Photo by Matt Cohen.

Traditionally, the candidate who wins the mayoral Democratic primary breezily wins the general election. With over 75 percent of D.C. voters registered as Democrats, that’s how the story goes. But that might not be the case this year.

Although Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser won the Democratic primary election last night, she’ll face a serious challenger in the November general election in At-Large Councilmember David Catania, who’s running as an independent candidate. “The Muriel Bowser for Mayor campaign will continue,” Bowser said at a press conference at the National Press Club this afternoon. “We won’t talk strategy for the general election,” she told reporters, “but we’re taking it very seriously.”

Catania, who’s occupied his At-Large Council seat since 1998, is making a serious mayoral bid, and there’s a lot of speculation that he has a real shot at beating Bowser in the November general election. In order to keep her momentum for the next seven months, Bowser will be promoting party unity to ensure that District Democrats come out and support her. So far, she’s talked to many of the other candidates she ran against—including Councilmembers Vincent Orange (D-At Large) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), as well as Andy Shallal and Reta Jo Lewis—and they said they’ll support her in the general election. Ward 8 Councilmember and mayor-for-life Marion Barry has also said he’ll endorse Bowser.

But one person she has yet to hear from: Current Mayor Vince Gray. At the presser, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, who heads the District Democratic State Committee, said that they’re organizing a “unity breakfast” on Friday and hope that Gray will attend and lend his support to Bowser.

For the next seven months, however, Bowser says she’ll continue campaigning on the big issues that got her the nomination: school reform, building a stronger middle class in D.C., and campaign reform laws. In the meantime, Bowser also says that she’ll continue to balance her campaign with her Council duties and “treat the priorities of [Mayor Gray] carefully,” while he’s still in office.

Asked whether she’s worried about facing Catania in November, Bowser said “if you believe the polls, and I do sometimes, we have a good chance.”