Photo by Matt Cohen.

By Matt Cohen and Sarah Anne Hughes

Amid hundreds of her supporters, Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) cheered as word came in that current Mayor Vince Gray had conceded. With 89 percent of the precincts reporting in at 11:38 p.m., it was official: Bowser had clinched the Democratic nomination to become the next mayor of D.C.

“I accept your nomination,” Bowser repeated in her victory speech to the crowd. Her watch party was held at the Imagine Southeast Public Charter School in Ward 8, a decision she said was part of “keeping [her] first promise to Ward 8.” Back in January, Bowser won the Ward 8 straw poll and said she knew then she would win the election.

In her speech, Bowser applauded Gray for his “lifetime of service” to D.C. and called for a Democratic unity. Eight mayoral candidates were on the ballot today, including Councilmembers Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Vincent Orange (D-At Large). “We know we need a fresh start,” Bowser said. “The Democrats of the nation’s capital have always elected a Democratic mayor … and we’re going to do it again in November!”

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting at 1:40 a.m., according to the D.C. Board of Elections, Bowser secured 44 percent of the vote to Gray’s 32 percent. Wells was third with 12 percent.

Photo by Sarah Anne Hughes.

At Gray’s watch party at the Hyatt Regency Washington, he thanked Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), present in a wheelchair, for endorsing him, before listing the many other endorsements he received. Gray focused on his term’s achievements—early childhood education, the declining unemployment rate—before noting he has “nine more months” in office.

Gray took the opportunity to say he hopes the city changes the date of the primary, to perhaps June of July, “when it’s more suited to being able to get out and be around people.” “It’s complex and it’s cold,” Gray said of campaigning during the winter.

As predicted during the day, turnout was extremely low this year, at just 25 percent of registered voters.

Neither Gray or Bowser directly mentioned the federal investigation into an alleged shadow campaign conducted on the mayor’s behalf in 2010. But following the speech, Gray campaign manager Chuck Thies blamed the defeat on the timing of the Jeffrey Thompson indictment. “One thing changed this election: Ron Machen,” Thies said of the Attorney General, adding that the timing of the March 10 announcement was “purposeful.”

At his campaign watch party, Wells told DCist contributor Jonathan Neeley “that we’re going to stay progressive. We’re going to minimize corporate involvement, build integrity, continue public transit programs, stay green.”

Where does Wells fit into that “we”?

“I don’t know yet,” he replied.

Come November, Bowser will face a challenger in At-Large Councilmember David Catania, who’s running for mayor in the general election as an independent. But Bowser assured her supporters that she’ll win the November election and be D.C.’s next mayor.