Washington, D.C. mayoral election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The Washington, D.C.
mayoral election of 2010 took place on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. The primary elections occurred on September 14, 2010. 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.
faced significantly reduced public support. 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 voter support dropped to 29 percent from 68 percent, while his support among whites dropped to 57 percent from 78 percent. Fenty had a 42-percent job-approval rating, and more than four in 10 voters doubted his honesty, empathy, and openness.
Adrian Fenty's 2010 mayoral campaign is on pace to break every fundraising record in D.C. On July 31, 2009, prior to Vincent Gray
entering the race, Fenty's campaign exceeded its 2006 primary fundraising total of $2.4 million. By June 2010, donors had given Fenty's campaign $4.2 million, while Gray had raised $561,000.
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.
Some voters compliment Fenty for improvements in the District since he took office, while other voters criticize him for his aloof style. Some voters believe 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.
In his State of the District speech, Fenty noted improvements in students' test scores and a record-low rate homicide rate. Fenty also discussed the new psychiatric hospital at St. Edwards, new housing for homeless people, and a new recreation center in Deanwood
. Fenty has contrasted the improvements in the District under his administration with the high crime rate and low school test scores in the 1990s. Fenty has also talked nearly a dozen new housing projects he facilitated that have brought about 11,000 affordable apartments to the District. Fenty has also pointed to the new supermarkets and restaurants that have opened in Wards 7 and 8 during his administration.
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. 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."
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. Gray has said he would keep Rhee's reforms in place as mayor, but Gray has not said whether he would retain Rhee as chancellor.
Fenty has criticized Gray for his record as director of the Department of Human Services during former mayor Sharon Pratt's administration. During a local radio show, Fenty criticized Gray for mismanaging the Department of Human Services . Gray has responded to the criticism, saying that he enacted several improvements as director, including in the area of homelessness.
Leo Alexander has criticized Fenty for allowing teachers to be fired, and he criticized Gray for doing nothing to stop the firings as Council Chair. Alexander has said that both Gray and Fenty both want to keep the District generally the same as it is now. 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. Alexander has also blamed businesses who hire illegal immigrants for the District's unemployment rate.
On September 15, 2010, 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. 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.
In a straw poll
held by Ward 8 Democrats in May 2010, Fenty received the most votes. Fenty received 69 votes, Gray received 61 votes, and Alexander received 10 votes.
In a straw poll held by the District of Colombia Democratic State Convention in June 2010, Gray received the most votes. Gray received 703 votes, Fenty received 190, Alexander received 75, and other candidates received fewer than 10 votes each.
In a straw poll held in June 2010 that was open to Democrats in Ward 3, Gray received the most votes. Gray received 174 votes, Fenty received 168 votes, and Leo Alexander received 4 votes.
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.
Ward 4 Democrats held a straw poll in Ward 4 in August 2010. Gray received 581 votes, Fenty received 401 votes, and Alexander received 12 votes.
The Washington Post questioned the reliability of straw polls to predict the winner of mayoral elections. 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.
, activist and former broadway performer
Also running as an independent is former NBC 4
reporter Leo Alexander.
Because he was not registered as a Republican on primary day, he was ineligible to be the Republican candidate. A "Write In Fenty" website was started in October 2010 calling on voters to write in Fenty's name on the November ballot.
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%.http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
mayoral election of 2010 took place on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. The primary elections occurred on September 14, 2010. Vincent Gray won the general election by a wide margin, although many voters wrote in incumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty
Adrian Fenty
Adrian Malik Fenty was the sixth, and at age 36, the youngest, mayor of the District of Columbia. He served one term—from 2007 to 2011—losing his bid for reelection at the primary level to Democrat Vincent C. Gray...
, whom Gray defeated in the primary.
Democratic primary
Polls show incumbent Mayor Adrian FentyAdrian Fenty
Adrian Malik Fenty was the sixth, and at age 36, the youngest, mayor of the District of Columbia. He served one term—from 2007 to 2011—losing his bid for reelection at the primary level to Democrat Vincent C. Gray...
faced significantly reduced public support. On January 31, 2010, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
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 voter support dropped to 29 percent from 68 percent, while his support among whites dropped to 57 percent from 78 percent. Fenty had a 42-percent job-approval rating, and more than four in 10 voters doubted his honesty, empathy, and openness.
Adrian Fenty's 2010 mayoral campaign is on pace to break every fundraising record in D.C. On July 31, 2009, prior to Vincent Gray
Vincent C. Gray
Vincent C. Gray is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7...
entering the race, Fenty's campaign exceeded its 2006 primary fundraising total of $2.4 million. By June 2010, donors had given Fenty's campaign $4.2 million, while Gray had raised $561,000.
Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray
Vincent C. Gray
Vincent C. Gray is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7...
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.
Some voters compliment Fenty for improvements in the District since he took office, while other voters criticize him for his aloof style. Some voters believe 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.
In his State of the District speech, Fenty noted improvements in students' test scores and a record-low rate homicide rate. Fenty also discussed the new psychiatric hospital at St. Edwards, new housing for homeless people, and a new recreation center in Deanwood
Deanwood
Deanwood is a neighborhood in Northeast Washington, D.C., bounded by Eastern Avenue to the northeast, Kenilworth Avenue to the northwest, and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue to the south....
. Fenty has contrasted the improvements in the District under his administration with the high crime rate and low school test scores in the 1990s. Fenty has also talked nearly a dozen new housing projects he facilitated that have brought about 11,000 affordable apartments to the District. Fenty has also pointed to the new supermarkets and restaurants that have opened in Wards 7 and 8 during his administration.
During an interview, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools system Michelle Rhee
Michelle Rhee
Michelle A. Rhee is a public figure involved in the American education system. She was chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools from 2007 to 2010...
said that she "could not imagine doing this job without the kind of unequivocal support" from Mayor Fenty. 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."
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. Gray has said he would keep Rhee's reforms in place as mayor, but Gray has not said whether he would retain Rhee as chancellor.
Fenty has criticized Gray for his record as director of the Department of Human Services during former mayor Sharon Pratt's administration. During a local radio show, Fenty criticized Gray for mismanaging the Department of Human Services . Gray has responded to the criticism, saying that he enacted several improvements as director, including in the area of homelessness.
Leo Alexander has criticized Fenty for allowing teachers to be fired, and he criticized Gray for doing nothing to stop the firings as Council Chair. Alexander has said that both Gray and Fenty both want to keep the District generally the same as it is now. 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. Alexander has also blamed businesses who hire illegal immigrants for the District's unemployment rate.
On September 15, 2010, 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. 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
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
precinct.
Candidates
- Leo AlexanderLeo Alexander (D.C. activist)Leo Alexander is a Washington, D.C. activist, broadcaster, businessman and politician. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on February, 14th 1964. He grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark and Alabama, He has a bachelors degree from the University of South Alabama. Since 1995 Alexander has lived in...
, former television reporter - Sulaimon Brown, accountant and former volunteer with Fenty's 2006 campaign
- Adrian FentyAdrian FentyAdrian Malik Fenty was the sixth, and at age 36, the youngest, mayor of the District of Columbia. He served one term—from 2007 to 2011—losing his bid for reelection at the primary level to Democrat Vincent C. Gray...
, incumbent mayor - Vincent C. GrayVincent C. GrayVincent C. Gray is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia. Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7...
, District CouncilCouncil of the District of ColumbiaThe Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
chairman - Ernest Johnson, owner of a realty firm
Polling
| Poll source | Dates administered | Vincent Gray | Adrian Fenty | Other | Wouldn't vote | No opinion |
| Clarus Research Group | August 15–16, 2010 | 44% | 38% | 18% | ||
| The Washington Post | January 24–28, 2010 | 35% | 31% | 11% | 4% | 20% |
In a straw poll
Straw poll
A straw poll or straw vote is a vote with nonbinding results. Straw polls provide dialogue among movements within large groups, reflecting trends like organization and motivation...
held by Ward 8 Democrats in May 2010, Fenty received the most votes. Fenty received 69 votes, Gray received 61 votes, and Alexander received 10 votes.
In a straw poll held by the District of Colombia Democratic State Convention in June 2010, Gray received the most votes. Gray received 703 votes, Fenty received 190, Alexander received 75, and other candidates received fewer than 10 votes each.
In a straw poll held in June 2010 that was open to Democrats in Ward 3, Gray received the most votes. Gray received 174 votes, Fenty received 168 votes, and Leo Alexander received 4 votes.
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.
Ward 4 Democrats held a straw poll in Ward 4 in August 2010. Gray received 581 votes, Fenty received 401 votes, and Alexander received 12 votes.
The Washington Post questioned the reliability of straw polls to predict the winner of mayoral elections. 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.
Republican
No Republican filed to run for the office, but Mayor Fenty received 822 write-in votes. However, since he was not a registered Republican on primary day, he was ineligible for the Republican nomination.Statehood Green
The Statehood Green Party candidate is Faith DaneFaith Dane
Faith Dane, frequently known simply as Faith, is an actress, musician, and artist. She is also a perennial candidate for elected office in Washington, D.C....
, activist and former broadway performer
Independent
Carlos Allen, former CEO of Hush Society Magazine, a philanthropic online magazine, is running for mayor as an independent. former CEO of Hush Society Magazine, a philanthropic online magazineAlso running as an independent is former NBC 4
WRC-TV
WRC-TV, channel 4, is an owned and operated television station of the NBC television network, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
reporter Leo Alexander.
General election
Fenty endorsed Gray and said he has no interest in running as a Republican or independent.Because he was not registered as a Republican on primary day, he was ineligible to be the Republican candidate. A "Write In Fenty" website was started in October 2010 calling on voters to write in Fenty's name on the November ballot.
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%.http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_results/general_election_results/2010
Leo Alexander
- Eagle ForumEagle ForumEagle Forum is a conservative interest group in the United States founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1972 and is the parent organization that also includes the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and the Eagle Forum PAC. The Eagle Forum has been primarily focused on social issues; it describes...
, socially conservative organization - National Organization for MarriageNational Organization for MarriageThe National Organization for Marriage is a nonprofit political association established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically to pass California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California...
, organization opposing same-sex marriage
Newspapers
- The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, editorial board - Washington Hispanic, Spanish-language newspaper, editorial board
- The Washington Examiner, editorial board
- Washington City PaperWashington City PaperThe Washington City Paper is a U.S. alternative weekly newspaper serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.Founded in 1981, and published for its first year under the masthead 1981, taking the City Paper name in volume 2, by Russ Smith, it shared ownership with the Chicago Reader from 1982...
, editorial board
Individuals
- Anthony WilliamsAnthony A. WilliamsAnthony Allen "Tony" Williams is an American politician who served as the fifth mayor of the District of Columbia for two terms, from 1999 to 2007. He had previously served as chief financial officer for the District, managing to balance the budget and achieve a surplus within two years of...
, former mayor of the District of Columbia - Jack EvansJack Evans (D.C. Council)Jack Evans is a Democratic politician from Washington, D.C. He currently represents Ward 2 on the Council of the District of Columbia and serves as its chairperson pro tempore....
, Council member, Ward 2 - Muriel BowserMuriel BowserMuriel Bowser is a Democratic politician in Washington, D.C. She is a member of the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 4.-Early life:...
, Council member, Ward 4 - Jared PolisJared PolisJared Schutz Polis is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
of Colorado, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives - Tammy BaldwinTammy BaldwinTammy Suzanne Green Baldwin is the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, serving since 1999. She is a member of the Democratic Party. In September 2011, Baldwin announced she would be a candidate in the 2012 U.S...
of Wisconsin, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives - Barney FrankBarney FrankBarney Frank is the U.S. Representative for . A member of the Democratic Party, he is the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and is considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States.Born and raised in New Jersey, Frank graduated from Harvard College and...
of Massachusetts, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives - Michael BloombergMichael BloombergMichael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, mayor of New York
Newspapers
- The Current, publisher of newspapers in Northwest D.C., editorial board
- InTowner, D.C. newspaper, editorial board
- The Afro, D.C.-area newspaper, editorial board
Organizations
- Fraternal Order of Police, local chapter
- D.C. Lodge of the Fraternal of the Police, local and federal chapter
- D.C. Firefighters Association, Local 36
- American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
- American Federation of Government Employees
- Gertrude Stein Democratic Club
- D.C. Chamber of Commerce
- D.C. Tenants Advocacy Coalition
- District of Columbia Nurses Association
- D.C. Latino Caucus
Individuals
- Sharon Pratt, former mayor of the District of Columbia
- Harry Thomas, Jr.Harry Thomas, Jr.Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr. , is a Democratic politician in Washington, D.C. In 2006 he was elected to represent Ward 5 on the Council of the District of Columbia.-Biography:...
, Council member, Ward 5 - Mary ChehMary Chehthumb|right|Mary Cheh in 2010Mary M. Cheh is a Democratic politician from Washington, D.C. In November 2006, she won a seat on the Washington, D.C. City Council representing Ward 3.-Background and family:...
, Council member, Ward 3 - Marion BarryMarion BarryMarion Shepilov Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995...
, Council member, Ward 8, and former mayor of the District of Columbia