Incumbents roll to victories in DC’s Democratic primary

WASHINGTON – With Mayor Muriel Bowser and U.S. House Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton leading the way, all the incumbents in D.C.’s Democratic primary have been projected as winners by The Associated Press.

Bowser, Norton, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, At-Large Council member Anita Bonds, Ward 1 Council member Brianne Nadeau, Ward 5 member Kenyan McDuffie and Ward 6 member Charles Allen have all been projected as winners by The Associated Press as results continue to come in.

All numbers in District-wide races reflect results with all 143 precincts reporting:

DC races

In the mayor’s race, incumbent Bowser won 79.8 percent of the vote, with James Butler at 10.3 percent and Ernest Johnson at 6.0.

In the race for delegate to the U.S. House, incumbent Norton, looking for a 15th term, won 76.2 percent of the vote; Kim Ford trailed with 26.2 percent.

In one of the most closely watched races, Chairman Mendelson took 62.4 percent of the vote to 37.1 percent for challenger Ed Lazere.

The at-large primary race saw incumbent Bonds with 52.0 percent of the vote, ahead of Jeremiah Lowery at 23.8 percent and Marcus Goodwin with 23.4. Bonds scored heavily in much of the District, while Goodwin won precincts in Wards 2 and 3, and Lowery in Ward 1.

The tightest race of the night might have been that for D.C.’s shadow member of the U.S. Senate; incumbent Michael Brown led Andria Thomas, 51.0 percent to 47.3 percent.

Council races in the wards

Ward 1

Incumbent Nadeau got 47.9 percent, against challengers Kent Boese (25.3), Sheika Reid (13.4 percent) and Lori Parker (13.0).

Ward 5

Incumbent McDuffie won 69 percent of the vote, trailed by challengers Gayle Hall Carley (15.0), Bradley Thomas (12.3), LaMonica Jeffrey (2.7) and Nestor Djonkam (0.44).

Ward 6

Incumbent Allen got 68.2 percent of the vote; challenger Lisa Hunter, 31.5 percent.

The Democrats are holding the only contested primaries in D.C. this year. The District’s November general elections are generally considered noncompetitive, with the Democratic primary usually functioning as a de facto election.

Voter turnout District-wide for Democrats was 21.1 percent and 17.6 percent for all registered voters, down from 26.9 percent four years ago.