Michael Brown, David Grosso Locked In Tight Race For D.C. Council

A new poll shows a tight race for the at-large D.C. Council seat between incumbent Michael Brown and challenger David Grosso.

The poll, commissioned by WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show and the Washington City Paper, found Brown and Grosso are close, with Brown leading the crowded at-large field with 26 percent and Grosso in second at 21 percent.

Nearly one-third of the 1,222 residents surveyed were undecided. The poll was conducted by the firm Public Policy Polling between October 12-14 and has a 2.8 percent margin of error.

Brown and Grosso are both independents and gunning for the open at-large seat that is reserved for non-Democrats. Brown, the son of the late commerce secretary Ron Brown, has been under attack for his struggles managing his personal and campaign finances.

Grosso, meanwhile, has proven to be a strong fundraiser. The latest campaign finance filings show Grosso with triple the cash-on-hand that Brown has going into the final stretch.

The poll finds Grosso performing well in wards 2,3 and 6. Brown is leading in Wards 5,7,8. And in voter-rich Ward 4 in Northwest D.C., Brown and Grosso are essentially tied.

The rest of the candidates in the race — Republican Mary Ann Beatty, Statehood/Green candidate Ann Wilcox and Independents Leon Swain and A.J. Cooper — all polled in the single digits.