Clarke To Represent Brooklyn’s 11th Congressional District

Eager to return Cynthia McKinney to Congress, Democratic voters in the 11th Congressional District elected Yvette Clarke to represent the party in November’s general election. For all intents and purposes this sends her to Washington:

A black city councilwoman won the racially charged primary for a Congressional seat in central Brooklyn yesterday, beating back a challenge from a white councilman to win a seat created nearly four decades ago to increase minority representation in Congress.

The councilwoman, Yvette D. Clarke, 41, narrowly beat three opponents to capture the seat, which has been held by blacks since the 1968 victory of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress.

This year’s campaign attracted national attention because of the strong run by the white councilman, David Yassky, whose candidacy raised questions about race and representation.

With all precincts reporting, Ms. Clarke led with 31.2 percent of the vote to Mr. Yassky’s 26.2 percent, according to unofficial returns tallied by The Associated Press. State Senator Carl Andrews, who had the backing of many Brooklyn Democratic officials and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, had 22.9 percent. Chris Owens, the son of the incumbent, Representative Major R. Owens, who is retiring, received 19.6 percent.

Early this morning, Mr. Yassky conceded the race. “I congratulate Yvette Clarke on her victory,” he said in a statement.

By way of a parting gift, the Observer offers some tidbits from the campaign trail:

Dozens of black teenagers and twentysomethings were dancing to loud reggaeton and enjoying the late hours of a block party. It may not have been an ideal setting for the super-white, Oxford-shirt and rimless-Prada-wearing [David] Yassky to search for votes.

But Mr. Yassky plunged ahead, weaving his way past the revelers. He reached the D.J. booth and grabbed the microphone to introduce himself. What he heard back were jeers and hisses.

“We don’t want him!” one woman kept yelling.

. . .

[Carl] Andrews began to wade into the small crowd. Then a D.J. spotted the large frame in the suit among the more causally dressed partygoers and eagerly announced his arrival.

“Brother Al Sharpton is in the House!” the D.J. said.

One of Mr. Andrews’ handlers waved to the D.J., hoping to correct him.

With the microphone still held to his mouth, the D.J. said, “Oh no, not yet? Sharpton isn’t here yet? Then who’s that?” The D.J. was pointing to Mr. Andrews.

. . .

[Chris Owens] was also the least experienced politician in the race. After arriving at the Brooklyn station of 94.7 WPRN Friday night, Mr. Owens was turned away from a pre-scheduled interview because he had not bought advertising from the station.

Later, his campaign spokesman said that they yielded and bought the ads. The interview aired.

Finally, mercifully put to rest: Comic Relief . . . Emphasis On Relief; Close Race; Score One For Opportunism; The Post Oppo Research Machine Chugs Along; See, The Thing Is Was, Senior Year Was Just Such A Blur For Me . . .; Excitement!; Well, That’s A Relief!; Pay To Campaign!; Recipe For Hitting The Front Page Of The Sunday Times: Just Add Sharpton; You Know You’ve Jumped The Shark When . . .; Unite To Stop White Individuals!; The Sad Thing Is That It Was Probably A Carefully Crafted Statement; How Do We Put This? Let’s Just Say Identity Politics Still Exists . . .; Barack Obama: Some Guy They Stuck In There; Nothing Against Your Policies, It’s Just The Color Of Your Skin.