Gray trounces Fenty to win Stein Club endorsement

In an historic upset, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray won the endorsement of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club for Mayor over incumbent Adrian Fenty on Monday evening, winning 63 percent of the vote to gain the necessary supermajority. He and Mayor Fenty had traded responses to a wide range of questions for more than an hour. Fenty read from notes, while Gray spoke without notes. Fenty emphasized accomplishments in various areas; unfortunately for him, some of us knew the troublesome details that he glossed over with his rah-rah rhetoric, such as problems the LGBT community has had with Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

What probably put Gray over the top, though, was how well he sold himself as someone with a history of working with the community and was more collaborative than the aloof Fenty. Fenty in his remarks discounted the importance of style, but his well-earned reputation for not consulting his constituents is sinking him.

Meanwhile, Gray has also been doing well in fundraising.

Earlier Monday evening, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton easily won the club's endorsement for another term over challenger Doug Sloan.

Update: Tim Craig at WaPo's D.C. Wire reports here.

Update 2: Lou Chibbaro of the Blade reports here.