What a night, eh Washington? If you're like us, you were up late listening to Kojo and Jonetta break down the election results as they came in on WAMU. Our favorite moment of the evening came just before 10 p.m., when Mayor Williams told co-host Jonetta Rose Barras she was crazy to suggest that anyone believed he had waited too long to decide if he would seek a third term. For the record Jonetta —... more ›

We knew it all along. Granted, we were off by a few weeks, but we called it. (Pat on back for us.) Michael Brown, a perennial long-shot in the mayoral contest, is dropping out today, reports the Post. This morning we received a cryptic announcement from his communications director, stating that Brown would "make a major announcement regarding the future of his campaign" today at 2 p.m. Then again, we received pretty much the same... more ›

And so ends the suspense -- Adrian Fenty is the Post's pick for mayor. Though Fenty has held a comfortable lead in recent weeks, the Post's endorsement was seen as Linda Cropp's final chance in what has become a hard-fought campaign. Today's endorsement is sure to give Fenty the win next Tuesday, with the Post recognizing his "can-do quality" and his "vision of the city that challenges the best in people." And maybe to add... more ›

Brown Not Out: Well, we're a little red-faced today. Yesterday we guessed that mayoral longshot Michael Brown was bowing out of the race. He did, after all, send us an email in which he announced that a press conference held yesterday would include "major announcement regarding his plans for the future." Coupled with his fast-shrinking campaign finance account, we thought, "This guy is toast." How wrong we were. Brown didn't duck out of the race.... more ›

Written by DCist contributor Christopher Durocher In anticipation of the September 12 District primaries, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) of D.C. released its ratings for mayoral candidates last week. The ratings, which score candidates from +10 to -10 based on their support for the GLBT community and its issues, ranked D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp the top candidate with a +9.5 rating, while Councilmember Vincent Orange found himself at the bottom of the... more ›

It goes without saying -- the District is a town full of Democrats. They occupy the majority of the elected offices, have the most registered voters by a long shot, and reliably vote for Democratic presidential candidates. In the most recent analysis of the voter registry, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics reported that 73.5 percent of registered voters were Democrats. Republicans could only claim 8 percent, the Statehood Green Party 1.6 percent, and... more ›

It's been a chaotic month for AOL employees. First came news that the Dulles-based online giant would be cutting 5000 jobs. Today, another shoe is dropping: the company's accidental release of customer search data has finally reached the fall guy phase, resulting in the departure of CTO Maureen Govern and, presumably, others. Here's hoping that those previously laid-off can at least extract a little schadenfreude from the fiasco. Macaca Misstep Takes Toll In Poll: Yesterday WUSA released a new poll, and the news it brings is not good for George Allen. The numbers show that the senator's lead over Democratic challenger James Webb has evaporated from nineteen percentage points to a mere three. Perhaps most stunningly (if not importantly, given their generally low turnout rates), Allen has suffered a 40-point swing among young people. The poll also brings great news for Virginia homophobes: the fall ballot's marriage amendment is poised to pass by a 2:1 margin. Post Mayoral Endorsement Looms: How's this for meta-journalism: we're about to note another news outlet's story about yet another news outlet's potential endorsement in the mayoral race. Pretty ridiculous, we know. Still, there's no denying that the Post's endorsement could be a big deal in the election, and NBC4 does a fine job laying out the case. As you might expect, they identify the middle of the pack — and Marie Johns in particular — as the biggest potential beneficiaries. But it's anyone's guess who'll actually get the nod. Blacksburg Manhunt Starts And Ends Tragically: WTOP reports on yesterday's fugitive spree near Virginia Tech. William Morva escaped from Montgomery Regional Hospital, allegedly killing security guard Derrick McFarland in the process and prompting the nearby university to cancel classes for the day. Morva was recaptured around 3:30 p.m., but not before Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Sutphin's life had also been lost. The suspect is now being held at an unnamed regional facility. Traffic Study Prompts Controversy: The Post reports on a spat between Va. Governor Tim Kaine's administration and pro-growth forces in Loudoun. At the center of the dispute is a study conducted by VDOT and released last month that predicts traffic problems if the Dulles South development is allowed to proceed. The newly-formed Right Growth Policy Institute has now released a set of emails between the Kaine administration and study engineers demonstrating a hands-on approach aimed at enhancing the political consequences of the study. However, although the arrangement may have been shady, no one seems to be questioning the validity of the study's conclusions. Briefly Noted: Cropp releases another aggressively anti-Fenty flyer... Deadlock in Richmond over sentence for Arlington man... K-9 unit deployed to identify exact location of Wone murder... Virginia police handed out thousands of tickets last weekend... Georgetown jewelry store robbers were caught on tape... This Day In DCist: One year ago we profiled a jumbo slice alternative, nursed foolish dreams of a Nats playoff appearance, and penned a gloriously immature headline. Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user andertho more ›

Cameras Receive Mixed Reviews: Over the weekend the first four of 48 planned surveillance cameras went live in the District, promising to help police handle an on-going crime emergency. But how useful might they be? Not very, according to the Washington Times. Officials in other cities that implemented the cameras argue that they don't do much in helping stop crime, an experience that proven in our northern-most suburb, Baltimore: Baltimore, for example, set up... more ›

It's just over a month until the September 12 primary, and the endorsements are starting to roll in. Non-governmental organizations, newspapers, and big-name individuals are throwing their weight behind specific candidates, hoping to given them the final boost they need before election day. In the first big mayoral endorsement of the campaign season, the Current newspaper group -- which publishes the Georgetown Current, the Dupont Current, the Foggy Bottom Current, and the Northwest Current --... more ›

Debating Where to Debate: It was big news a few weeks back when Marie Johns challenged Adrian Fenty to a duel...errr...debate during a phone call she placed to a radio show Fenty was guesting on. The ambitious one-on-one challenge by Johns was set for August 12 at high noon...errr...9 a.m. But WTOP is reporting today that both Fenty and Johns may end up debating themselves, because they can't seemingly agree on a location for their verbal joust to the death. Fenty claims that the deal was always that the debate would be held somewhere in Ward 8, where he promises to be on the set day. Johns, however, has countered, arguing that since Fenty chose the time and date, she should at least get to choose the location, which she did, opting for the Human Rights Campaign headquarters on Rhode Island Avenue and 17th Street. Neither seems willing to concede, so August 12 may see the two standing miles apart asking an empty podium questions about crime, education, economic development, and affordable housing. Inside sources tell us that the two might meet later this week to settle the dispute, though neither can seem to agree whether they should order in from Domino's or Papa Johns. more ›

If Washington seems a little more chatty today, it might be that the results of yesterday's primaries are finally starting to sink in. In the day's biggest race, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), lost to novice Ned Lamont, while Rep. Cynthia McKinney again lost her seat in a runoff election in Georgia. We're of varying opinions on the Lieberman loss, but we can say this much -- please Cynthia, don't go. Pull a Tom DeLay and move to Virginia. We could use the entertainment. more ›

Is Linda Playing Dirty?: We all know that elections can be dirty affairs. While candidates may carry themselves with distinction, they're not immune from endorsing a dirty trick here or there to hamper an opponent's progress. This year's mayoral campaign has been relatively trick-free, until now, or so claims hard-charging contender Marie Johns, pictured at right. Johns is running behind Linda Cropp and Adrian Fenty in citywide polls, but the assumption is that every vote... more ›

Happy Wednesday, Washington. Sadly, there's even more crime to report this morning, and yes, you guessed it, more rain — though after the record high temperatures we've experienced earlier this week, we dare say we wouldn't mind some more of those scattered thunderstorms predicted for the metro area — the high will 88° today, with a 40% chance of strong showers hitting this afternoon. Cooler temperatures will be a welcome relief after yesterday's first Code... more ›

Yes, it's been quite some time since we caught up with District politics, especially given that it's an election year. But here are some updates and tidbits. Fenty, Cropp, Fenty, Cropp: For those of you following the District's mayoral contest, the city's political establishment has whipped itself into a frenzy trying to predict whether Linda Cropp or Adrian Fenty will win the Democratic primary in September. Up until recently, the general consensus was that Cropp... more ›

Should we just call the election now? Probably not. But Linda Cropp walked away with a small, symbolic victory yesterday, emerging the leader of a straw poll sponsored by the Ward 6 Democrats. Cropp walked away with 42 percent of the 203 votes, trailed by Marie Johns, who took in 21 percent and Adrian Fenty who received 17 percent. Michael Brown and Vincent Orange trailed behind, with 7 and 4 percent of the votes, respectively.... more ›

To date, much of the talk of the District mayoral race has been guesses and assumptions. While no one has the numbers to back it, the common wisdom is that Adrian Fenty and Linda Cropp are leading the charge, with third place a toss-up between Vincent Orange and Marie Johns (even though Orange claims the race is between him and Cropp). Today that may change. The Ward 6 Democrats are hosting a mayoral forum and... more ›

Last Friday was the second of five dates (January 31, March 10, June 10, July 31 and August 10) on which declared candidates for public office in the District have to detail their fundraising efforts and campaign expenditures. Last we checked, Adrian Fenty and Linda Cropp were fundraising like champions, helping make the race the most expensive in District history, with more than $2.3 million raised by the five mayoral candidates as of mid-February. The... more ›

Various candidates for public office in the District maintain blogs. Adrian Fenty has one, Michael Brown claims to have one, and Marie Johns is trying to get hers off the ground. The most active of the bunch, though, is A. Scott Bolden, who is currently challenging Council-member Phil Mendelson for his coveted At Large seat. Bolden has been blogging off and on since late October, and has used his online perch to comment on everything... more ›

DCist has learned from a reliable source that Council-member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) will seek re-election to his current seat, ending months of speculation as to whether he would challenge Council-member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) for the council's top spot. Council-member Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) will challenge Patterson, though, a decision he is set to announce on Friday during an appearance on WTOP. Gray's decision has long been expected, but will no doubt present itself... more ›

Tonight the five Democratic mayoral hopefuls are set to square off against each other in a 90-minute debate at American University starting at 7:30 p.m. But unlike past debates, we can bet three of the candidates won't be on top of their game. While the majority of the city lay peacefully in bed last night, candidates Linda Cropp, Adrian Fenty, and Vincent Orange were hashing it out over the stadium lease, whose final vote came... more ›

As we noted on Tuesday, campaign finance reports for candidates running for office have been made public, allowing us to see who has raised the most money over the last six months and what that might mean for their candidacy. The Post reports today that, somewhat predictably, mayoral front-runners Adrian Fenty and Linda Cropp led the pack in the size of their war chests, with Cropp taking in $821,000 and Fenty $692,000. Longshot candidates Marie... more ›

Most of the District's political news in 2005 revolved around D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and his plans for the future. Credited with righting the city's financial state, Williams spent the better part of the year dodging the question as to whether or not he would run again -- a move that kept mayoral competitors in maddening suspense and incessantly fueled local rumor mills. In late September -- actually, on the very day a year after... more ›

In proving that blogs are still all the rage, Sam Brooks, a candidate for the Ward 3 seat on the City Council, recently launched a blog of his own. Born on December 5 and updated for the first time today, Brooks' "idea blog" is presented as a means for the young candidate to exchange views with the voters. Writes Brooks: The basic idea is simple: to begin a substantive discussion about public policy that will... more ›

The region's first snow hit yesterday, and, as expected, the morning news was chock full of weather analyses and human interest reports on snowmen and troubled commutes. We suppose it is big news, and we should expect that local newscasters will wax poetic about the "winter wonderland." Of course, the novelty of snow on the ground may soon fade, with residents realizing that we still have four months of this weather remaining. And as much... more ›

Fresh from Thanksgiving break -- those four glorious days where District residents were given a brief respite from city politics -- the five candidates looking to replace D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams next year will meet for a public forum on development issues. Scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. at Saint Columba's Episcopal Church in Tenleytown, the forum will allow the candidates -- Linda Cropp, Adrian Fenty, Vincent Orange, Michael Brown, and Marie Johns -- to... more ›

Last night the five mayoral candidates -- Adrian Fenty, Marie Johns, Vincent Orange, Linda Cropp, and Michael Brown -- squared off in the first debate of the 2005-2006 campaign season. Facing an audience of 700 at the University of the District of Columbia, the candidates debated education, school modernization, economic development, affordable housing, crime, and yes, the stadium. Moderated by the Post's Colbert King, the candidates gave brief opening questions, faced withering questions from... more ›

We're finally within 365 days of when District residents head to the polls to choose their next mayor, and what better way to celebrate than an old-fashioned debate? Yes, tonight marks the official beginning of the 2006 campaign season, and all five officially-announced mayoral candidates will be taking each other on in what promises to be a battle royale over school modernization, taxes, development, crime, and affordable housing. Ok, it may not be that exciting.... more ›

It's not everyday that you run into a marching band on the District's streets. Yesterday was one of those days, though. After attending a brief meeting in the Judiciary Square area, DCist emerged to find a high school marching band clad in yellow t-shirts bearing the slogan, "Brown for Mayor." And suddenly it all made sense -- Michael Brown, son of the late Clinton era Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, officially declared his candidacy for mayor... more ›

She's not set to announce her candidacy until tomorrow, but D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp is already doing her best to increase her name recognition and create anticipation for her foray into the 2006 mayoral race. more ›

Four months ago the 2006 mayoral race was pure speculation. Come next week, though, we will finally have a confirmed slate of candidates -- and a year's worth of campaigning ahead of us. Council-members Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 4) and Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5) have been in the game for the better part of the summer, while former Verizon executive Marie Johns only recently joined the race and Council Chair Linda Cropp and lobbyist Michael... more ›