It's Still Gray vs. Fenty, But with a Smile

Overheard at a polling place in Ward 7, and reported on the Hillcrest Listserv. It's good when election day is accompanied by good humor:

A funny thing happened on the way to the election poll today. A group of citizens were about to enter the door and the older woman said, "Remember that's FENTY with a Y and not an I." One of the younger ladies responded, "Dah...I know it's written all over my purse a million times...FENDI."

Fenty Running as a Republican Was Always a Myth

Although Adrian Fenty won the Republican primary for Mayor, it turns out that it was never going to be possible for him to run as a Republican, DCist reports. Even if Fenty had wanted to cross over to the other side, he would have had to have sold his soul to the Republican party by registering as a Republican before the primary. Fenty received 822 write-in votes.

It was only after it became apparent that Fenty could win the Republican nomination for Mayor that the DC Board of Elections issued a legal opinion that he couldn't run as a Republican. The full story is on TBD. At least the DCBOE didn't spoil all the speculation and fun before primary day.

Fenty may be returning to private life, but Michelle Rhee's fate is still undetermined. You can vote in our poll:  Should Michelle Rhee stay or go as DC School Chancellor?

Should Fenty Run as a Republican?

Photo by Keith Ivey

Update: DCist reports that Mayor Fenty has officially conceded to Vincent Gray and has ruled out running as a Republican or Independent. Still, it's interesting to speculate "what if?"

The votes are in and Vincent Gray beat Adrian Fenty in the Democratic primary for mayor. Winning the Democratic primary, as every DC resident knows, guarantees that you will be the next mayor of the District of Columbia. Except. Except perhaps if Adrian Fenty runs as a Republican.

Election Results Starting to Come In

10:47PM...

The DC Board of Elections has started to show results for the various races. Visit the DCBOE's website for the lastest election results for the entire city, by ward and by precinct.

10:30PM and No DC Election Results Yet

There is nothing wrong with your television. There are no election results for the District of Columbia yet as of 10:30pm. Nothing. Zero. I can't recall any recent election with no results from any ward or precinct this late in the evening.  If you want to go to the source, visit the DC Board of Elections' website. They'll have the results...eventually.

Post-Vote Reports: Fenty Versus Gray

Here's how voting works these days:  Vote, tweet, post on Facebook. Perhaps instead of expensive exit polling, news organizations should count tweets by voters. But regardless of whether these tweets accurately reflect the actual way the election goes (and we'll know in a few hours), they do reflect what's on some voters' minds. Here is what some District of Columbia residents are thinking on Twitter:


For the record, I voted for Fenty. Like many women, I have a complicated relationship with men who are high-achieving jerks.

Fenty Versus Gray: The Last Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? This is the last of our daily Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  If you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider.

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  And if you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider. 

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  And if you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider.

Some Fenty Supporters Voting for Republican David Hedgepeth for Ward 3 City Council

Some Ward 3 Democrats are so upset with Mary Cheh's endorsement of Vincent Gray for Mayor that they're supporting the Republican candidate for city council, David Hedgepeth, who has endorsed Adrian Fenty. While Hedgepth doesn't stand a chance of unseating the popular councilmenber in the general election in November, Democrats voting for Republicans in the District of Columbia is like dogs and cats mating: it never happens, it can't happen, it's against God's plan for it to happen. But it is happening. That's DC politics. Anything can happen, but what happens may not matter.

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  And if you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider.

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  And if you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider.

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  And if you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider.

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  And if you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider.

Is it News? Gray Campaign Blasts Metro For Using Fenty's Voice

City Council Chair Vincent Gray condemned "as cheating" Metro's decision to use Mayor Adrien Fenty's voice for recorded Metro announcements. "This is patently unfair, and the Metro board should never have approved the change," Gray said in a news conference this morning. "People are going to hear Fenty say 'doors closing' multiple times day, and that gives Fenty an unfair and possibly illegal advantage. It's free political advertising."

An obviously furious and determined Gray declared, "This is a dangerous precedent. From the schools to streetcars and now Metro, the mayor always gets his way." Gray wagged his finger as he said, "He's not going to get away with this."

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  And if you still can't figure out whom to vote for, use our handy Fenty-Gray decider.

Guest Column: Why I Support Adrian Fenty for Mayor

by Bill Coe

In arguing (again, as I did on the Cleveland Park Listserv) for Mayor Adrian Fenty's re-election, I need not list (again) his accomplishments. I don't have to extol his success in wringing value out of the bureaucratic mess which once passed for government in DC or describe the progress made by our city (and ward) under his leadership. According to polls, most DC voters freely acknowledge all this but still want Chairman Gray to be our mayor. Indeed, the smart money is now on Gray -- due, in no small part, to the endorsement given him by our Councilmember, Mary Cheh. (Everyone knew that Fenty's main chance for victory lay in a solid vote from Ward 3. Cheh's position will undoubtedly deny the Mayor just enough of our votes to ensure his defeat.)

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we'll present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs, endorsements, articles, and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.

Fenty Versus Gray Thoughts of the Day

Are you still undecided between Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray? Between now and the election we'll present occasional Fenty versus Gray thoughts to help you decide whom to vote for to be the next Mayor of the District of Columbia. These quotations come from various sources, including Twitter, neighborhood listservs and the campaigns themselves. As with all political pronouncements, how you evaluate these statements is up to you. You're welcome to add your thoughts in the comments section below.

For Fenty:

Four years ago, Adrian Fenty promised change. He has delivered for you and your neighbors by raising test scores, lowering crime and improving city services. Fenty is the competent leader we need to continue the progress. --Fenty campaign

Under Mayor Fenty's leadership, Chancellor Rhee has been able to turn DCPS around in three years; not the five-to-seven that she thought it would take when she signed on. --Neighborhood listserv

For Gray:

I'm willing to give Gray a chance. As I see it, the elementary schools relative success is an anomaly, the issues are really zoning, parking, crime, and the qualities that affect life beyond raising elementary school aged kids. --Neighborhood listserv

Vince not only championed K-12 school reform efforts on the Council, but also led the efforts to expand and improve pre-K. In just over 18 months, under his leadership, the District has added just under 2,000 slots and has nearly reached its goal of free, voluntary pre-k for all children, making it among the first states in the nation to achieve universal pre-k. --Gray campaign

Guest Column: Why I Support Vince Gray for Mayor

by John Chelen


I voted for Mayor Fenty in the last election.  After he was elected, I
liked his energy and decision to make education his number one priority.
But I gradually lost confidence in his ability to manage the
complexities the city faces. I didn't know Council Chairman Gray well
before the election, but since then I've watched him handle a range of
issues and listened to him speak. I'm now confident that he'll bring
much needed insight and judgment to our city during very difficult
economic times.