'Prepare To Be Held Accountable': Kim Klacik Tells Kweisi Mfume After His Win In Maryland's 7th Congressional District
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Republican Kimberly Klacik conceded Tuesday night to Democrat Kweisi Mfume in Maryland's hotly contested 7th Congressional District race.
In a tweet, Klacik said her campaign was still a win, even if she didn't win the actual race.
"We gave it our best shot! So proud of my team," she wrote. "It's sad someone that doesn't lift a finger could win a congressional seat just by name, but this is not the end."
But Klacik warned Mfume: "Prepare to be held accountable like never before."
We gave it our best shot! So proud of my team. It's sad someone that doesn't lift a finger could win a congressional seat just by name, but this is not the end.
— Kimberly Klacik (@kimKBaltimore) November 4, 2020
This is still a win. Congratulations @Mfume4Congress. Prepare to be held accountable like never before. Thx CD7! https://t.co/u7SGe10vKB
Klacik gained notoriety after she went viral with a video showing trash piled up around Baltimore in July 2019. That video triggered President Donald Trump to openly criticize Rep. Elijah Cummings and Baltimore, infamously calling the city "a disgusting rat and rodent-infested mess."
Gaining traction from her video, Klacik decided to run in Nov. 2019 as a Republican in the district that has been a Democratic stronghold. She lost the special election to Mfume in April. That election was held after Cummings died while in office.
Tens of millions of you have shared the struggle of black people in Baltimore. You cared about our black lives more than our own leaders.
— Kimberly Klacik (@kimKBaltimore) September 20, 2020
They have done nothing for us.
Now they can't hide.
We are the change.
Please support our movement:https://t.co/8yLL5VmMSU pic.twitter.com/1sGyqXHpzt
With the help of attention-grabbing political ads, Klacik raised more than $6.5 million in just three months, she earned Trump's endorsement and she even ended up speaking at the Republican National Convention. But despite the fundraising, it wasn't enough to help her win the seat on Election Day.