MORE: State and local election coverage
After two weeks of weather-dampened early voting in an election that has generated little excitement across the city, the front-runners — incumbent Vincent C. Gray (D) and D.C. Council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) — agreed that the outcome would hinge on Tuesday’s turnout.
In every modern mayoral election in the heavily Democratic District, the winner of the primary has gone on to be mayor.
After leading by double digits in polls early in the year, Gray’s ability to keep voters focused on his stewardship of the city’s growing economy was shaken in early March when a major campaign donor pleaded guilty to illicit spending on behalf of Gray’s first mayoral bid four years ago.
From a field of seven challengers that includes three other council members, Bowser emerged as Gray’s main competitor. In a recent Washington Post poll, the two were locked in a statistical dead heat.
