Hurrah For Democracy! Gavin Declares Mayoral Victory

Shocker: While it will probably be weeks before the final results are actually known, Mayor Gavin Newsom went ahead and declared victory over his almost invisible opponents in the mayoral race last night.

By 8:00 Tuesday night, 77 percent of the 48,104 ballots counted went to Newsom. The Ferry building victory party was short and sweet, with Gavin's speech lasting under 15 minutes. When all is said and done, "well over 30 percent" of the city's registered voters are expected to have cast a vote, according to the Chronicle: "The lowest for a mayor's race in decades." Hurrah for democracy!

-- Brian Bernbaum