On February 12th, Barack Obama carried the District, winning at least 62% in every ward of the city (and 70 - 85% in some).

We voiced a resounding NO to the politics of racial and class division that some have tried to stoke in our party. In all our neighborhoods, whether white or black or Latino, rich or poor, native or immigrant, we chose Barack Obama. And in doing to, we chose unity over division. With turnout in the range of 140,000, we also chose hope and civic participation over cynicism and apathy — of course it helps to feel like our vote counts! The biggest winners last night were unity and democracy.

For all those who worked hard on this campaign in the District, Maryland, and Virginia, we wish warm and joyful congratulations. Many of us endured miserable cold and freezing rain all day yesterday after a campaign of many months, that took us from Iowa to New Hampshire, Nevada to South Carolina. So let us take a much needed rest! Let us also take satisfaction in the foresight and judgment that we showed in endorsing Senator Obama last October, when it was far less certain that he could defeat the declared front-runner.

So let’s bask in this moment for a while, and rebuild our energies for the work that awaits us!