Muriel Bowser allies lose at the polls in D.C. primary

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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser suffered a significant loss of influence on the City Council Tuesday night after two candidates she had backed fell to fresh faces who garnered support from their previous boss city Attorney General Karl Racine.

Trayon White defeated Council member LaRuby May (a member of the so-called Bowser Green Team) for the Ward 8 seat, and Robert White unseated at-large incumbent Vincent Orange (a frequent Bowser supporter) in the D.C. Democratic primary on Tuesday.

Both Trayon White and Robert White (no relation) are former Racine staffers, giving the attorney general two solid allies on the D.C. Council and more voting influence than Miss Bowser, whose only reliable legislative support will come from Council member Brandon Todd, who barely beat back a challenge by Leon Andrews in Ward 4.

SEE ALSO: Whatever happened to conservatives, Republicans in D.C.?

Though both Democrats, Miss Bowser and Mr. Racine have not seen eye-to-eye on all issues. The mayor has sought to curtail the attorney generals authority in approving city development deals, and he fueled criticism of her super PAC, which was forced to disband. They have disagreed over the legality of the citys budget autonomy law and a provision in the mayors anti-crime proposal to allow warrantless searches of the homes of violent offenders who have been released from prison.

The shift of influence in the D.C. Council could affect the efficacy of the mayors and attorney generals offices, as well as the relationship between the two city leaders.

Robert Whites performance was the most surprising, since pundits surmised that challenger David Garber would split the anti-Orange vote and allow the longtime incumbent to eke out a victory. Mr. White won about 1,200 more votes than Mr. Orange, and a close look at the ward-by-ward tallies in the at-large contest reveals a divide in the city.

SEE ALSO: Former Mayor Vincent Gray wins primary fight for old D.C. Council seat

As expected, Mr. Orange won east of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8, as well as his home jurisdiction Ward 5. But only about 14 percent of registered voters cast ballots in Wards 5 and 7, and about 18 percent in Ward 8.

Mr. White trounced Mr. Orange in Wards 1 and 3 each seeing 22 percent voter participation. Mr. Oranges tallies in those wards totaled about half of those for Mr. White.

Still, Mr. Orange barely edged out the challenger in Mr. Whites home jurisdiction of Ward 4, a Bowser stronghold.

Trayon Whites victory in Ward 8 was less surprising but still a blow to the mayor, who enjoyed a reliable vote from Ms. May on the council.

The Ward 8 primary was a rematch and vindication for Mr. White, who lost to Ms. May by 79 votes in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by Marion Barry when he died in 2014. This time, Mr. White defeated Ms. May by 51 percent to 42 percent, a gap of more than 700 votes.

Backed by Miss Bowser and her funding network, Ms. May outspent Mr. White by $106,000 during the campaign. But Mr. White overcame the financing deficit by applying retail politics: He frequently stopped to shake hands, hug and talk to passers-by about crime and jobs in Ward 8. By comparison, Ms. May, who did not attend a high-profile straw poll in the ward, was viewed as being more standoffish among some constituents.

A third Bowser-supported incumbent Yvette Alexander lost her Ward 7 council seat to former Mayor Vincent C. Gray, who returned to political life after having lost his 2014 reelection bid to Miss Bowser amid a yearslong federal probe of his 2010 campaign finances. Prosecutors decided not to charge him in the slush fund investigation, allowing his comeback Tuesday.

Speaking Wednesday on WAMU Radios Kojo Nnamdi show, Mr. Gray called the primary results a referendum on Miss Bowser. He noted the now-defunct FreshPac, the independent super PAC that had backed her and was run by some of her allies; the widespread criticism of a lack of public involvement in her homeless shelter proposal; and the $55 million cost for snow removal this year.

A longtime Bowser critic, Mr. Gray offered support for Trayon White in Ward 8, going so far as to record a robocall for the upstart candidate on Primary Election Day.

Ive known Trayon for a number of years. He knows what Ward 8 residents need and will work hard on your behalf, Mr. Gray said in the robocall, adding that Mr. White is an independent thinker and a man of integrity.

Mr. Gray also backed Robert White in his at-large contest with Mr. Orange, though not as explicitly as he did Trayon White.

Its not known if Mr. Gray and Mr. Racine are willing to work together, but they should have no problems in maintaining contact with each other: The attorney generals communications director, Robert Marus, once served as deputy communications director for Mr. Gray when he was mayor.

Chuck Thies, spokesman for the Gray camp, said Mr. Gray has had a friendly relationship with Mr. Racine and met with the attorney general several times before and after the former mayor announced his intention to run for his old Ward 7 seat on the council. Mr. Thies said the meetings were related to legal issues facing the District, not about the campaign.

During Mr. Grays victory party at Antioch Baptist Church in Northeast, the former mayor enjoyed the company of several current council members. Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh and at-large Council member David Grasso, as well as Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, came around to congratulate the primary victor.

Ms. Cheh said she hopes the new makeup of the council will lead to more agreement among members but also more voices independent of Miss Bowsers influence.

Mr. Grosso agreed, saying he hopes the incoming members vote on the issues rather than in factions.

I hope well be a more deliberative body with more independent thinking, said Mr. Grosso, who is running unopposed for his seat in November. Independent of the mayor, but also more thoughtful and engaged on the issues for the right reasons.

Ms. Cheh was careful to say she wasnt speaking out against Miss Bowser, but rather in favor of unique perspectives on the council.

It could be what the mayor is in favor of, but it really means you give an independent judgement, she said.

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Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/15/muriel-bowser-allies-lose-at-the-polls-in-dc-prima/

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Did Marco Rubio Win the Washington, D.C. Primary?

Polls Project Clinton To Win D.C. Primary

Did Marco Rubio win the primary in Washington, D.C.? (Getty)

If youre Googling the results of the Washington D.C. primary, you might be surprised to see Marco Rubio listed as the winner for Republicans. Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee and Rubio isnt even running anymore. Many people are asking online if Rubio just won or if there was a backlash from Trumps statements about Orlando. But the truth is a lot simpler than that.

Heres what you need to know.

Marco Rubiodidwin the Republican primary in Washington, D.C., but that primary was held back on March 12. So when youre searching online for primary results for D.C., youll get results for the Republican primary, too, even though it was held back in March.

Marco Rubio won the D.C. primary in March with 37.3 percent of the vote. John Kasich came in second with 35.5 percent. Trump came in third with just 13.8 percent and 0 delegates.

Today is the Democratic primary for Washington, D.C.

Bernie or Bust: Sanders Most Fervent Supporters Are Still Fighting

June 7 isn"t the end of the #BernieorBust movement. Here"s what they will likely do next, what fuels them, and why Clinton is not part of their future.

Click here to read more

Source: http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/washington-dc-primary-rubio-win-won-kasich-trump-republican-how-why/

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Clinton projected to defeat Sanders in DC primary, candidates now meet face to face

DC Mayor slammed for late primary scheduling & low voter turnout – FishTank

Presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton defeated Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday in the Washington, D.C., Democratic primary -- marking the end of the presidential primary season and bringing the two candidates together for a face-to-face meeting to discuss whats next for the party in the general election.

The Associated Press said with 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Clinton has 74,566 votes, compared to 19,990 for Sanders.

Neither candidate spoke to reporters Tuesday night after their roughly 90-minute meeting in a Washington hotel.

However, the campaigns released separate, but nearly identical statements saying that Clinton and Sanders had a positive discussion about their primary race, unifying the party and their mutual desire to stop presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump from winning in November.

The campaigns also said the candidates discussed issues in which they share common goals, including increasing wages for working families, eliminating undisclosed money in politics and reducing the cost of college.

The meeting, which included the candidates" campaign managers, concluded with the sides agreeing to continue to work on a shared agenda that includes developing a platform for the upcoming Democratic National Convention, each campaign said.

Sanders said h**l tell supporters his next steps Thursday via a live, online video.

After today, the voting is done, but our political revolution continues, Sanders said in an email Tuesday to supporters.

Clinton clinched the nomination last week by getting the requisite 2,383 delegates -- a combination of superdelegates and pledged delegates awarded to her in 56 primary and caucus wins, including those in Puerto Rico and six U.S. territories.

Sanders has so far refused to end his campaign despite pressure to do so, suggesting he will keep trying to persuade Clinton superdelegates to instead vote for him at the Democratic convention in July, in a long-shot bid to take the nomination.

However, the Sanders campaign has occasionally suggested that the candidate could end his bid if Clinton, and the entire Democratic Party, embrace key parts of his agenda including better universal health care, a $15-an-hour minimum wage and free tuition at state colleges and universities.

Clinton said earlier Tuesday in an interview with Telemundo that she was very much "looking forward to having (Sanders") support in this campaign, because Donald Trump poses a serious threat to our nation."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said after the D.C. primary, "Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents. At our convention in July, were going to nominate a qualified, capable candidate who will build on the hard-won progress of the last seven years."

I think the time is now. In fact, the time is overdue, for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic party, Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, said Tuesday on Capitol Hill. We need a party which is prepared to stand up for the disappearing middle class.

Before Tuesday, Clinton had 2,784 delegates, compared to 1,877 for Sanders.

On Sunday, Sanders told ABC News that the meeting with Clinton will be about what kind of platform we have and what kind of administration she will have.

Sanders also told ABC that he wants Clinton to also specifically commit to a progressive tax system that makes big banks and corporations pay their fair share of taxes.

That Sanders, 74, even challenged the better-known and better-funded Clinton this far is a remarkable political feat.

The former first lady and secretary of state was expected to breeze through the primary. But Sanders, appearing to tap into voters frustrations with established candidates and money-driven politics, took the race until the second-to-last week of the Democratic primary season.

Along the way, Sanders won 21 primaries or caucuses, backed by legions of young voters and others excited by his promises of higher wages, free college and limiting the influence of big money in elections.

Sanders long-shot bid began with a key win in New Hampshire, an early primary that Clinton had won in her failed 2008 White House bid.

He showed his campaign was for real in March by managing seven straight victories, putting the Clinton campaign on its heels until late April, when Clinton won her home-state of New York.

Clinton nearly put the race out of reach with a series of early wins, including first-in-the-nation Iowa, and in delegate-rich states such as South Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia.

But Sanders scored a big comeback victory March 8 in Michigan that stopped Clintons decisive run across the South. However, he failed to sustain momentum, with Clinton winning the next seven state contests.

Fox News" Mike Emanuel and Lauren Blanchard and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/06/14/clinton-projected-to-defeat-sanders-in-dc-primary-candidates-now-meet-face-to-face.html

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