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| Gray, Bowser believed to be in close race as D.C. voters choose Democratic mayoral nominee | Gray, Bowser believed to be in close race as D.C. voters choose Democratic mayoral nominee |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| After months of bitter campaigning, the race for the Democratic nomination for D.C. mayor ended at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with polls closing and voters deciding whether to grant scandal-tarred incumbent Vincent C. Gray the chance for another term. | |
| With turnout low and voters expressing muted enthusiasm for the candidates, Gray and his top challenger, Council member Muriel Bowser, sprinted across the city, rallying supporters and struggling to push voters to the polls. | With turnout low and voters expressing muted enthusiasm for the candidates, Gray and his top challenger, Council member Muriel Bowser, sprinted across the city, rallying supporters and struggling to push voters to the polls. |
| At Shepherd Elementary School in Shepherd Park, both showed up to greet voters as dusk settled over the precinct. The sidewalks were crowded with candidates and their supporters, hugging voters and addressing those casting ballots by name. | |
| “Can you get two more of your friends to vote?” Bowser said. “It’s going to be tight. ” | |
| But voters seemed less than eager to choose in a race that is shaping up to be closer than any mayoral election since 1990. | But voters seemed less than eager to choose in a race that is shaping up to be closer than any mayoral election since 1990. |
| At THEARC in Southeast Washington, in a part of the city considered a stronghold for Gray, only 143 voters had showed up to cast ballots by 6 p.m. — only about 16 percent of the 883 who voted in the same precinct four years ago. | |
| A few miles away at River Terrace Elementary in Ward 7, Gray’s home ward, turnout was also looking low: 390 people had cast votes by 7:15 p.m., just 62 percent of the 628 who showed up in 2010. | |
| For most of his mayoralty, Gray has been wounded into an ongoing federal investigation into his 2010 campaign. Bowser and six other relatively unknown Democratic challengers have struggled to capture voters’ attention. | For most of his mayoralty, Gray has been wounded into an ongoing federal investigation into his 2010 campaign. Bowser and six other relatively unknown Democratic challengers have struggled to capture voters’ attention. |
| “There wasn’t anyone I was really enthusiastic about,” said Barbara White, a 77-year-old former editor, who said her vote was still in doubt before she entered a polling place in Shepherd Park Elementary School. | “There wasn’t anyone I was really enthusiastic about,” said Barbara White, a 77-year-old former editor, who said her vote was still in doubt before she entered a polling place in Shepherd Park Elementary School. |
| White ended up voting for D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (Ward 6), one of the seven candidates challenging Gray, a field that also included Council members Jack Evans (Ward 2) and Vincent B. Orange (At Large), restaurateur Andy Shallal, former state department official Reta Jo Lewis and musician Carlos Allen. | White ended up voting for D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (Ward 6), one of the seven candidates challenging Gray, a field that also included Council members Jack Evans (Ward 2) and Vincent B. Orange (At Large), restaurateur Andy Shallal, former state department official Reta Jo Lewis and musician Carlos Allen. |
| (Live Updates: D.C. Primary Election) | (Live Updates: D.C. Primary Election) |
| A Democratic stronghold, the District’s mayoral contests typically end with the Democratic primary. This year, however, the Democratic nominee will face council member David Catania (I-At Large) in the general election. | A Democratic stronghold, the District’s mayoral contests typically end with the Democratic primary. This year, however, the Democratic nominee will face council member David Catania (I-At Large) in the general election. |
| After leading by double digits in polls early in the year, Gray’s ability to keep voters focused on his stewardship of the city’s growing economy was shaken in early March when businessman Jeffrey E. Thompson pleaded guilty to illicit campaign funding, including on behalf of Gray’s 2010 campaign. Gray has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Thompson. | After leading by double digits in polls early in the year, Gray’s ability to keep voters focused on his stewardship of the city’s growing economy was shaken in early March when businessman Jeffrey E. Thompson pleaded guilty to illicit campaign funding, including on behalf of Gray’s 2010 campaign. Gray has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Thompson. |
| “There’s been a lot of dirt dug up on him, but nothing’s been able to stick,” Debra Knight-Harvin, 52, said Tuesday at a polling place in the former Bertie Backus Middle School in Northeast Washington. | “There’s been a lot of dirt dug up on him, but nothing’s been able to stick,” Debra Knight-Harvin, 52, said Tuesday at a polling place in the former Bertie Backus Middle School in Northeast Washington. |
| A bitter contest since Gray announced he would seek reelection in December, the campaign was rife with tension Tuesday morning as both the mayor and Bowser traveled to the same polling place in Bowser’s ward, where supporters from both sides shouted at each other. | A bitter contest since Gray announced he would seek reelection in December, the campaign was rife with tension Tuesday morning as both the mayor and Bowser traveled to the same polling place in Bowser’s ward, where supporters from both sides shouted at each other. |
| “We’re confident that the residents are frustrated with much of Mayor Gray’s office and they are going to come out to vote,” said Bowser, dressed in a blue suit and a green scarf, as she stood outside LaSalle Elementary School on Riggs Road in Northeast. | |
| Gray, arriving about 20 minutes after Bowser had departed, slipped one of his campaign’s blue T-shirts on over his dress shirt and danced in front of supporters to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. | Gray, arriving about 20 minutes after Bowser had departed, slipped one of his campaign’s blue T-shirts on over his dress shirt and danced in front of supporters to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. |
| “We’ve gotten people back to work,” Gray told reporters, noting that the unemployment rate had dropped by four percentage points since he took office and saying that he helped guide the opening of new Wal-Marts in the District. “We’ve brought fiscal stability back to the city.” | “We’ve gotten people back to work,” Gray told reporters, noting that the unemployment rate had dropped by four percentage points since he took office and saying that he helped guide the opening of new Wal-Marts in the District. “We’ve brought fiscal stability back to the city.” |
| As the candidates sought to rally supporters, their campaigns dispatched armies of volunteers and paid workers to turn out the vote. | As the candidates sought to rally supporters, their campaigns dispatched armies of volunteers and paid workers to turn out the vote. |
| Bowser’s forces assembled at a parking lot near Nationals Park, where dozens of newly hired canvassers — many responding to Craigslist ads that promised $100 for the day — were loaded into more than 50 vans and dispatched to neighborhoods to knock on prospective voters’ doors. | Bowser’s forces assembled at a parking lot near Nationals Park, where dozens of newly hired canvassers — many responding to Craigslist ads that promised $100 for the day — were loaded into more than 50 vans and dispatched to neighborhoods to knock on prospective voters’ doors. |
| The canvassers planned to make three rounds of stops at homes already visited over the weekend by Bowser campaign workers, hoping to push them to the polls. | The canvassers planned to make three rounds of stops at homes already visited over the weekend by Bowser campaign workers, hoping to push them to the polls. |
| Gray’s campaign dispatched nearly two dozen 50-seat buses to transport voters to polls, and it also sent staffers and volunteers to apartment buildings, senior citizen centers, Metro stations and shopping centers. | Gray’s campaign dispatched nearly two dozen 50-seat buses to transport voters to polls, and it also sent staffers and volunteers to apartment buildings, senior citizen centers, Metro stations and shopping centers. |
| Asked in the late afternoon how the results would turn out for the mayor, Chuck Thies, his campaign manager, said, “It’s a coin flip.” | Asked in the late afternoon how the results would turn out for the mayor, Chuck Thies, his campaign manager, said, “It’s a coin flip.” |
| Earlier, Gray stood outside St. Timothy Episcopal Church on Alabama Avenue in Southeast Washington, in a precinct where four years ago, a crush of nearly 1,500 voters sided with him by a margin of more than 4-to-1. | Earlier, Gray stood outside St. Timothy Episcopal Church on Alabama Avenue in Southeast Washington, in a precinct where four years ago, a crush of nearly 1,500 voters sided with him by a margin of more than 4-to-1. |
| The sun was shining, and an SUV with his blue campaign signs sat idling across the street, blaring the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” | The sun was shining, and an SUV with his blue campaign signs sat idling across the street, blaring the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” |
| There was just one problem. The sidewalk was empty. As in other campaign stops of the day, Gray and his traveling band of supporters far outnumbered voters. | There was just one problem. The sidewalk was empty. As in other campaign stops of the day, Gray and his traveling band of supporters far outnumbered voters. |
| Wells, meanwhile, appeared at Capitol Hill’s historic Eastern Market a little before 10 a.m. to cast his vote. | Wells, meanwhile, appeared at Capitol Hill’s historic Eastern Market a little before 10 a.m. to cast his vote. |
| “We’ll just have to see (the results) at the end of the day,” he said. “It’s a pretty day,” so weather shouldn’t keep anyone away. | “We’ll just have to see (the results) at the end of the day,” he said. “It’s a pretty day,” so weather shouldn’t keep anyone away. |
| If turnout is low, he said, it will be because the council kept the primary on April 1 rather than delaying it until June, as he had favored. “It’s the incumbent-protection plan,” he said of the April date. | If turnout is low, he said, it will be because the council kept the primary on April 1 rather than delaying it until June, as he had favored. “It’s the incumbent-protection plan,” he said of the April date. |
| Shortly after 10:30 a.m., at the usually busy polling place at Shepherd Park Elementary School, voting was sluggish. The school, in one of the highest-voting precincts in high-turnout Ward 4, is typically hopping on Election Day. But it wasn’t so late Tuesday morning, where only a handful of voters moseyed in and out over a half-hour period. | Shortly after 10:30 a.m., at the usually busy polling place at Shepherd Park Elementary School, voting was sluggish. The school, in one of the highest-voting precincts in high-turnout Ward 4, is typically hopping on Election Day. But it wasn’t so late Tuesday morning, where only a handful of voters moseyed in and out over a half-hour period. |
| After the morning rush had subsided, only 295 voters had cast ballots at the precinct, which saw 1,822 Democrats vote in 2010. (Another 268 voted there early this year.) | After the morning rush had subsided, only 295 voters had cast ballots at the precinct, which saw 1,822 Democrats vote in 2010. (Another 268 voted there early this year.) |
| Gray won 63 percent of the vote in this bellwether precinct in 2010, upending incumbent Adrian M. Fenty in his home ward. But many of the voters trickling out of the school’s gymnasium said they were ready to go in another direction. | Gray won 63 percent of the vote in this bellwether precinct in 2010, upending incumbent Adrian M. Fenty in his home ward. But many of the voters trickling out of the school’s gymnasium said they were ready to go in another direction. |
| Phyllis Caudle-Green, 59, said she voted for Gray over Fenty four years ago but was supporting Bowser this time. | Phyllis Caudle-Green, 59, said she voted for Gray over Fenty four years ago but was supporting Bowser this time. |
| Bowser, she said, struck her as “capable and competent” and represented a rare opportunity to put a black woman in the city’s top office. “We’re at a crossroads,” the retired investment banker said. “I just think it’s time to go in a new direction.” | Bowser, she said, struck her as “capable and competent” and represented a rare opportunity to put a black woman in the city’s top office. “We’re at a crossroads,” the retired investment banker said. “I just think it’s time to go in a new direction.” |
| Caudle-Green said she settled on Bowser only in recent weeks, after new corruption allegations were aired against Gray. | Caudle-Green said she settled on Bowser only in recent weeks, after new corruption allegations were aired against Gray. |
| “I don’t necessarily think the mayor is guilty,” she said. “I just don’t think we need that distraction.” | “I don’t necessarily think the mayor is guilty,” she said. “I just don’t think we need that distraction.” |
| But Hugo Word, an 82-year-old former patent examiner, said he was sticking with Gray, because his experience and performance as mayor outweighed the accusations against him. “He knows the system,” Word said. “He’s moving the District forward.” | But Hugo Word, an 82-year-old former patent examiner, said he was sticking with Gray, because his experience and performance as mayor outweighed the accusations against him. “He knows the system,” Word said. “He’s moving the District forward.” |
| The allegations against Gray, he said, weighed into his decision but “haven’t been proven yet.” | The allegations against Gray, he said, weighed into his decision but “haven’t been proven yet.” |
| Around noon, Evans said he was seeing dismal turnout during a tour of several wards. | Around noon, Evans said he was seeing dismal turnout during a tour of several wards. |
| “There’s a lack of enthusiasm for all of the candidates,” Evans said, speaking outside St. John’s College High School off Military Road in Chevy Chase. | “There’s a lack of enthusiasm for all of the candidates,” Evans said, speaking outside St. John’s College High School off Military Road in Chevy Chase. |
| By mid-afternoon, at the polling place at the former Backus Middle School, only 298 voters had showed up. Even combined with 325 voters who cast ballots before election day, the turnout was a far cry from the 1,423 who voted there in 2010, 80 percent of them opting for Gray. | By mid-afternoon, at the polling place at the former Backus Middle School, only 298 voters had showed up. Even combined with 325 voters who cast ballots before election day, the turnout was a far cry from the 1,423 who voted there in 2010, 80 percent of them opting for Gray. |
| Phyllis Matthews, 75, who voted there, still favored Gray. | Phyllis Matthews, 75, who voted there, still favored Gray. |
| “I don’t care for [Bowser], period,” said the retired worker for the city’s parks and recreation department. “She has an attitude I don’t particularly care for, woman to woman. I would vote for Hillary [Rodham Clinton] without batting an eye, but I would not vote for that lady.” | “I don’t care for [Bowser], period,” said the retired worker for the city’s parks and recreation department. “She has an attitude I don’t particularly care for, woman to woman. I would vote for Hillary [Rodham Clinton] without batting an eye, but I would not vote for that lady.” |
| The corruption allegations against Gray, Matthews said, did not outweigh his long record of service to the city: “I believe Vincent Gray told the truth, and if he didn’t, shame on me.” | The corruption allegations against Gray, Matthews said, did not outweigh his long record of service to the city: “I believe Vincent Gray told the truth, and if he didn’t, shame on me.” |
| Loyalties were split, however, inside one North Michigan Park household. Sherwood Marable, 67, opted to stick with Gray, while wife, Helena Marable, 60, went with Bowser. | Loyalties were split, however, inside one North Michigan Park household. Sherwood Marable, 67, opted to stick with Gray, while wife, Helena Marable, 60, went with Bowser. |
| “I want more of the same,” said Sherwood Marable, who is retired from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “I like everything Vincent Gray’s been doing.” | “I want more of the same,” said Sherwood Marable, who is retired from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “I like everything Vincent Gray’s been doing.” |
| His wife said she was looking for a change: “We need a female in the office now, a female viewpoint,” said Helena Marable, who worked for a health insurance company. As far as the corruption allegations, she said: “My feeling is he’s guilty. He’s crooked and there was a cover-up.” | His wife said she was looking for a change: “We need a female in the office now, a female viewpoint,” said Helena Marable, who worked for a health insurance company. As far as the corruption allegations, she said: “My feeling is he’s guilty. He’s crooked and there was a cover-up.” |
| Her husband begged to differ: “To me, they are allegations until they are proven in a court of law. I will wait until I hear what the lawyers and the judges have to say.” Bowser, he said, is unproven and hasn’t been active in Ward 5. | Her husband begged to differ: “To me, they are allegations until they are proven in a court of law. I will wait until I hear what the lawyers and the judges have to say.” Bowser, he said, is unproven and hasn’t been active in Ward 5. |
| Helena Marable said the mayoral race has been the subject of some marital discord, but she said she expected it to end Tuesday. “That’s why we’re here together,” she said. “When it’s all said and done, we’ll still love each other.” | Helena Marable said the mayoral race has been the subject of some marital discord, but she said she expected it to end Tuesday. “That’s why we’re here together,” she said. “When it’s all said and done, we’ll still love each other.” |
| Emma Brown, Robert Samuels, Susan K. Svrluga, Zach Cohen, Mary Pat Flaherty, Hamil R. Harris, Marc Fisher, Michael E. Ruane and T. Rees Shapiro contributed to this report. |