The Local Races: Change Also Came to D.C.

While we soak in Barack Obama's historic victory over Senator John McCain (who delivered a moving and honorable concession speech), we can't ignore the change that came to our own backyard. Few of the results caught any of us by surprise. We did, though, rid ourselves of a pesky ANC commissioner, though.

Yes, fellow District residents and ping-pong lovers alike, ANC 3F04 commissioner and ardent nightlife opponent Frank Winstead was handed a crushing defeat last night, losing his re-election bid with only 25 percent of the vote. As you may recall, earlier this year Winstead launched a crusade against Comet Ping Pong, the beloved pizza joint in Upper Northwest that set itself apart by having ping pong tables both inside and outside. Comet has survived, Winstead has not.

In the most hotly-contested race of the season, Michael A. Brown soundly defeated incumbent write-in candidate Carol Schwartz for an At-large seat on the D.C. Council (Kwame Brown was re-elected to the other At-large seat). It's a bitter farewell for Schwartz, who served four terms on the Council, and a reminder that no amount of Washington Post endorsements will help you in this town if you're running as a Republican. Patrick Mara's loss notwithstanding, the District's political class are already whispering about him as a replacement for Council member David Catania (I-At Large), who may retire at the end of his current term. As for Michael A. Brown, our congratulations go out to him. It took three tries, lots of money and the eventual endorsement of the city's second-most powerful politician (that would be Council Chair Vincent Gray), but you're finally an elected public servant.

In other races, Marion Barry proved that old age will get him before he's ever voted out of office -- he cleaned up in Ward 8 with 91 percent of the vote. In Ward 2, Jack Evans will keep his seat, as will Ward 4's Muriel Bowser and Ward 7's Yvette Alexander. D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton easily defeated her challengers, while embattled Shadow Senator Paul Strauss won himself another six years of zero pay and few of the privileges of higher office. Mike Panetta won another term as Shadow Representative, and as the second-highest vote-getter in citywide races, is now one of the most popular and powerful guys you may never have heard of.

Maybe the biggest story of the night is that after a troubled primary, the District's electoral machinery didn't collapse under the weight of the almost 230,000 votes cast. The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics surely took its time reporting any results, but so far there appears to be no controversy over their accuracy.

For full results, visit DCBOEE's website.

Photo by el swifterino