Photo courtesy of MVDDC
Rep. Don Beyer was master of ceremonies Sunday at a Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee straw poll and Mardi Gras fundraiser. Chair Maritza Zermeno joins him on stage.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg racked up 63 votes in a Northern Virginia Democratic Party straw poll Sunday.
The billionaire is a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and is spending millions of dollars of his own fortune in his quest for the Democratic nomination for president.
The poll was sponsored by the Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar came in second, with 24 votes, and South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg came in third with 22. Other results included Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, nabbing 18 votes; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, receiving 14 and former Vice President Joe Biden coming in with 12 votes.
The straw vote was taken at the group's annual Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser, attended by 170 people including many local Democratic officials. Anyone who bought a ticket and was present could vote.
The poll is usually seen as an early test of the strength of a campaigns’ ability to get out their supporters. The Bloomberg campaign bought a $5,000 sponsorship, which included a number of tickets and staffed a table at the event. He spoke the night before at a Democratic event in Richmond to a sold-out crowd of 1,600.
Surrogates for each candidate gave short speeches before the vote with former Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg representing Bloomberg and stressing his commitment to preventing gun violence and climate change.
Rep Don Beyer spoke on behalf of Buttigieg, whom he had endorsed last year, and former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd spoke on behalf of former vice President Joe Biden.
Beyer, who was also master of ceremonies, predicted that “we will all be together soon” following the March 3 primary in Virginia.
Local elected officials attending included Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay, Mt. Vernon District Supervisor Dan Stork, Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, State Sen. Scott Surovell, School Board at-large member Karen Keyes-Gamara, and Occoquan Supervisor in Prince William County Kenny Boddye.
This was the 12th annual Mardi Gras sponsored by the Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee.
See a video of the candidate presentations here: https://bluevirginia.us/2020/02/video-mt-vernon-dems-mardi-gras-2020-presidential-straw-poll-results-bloomberg-1-klobuchar-2-buttigieg-3
