THE NEWS:

After spending a half-billion dollars on campaign advertisements, presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg left with just one outright victory on Super Tuesday in American Samoa. Bloomberg trailed behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders in the delegate count. Now, after a terrible night, he is suspending his campaign.

“I’m a believer in using data to inform decisions. After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible — and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists,” says Bloomberg in a statement. 

The former New York City mayor is Mayor Muriel Bowser’s pick for the Democratic nomination. She was his national campaign co-chair and has traveled on multiple occasions to campaign for him, including to neighboring Virginia. Indeed, the mayor was just in Arlington yesterday. She also tweeted to Virginia voters to turn out for Bloomberg. 

Bloomberg spent $18 million on campaign ads in Virginia alone, according to Business Insider. He spent 50 times more than Joe Biden and spent a lot of time in the state, and yet he lost to the former vice president. Bloomberg did not win a single delegate in Virginia.   

Now, Bloomberg is throwing his support behind Biden after dropping out of the race. 

“I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it,” he said in a statement. “After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden.”

What do Bloomberg’s political woes mean for Bowser? Well vice president no longer looks to be an option, if it ever was one. She has repeatedly said she already has “the best job in Washington” anyways.—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? Email agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)  

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez:

  • Nearly every councilmember supports a bill to give D.C. residents $100 on their Metrocard. But broad support does not guarantee passage. [WCP]

  • Safeway workers will vote on whether to strike Thursday. [WTOP]

  • Nearly one third of D.C. residents experiencing homelessness say incarceration caused them to become homeless. [DCist] 

  • COVID-19 updates:

    • D.C.’s health care providers prepare for possible coronavirus outbreak as best they can. [WCP]
  • Bowser holds a press conference on novel coronavirus, confirms there are zero positive cases in the District. She also says practice hygiene etiquette (wash your hands) and don’t discriminate (the virus isn’t specific to race or ethnicity). [Twitter, Twitter] 

  • The Office of Attorney General warns of scams and misinformation. [OAG]  

  • A guide to preparing (and not panicking) for a possible coronavirus outbreak. [WAMU]

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • More students are passing Advanced Placement exams in D.C. [Post]

  • Audit finds “culture of deference” to EagleBank’s former CEO Ron Paul. [WBJ]

  • Longtime political observer Bill Rice was escorted out of Ward 2 candidate Patrick Kennedy’s meet-and-greet at former councilmember David Catania’s office. [Twitter]

  • Emergency bike lane bill pulled after debate over race and gentrification. [Post]

  • Montgomery County council punted on community policing bill in tense meeting. [Post]

  • Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White’s newest challenger: Christopher Hawthorne. [Twitter]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Can you make new friends in fraught times at communal dinners at D.C. restaurants? [WCP]

  • MGP Ingredients acquires New Columbia Distillers. [Washingtonian]

  • Park View is getting a rum bar with Caribbean food. [PoPville]

  • How are the new Wendy’s breakfast sandwiches? [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Washington National Opera renames its young artist program, dropping reference to Plácido Domingo. [Washingtonian]

  • RIP, Zora the bison at the National Zoo—where she was euthanized after breaking a hind leg. [National Zoo]

  • Expect peak cherry blossom bloom earlier than usual. [Post]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Mystics star and reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne participated in a Reddit AMA as part of Reddit’s Olympic Conversation Series featuring Team USA Olympic hopefuls. In it, Delle Donne talks about her favorite food, which player she’s excited to see in the WNBA, and her experience playing in the Olympics.[Reddit]

  • Maryland men’s basketball had another chance to clinch the Big Ten title last night. And again the team fell short, this time losing to Rutgers, 78-67, in a game that wasn’t ever close. [The Diamondback]

  • After the Wizards lost to the Sacramento Kings, 133-126, Bradley Beal said coach Scott Brooks “ripped us a new one” during halftime with the Wizards trailing, 76-49. It appeared to work for a stretch, with the Wizards scoring 46 points in the third quarter, but it still resulted in a loss. [Bullets Forever]

  • Midfielder Mohammed Abu joins D.C. United from Norway. [mlssoccer.com]

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full To Do This Week newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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