In the end, Rodney Hubbard acknowledged why he suffered a razor-thin loss to Robin Wright-Jones for the Democratic nomination for the state’s 5th Senate District.
He told a disappointed crowd at the Carr Square Community Center that his views on education reform “probably tainted our (voter) turnout.” Wright-Jones, who will replace Maida Coleman if she wins as expected in November, will join Rita Heard Days of the 14th District as the only African American state senators from the St. Louis region.
Conservative Rex Sinqufeld backed Hubbard to the tune of thousands of dollars. This included a donation of more than $18,000 from Sinqufeld-backed groups in the campaign’s last days.
He also said his economic development policy and relationship with developer Paul McKee also hurt him.
“I don’t apologize for that. I did not compromise my core principles,” he said with his father, Rodney Hubbard Sr., and other family members at his side.
A jubilant Wright-Jones said Wednesday hers was “a grassroots, people campaign.”
“And the people spoke clearly. They are not interested in special interest agendas.”
Unofficially, Wright-Jones clipped Hubbard 6,196-6,085 (50.45 percent to 49.55 percent).
John Hickey of Pro-Vote told progressives on Wednesday “You helped make these victories possible by volunteering your time to phonebank and canvass, by talking to your neighbors, and by contributing your money.”
He called Hubbard “a conservative Democrat who was funded by a right-wing millionaire.”
A sweltering primary Tuesday included several close battles for Democratic House seats – and also several blowouts.
In the battle for the 63rd House District, (Wright-Jones’ former House district) Tishaura Jones topped April Harris 1,576 to 1,344.
Incumbent state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed throttled Kimberly Gardner 2,729 to 910, winning 75 percent of the vote in the 60th District contest. Garner was rumored to be supported by Mayor Francis Slay because of Nasheed’s outspoken support for Sherman George after he was demoted from Fire Chief.
“I truly represent my constituency, and I make (my district) a better place to live,” Nasheed said.
“This is not about me, it’s about the 60th District.
Nasheed was not the biggest winner in the city, though.
State Rep. Rachel Storch thumped Michael Roberts, Jr., by winning 82.4 percent of the vote (2,880-615) in their 64th District race.
State Rep. T.D. El Amin easily dispatched Joe Palm with 63.2 percent of the vote (1,800 to 1,047), while Chris Carter won the nomination for the 61st District seat once held by his grandmother, the late Paula J. Carter.
Carter won 65.1 percent of the vote in a three-way race against Curtis Royston III and Anthony Bell.
Don Calloway registered an impressive win in a three-way race in the 71st District. He won 51.7 percent of ballots cast to hold off Vernon Harlan and Roger Wilson.
State Rep. Maria Chapelle-Nadal clobbered Tony Condra, winning 81 percent of the vote (2,386-562).
“Our big win shows that this community is united and committed to progressive politics over rhetoric and political pandering,” she said Wednesday.
In North St. Louis County, Steve Webb upset incumbent Tony George for state representative in District 74, winning 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent of the vote.
Rochelle Walton Gray won the primary race for state representative in the 81st District against Don Krank. She won with 65.3 percent of the vote to Krank’s 34.7 percent.
Former state Rep. Juanita Head Walton was elected committeewoman for Ferguson Township.
Tony Weaver was easily re-elected to his post as the Spanish Lake Democratic committeeman, however he did not unseat St. Louis County Councilman Mike O’Mara.
State Rep. Ted Hoskins defeated challenger Brenda Boyd, 65.8 percent to Boyd’s 34.2 percent in the 80th District race.
With no filed challengers for the primary state representative races from any other party, Webb, Walton Gray, Chappelle-Nadal and Hoskins are unopposed for the November general election.
Ken Franklin, the Missouri Democratic Party’s first black executive director, said it is now time for Democrats to pull together as one.
“The people have made the decision, so it’s time to move forward,” Franklin said.
“And we hope Mr. Hubbard moves forward with us and helps us elect Barack Obama, Jay Nixon and all the way down the ticket.”
Franklin was thrilled at the success of young black candidates on Tuesday.
He cited in particular Carter and Calloway – who were elected to seats that will be open because of term limits- and Nasheed, who was re-elected for her second term.
“These folks will be the movers and shakers of the future, in terms of campaign operations and leadership,” Franklin said.
“They are part of a new breed of stars who will lead in the state party – and maybe, in time, at the national level.”
Other races
In other notable races, Hubbard campaign director Antonio French was stung by his candidate’s loss to Wright-Jones, but he defeated longtime incumbent Arthur “Chink” Washington for the 21st Ward committeeman seat.
Paul Ward, a former Kirkwood City Council member, won re-election to fill the unexpired term of the late Connie Carr. Carr was among those killed during a shooting rampage at Kirkwood City Hall in February.
Shamed Dogan, fell short in his bid to win the Republican nomination for the House 88th District, losing to Andrew Koenig. He was the lone African-American GOP candidate in any of the region’s races.
St. Louis Sheriff Jim Murphy and Treasurer Larry Williams easily won their respective races and will run unopposed in November.
The Metropolitan Sewer District Proposition Y, a $275-million revenue bond issue, easily passed.
A comprehensive look at election results can be found at the Web site of the Secretary of State at www.sos.mo.gov.
