State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson has defeated real-estate broker Barbara Capozzi in last week’s Democratic primary by a mere 46 votes. Johnson is expected to easily defeat Republican Ivan Nova in the general election in November. Johnson will take his seat on City Council in 2011.
Analysis: The close margin shows just how important it was that Damon Roberts dropped out of the race. Roberts received just 319 votes. Had he remained in the race to the end, he certainly would have drawn more support. Because Roberts and Johnson and both black, many of Roberts’ supporters are thought to have gone to Johnson, handing him a razor-thin victory.