D.C. Mayoral Candidates Turn in Petitions to Get on April 1 Primary Ballot

Thursday was the deadline for candidates for mayor of the District of Columbia to turn in petitions to get their names on the ballot for the April 1 primary.

Candidates must collect 3,000 signatures from registered Democrats. Voters will start casting ballots in about two months.

Mayor Vincent Gray is seeking a second term.
The large field of challengers includes D.C. council members Muriel Bowser, Jack Evans, Vincent Orange and Tommy Wells; former State Department official Reta Lewis; and restaurateur Andy Shallal. Some candidates, including Gray, had already turned in petitions.

Evans personally delivered the last of the 10,000 names his campaign collected. Bowers got about 10,000 names with the help of 100 volunteers. Shallal got about 5,000 signatures. Orange turned in 6,000 names.

And the incumbent Gray's campaign turned in 8,000 signatures.

The Democratic primary winner has won every mayoral election in the history of district self-rule. This year's winning Democratic candidate could face a general-election challenge from Council member David Catania, an independent.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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