016 . September 6, 2010 . dead.
  27. News: DCision 2010: It's Gonna Have Faith! And Anthony Motley! . Washington City Paper . June 18, 2009 . Mike . DeBonis . February 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604192253/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/tag/sulaimon-brown/ . June 4, 2011 . dead .
  28. News: Fenty Files for 2010 Reelection Bid . Marcia . Davis . The Washington Post . October 25, 2008 . December 27, 2008 .
  29. News: Vincent Gray officially enters race for D.C. mayor . The Washington Post . Craig . Tim . March 31, 2010 .
  30. News: With rivals aplenty, Fenty is off and walking . The Washington Post . Stewart . Nikita; Craig, Tim . October 22, 2009 .
  31. DeBonis, Mike. "Where did Calvin H. Gurley find 57,119 votes? The Washington Post. November 7, 2012.
  32. News: Fenty wins straw poll . Jonetta Rose . Barras . May 17, 2010 . The Examiner .
  33. News: Gray bests Fenty in D.C. Democratic straw poll . Nikita . Stewart . The Washington Post . June 12, 2010 .
  34. News: Gray wins over Fenty in Ward 3 straw poll . Tim . Craig . The Washington Post . June 18, 2010 .
  35. News: Fenty Wins Ward 2 Straw Poll as Sparks Fly in Debate . The Georgetown Dish . Katie . Manning . July 22, 2010 .
  36. News: Fenty-Gray race wasn't the only draw in Ward 4 straw poll . The Washington Post . Tim . Craig . August 5, 2010 .
  37. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/fenty-wins-as-a-gop-write-in.html Fenty wins! (As a GOP write-in)
  38. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Fenty_Can_t_Run_as_GOP_Candidate_in_November-103284424.html
  39. News: White House party crasher Carlos Allen qualifies for D.C. mayoral race, tops ballot. The Washington Post . September 30, 2010 . Roberts . Roxanne; Argetsinger, Amy.
  40. News: DC Statehood Green Party Candidates for September Ballot . Green Party Watch . August 3, 2010 .
  41. Web site: List of Candidates in the November 2, 2010 Mayoral General Election . District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. August 7, 2010 .
  42. News: Carlos Allen Retiresfrom HUSH Group Inc.. Hush Society Magazine . March 15, 2010 . March 24, 2010 .
  43. Web site: Candidate List 2010 . District of Columbia Board of Elections & Ethics . August 7, 2010 . PDF . https://web.archive.org/web/20100204034943/http://ocf.dc.gov/nws/news_frame.asp?filename=pn_134.pdf&mid=1&yid=2010&type=News%20Releases&hl=t%3Fhl%3Dt . February 4, 2010 . dead .
  44. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Who-Are-the-Other-Candidates-for-Mayor-98605929.html Who Are the Other Candidates for Mayor?
  45. News: Gray defeats Fenty as voters choose conciliatory approach over brash tactics . . https://web.archive.org/web/20200525214912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091500538.html . 2020-05-25 . live .
  46. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/debonis/2010/10/write_fenty_in_campaign_launch.html 'Write Fenty In' campaign launches Web site
  47. News: Leo Alexander may not have much money, but he's got Phyllis Schlafly . The Washington Post . June 30, 2010 . Tim . Craig .
  48. News: Who Are the Other Candidates for Mayor? . P.J . Orvetti . . NBC Universal, Inc. . July 16, 2010 .
  49. News: Adrian M. Fenty in the Democratic primary for D.C. mayor. editorial . The Washington Post . August 1, 2010 .
  50. News: Fenty gets endorsement from Latino newspaper . The Washington Post . Nikita R. . Stewart . September 2, 2010 .
  51. News: Why Fenty deserves -- and D.C. needs -- four more years . The Washington Examiner . September 7, 2010 . editorial . September 7, 2010 . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20101204002556/http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/examiner-editorial-why-fenty-deserves-and-dc-needs-four-more-years . December 4, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
  52. News: Adrian Fenty: The Jerk D.C. Needs . September 10, 2010. Washington City Paper . editorial .
  53. News: Construction union endorses Fenty . Nikita . Stewart . June 16, 2010 . The Washington Post .
  54. News: Fenty, Gray split business group endorsements . Mike . DeBonis . The Washington Post . June 29, 2010 .
  55. News: Nikita R . Stewart . The Washington Post . July 20, 2010 . Williams supports Fenty and Graham .
  56. News: Evans appears in new TV ad for Fenty . The Washington Post . Nikita R . Stewart . July 19, 2010 .
  57. News: 22 Days Until Primary Day . The Washington Post . Mike . DeBonis . August 23, 2010 .
  58. News: Rep. Jared Polis endorses Fenty at gay campaign event . Mike . DeBonis . The Washington Post . July 1, 2010 .
  59. News: Bloomberg to endorse Fenty Tuesday . The Washington Post . August 16, 2010 . Nikita R . Stewart .
  60. News: Current newspapers endorse Gray. Tim . Craig . August 25, 2010 . The Washington Post .
  61. News: AFRO endorses Gray in mayor's race . The Washington Post . September 3, 2010 . Tim . Craig.
  62. News: District firefighters and police union support Vincent Gray over Mayor Fenty . The Washington Post . May 28, 2010 . Tim . Craig .
  63. News: Law enforcement lodge endorses Gray . The Washington Post . July 22, 2010 . Tim . Craig .
  64. News: Brown and Gray pick up labor endorsements in D.C. races . The Washington Post . May 19, 2010 . Ann . Marimow .
  65. News: Renters advocacy group endorses Gray . The Washington Post . Tim . Craig . June 29, 2010 .
  66. News: Nurses announce support for Gray in D.C. mayor's race . The Washington Post . May 28, 2010 . Tim . Craig .
  67. News: The boos keep flying at D.C. Mayor Fenty . Nikita . Stewart . June 14, 2010 . The Washington Post .
  68. News: Personalities Fuel a One-Party Race for Washington Mayor . Yeganeh June . Torbati . The New York Times . August 2, 2010 .
  69. News: Mary Cheh endorses Gray . The Washington Post . Tim . Craig . September 2, 2010 .
  70. News: Money, Moten, and Marion Edition . Washington City Paper . Alan . Suderman . September 8, 2010 .

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