This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/02/washington-primary-muriel-bowser-wins-mayoral-nomination

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Washington primary: Muriel Bowser wins mayoral nomination Washington primary: Muriel Bowser wins mayoral nomination
(5 months later)
A corruption investigation into A corruption investigation into the Washington mayor, Vincent Gray, torpedoed his hopes of winning a second term on Wednesday as voters in the key Democratic primary election overwhelming favoured alternative candidate Muriel Bowser.
the Washington mayor, Vincent Gray, torpedoed his hopes of winning a second Though Bowser must still face former Republican David Catania, who is running as an independent in November's general election, her landslide primary win over Gray all but ensures she will take control of the Democrat-dominated city.
term on Wednesday as voters in the key Democratic primary Gray denies the allegations by federal prosecutors that he accepted a $425,000 campaign donation in 2010 in return for commercial favours to a billionaire contractor, Jeffrey Thompson, whom he codenamed Uncle Earl.
election overwhelming favoured alternative candidate Muriel Bowser. But the mayor's electoral fate was sealed by Thompson's decision just two weeks before the election to plead guilty to conspiracy charges in exchange for a reduced sentence and a series of written allegations against Gray.
Though Bowser must still face former The subsequent cloud hanging over the mayor, who may now face his own indictment before November's election, played heavily in favour of Bowser, a relatively inexperienced city council member who pulled ahead in polling when it became clear she was most likely to defeat Gray.
Republican David Catania, who is running as an independent in After an unusually long election night count, Gray conceded defeat shortly after midnight when results from most of Washington's eight wards showed him trailing 11 percentage points behind Bowser with just a third of the vote.
November's general election, her landslide primary win over Gray all Bowser's 44% support was nearly three times higher than the nearest white candidate, Tommy Wells, and puts her in a strong position to become Washington's second African American woman mayor in November.
but ensures she will take control of the Democrat-dominated city. The investigation into Gray's 2010 campaign has already seen several members of his staff plead guilty and follows the separate prosecution of three DC council members.
Gray denies the allegations by federal It also caps a series of recent corruption scandals in major US cities including Charlotte, Queens, New Jersey and San Francisco.
prosecutors that he accepted a $425,000 campaign donation in 2010 in Bowser pulled no punches in her acceptance speech. “We believe that corruption at city hall is unacceptable and our mayor must break new ground and command the moral authority to lead,” she said.
return for commercial favours to a billionaire contractor, Jeffrey “The outcome of this election is an affirmation that the status quo is not good enough, we know we can do better and we need a fresh start.”
Thompson, whom he codenamed Uncle Earl. Gray criticised the decision to hold the primary election so early in the year but pledged to continue despite the mounting blot on his administration.
But the mayor's electoral fate was “If I am going to work for another nine months I am going to work extremely hard,” he told supporters. “This is not going to be situation where I will drift into the end of this administration.”
sealed by Thompson's decision just two weeks before the election to A low turnout among Gray supporters in poorer African American districts across the Anacostia River contributed to the victory by Bowser, who proved popular in both racially mixed and segregated parts of Washington.
plead guilty to conspiracy charges in exchange for a reduced sentence
and a series of written allegations against Gray.
The subsequent cloud hanging over the
mayor, who may now face his own indictment before November's
election, played heavily in favour of Bowser, a relatively
inexperienced city council member who pulled ahead in polling when it
became clear she was most likely to defeat Gray.
After an unusually long election night
count, Gray conceded defeat shortly after midnight when
results from most of Washington's eight wards showed him trailing 11
percentage points behind Bowser with just a third of the vote.
Bowser's 44% support was nearly three
times higher than the nearest white candidate, Tommy Wells, and puts
her in a strong position to become Washington's second African
American woman mayor in November.
The investigation into Gray's 2010
campaign has already seen several members of his staff plead guilty
and follows the separate prosecution of three DC council members.
It also caps a series of recent corruption
scandals in major US cities including Charlotte, Queens, New Jersey
and San Francisco.
Bowser pulled no punches in her acceptance
speech. “We believe that corruption at city hall is unacceptable and our
mayor must break new ground and command the moral authority to lead,”
she said.
“The outcome of this election is an
affirmation that the status quo is not good enough, we know we can do
better and we need a fresh start.”
Gray criticised the decision to hold the primary election so early in
the year but pledged to continue despite the mounting blot on his
administration.
“If I am going to work for another nine months I am going to work
extremely hard,” he told supporters. “This is not going to be situation
where I will drift into the end of this administration.”
A low turnout among Gray supporters in
poorer African American districts across the Anacostia River
contributed to the victory by Bowser, who proved popular in both
racially mixed and segregated parts of Washington.