Pa. Sen. LeAnna Washington Loses Primary Amid Legal Difficulties
By Robin Culverwell
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania state senator LeAnna Washington lost her re-election bid in yesterday's Democratic primary, two months after she was charged with stealing from taxpayers (see related story).
Voters ousted Washington, choosing instead Wyncote attorney Art Haywood as their Democratic candidate for the 4th District, which covers portions of both Philadelphia and Montgomery County.
Overall, Haywood beat Washington by just over six percent, or about 2,400 votes.
But the margin was different on the Montgomery County side of the district than it was on the Philadelphia side.
In Montgomery County, Washington's loss was glaring. She won just half the votes that Haywood did, with challenger Brian Gralnick coming in a close second to Haywood.
But in Philadelphia, Washington beat Haywood by almost one percent -- nearly 500 votes. Gralnick was a distant third within the city limits.
Washington was arrested in March and faces theft and conflict-of-interest charges (see related story). Prosecutors allege she threatened staffers into doing campaign work for her.
Washington's communications director had no comment on Tuesday's loss.
Haywood will now face Robin Gilchrist in the November general election.
