Mfume, Klacik win party primaries for Elijah Cummings' seat

BALTIMORE (AP) — Democrat Kweisi Mfume and Republican Kimberly Klacik won special primaries Tuesday for the Maryland congressional seat that was held by the late Elijah Cummings.

In a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 4 to 1, the Democratic nominee will be the heavy favorite heading into the April 28 special general election. The majority-black district includes parts of Baltimore's inner city that have struggled with drugs and violent crime as well as more well-to-do communities in the suburbs.

For Mfume, who in 1996 stepped down to lead the NAACP after serving five terms as a district's congressman, it's a chance to regain the seat he held more than 20 years ago.

“I understand the Congress of the United States. Thank you for sending me there five times with over 82% of the vote each time, and I promise you I will never ever ever let you down. I know the community, and the community knows me,” Mfume said in his victory speech, repeatedly telling supporters “experience matters.”

Diya Hafiz-Slayton yelled over the noise of the crowd at Mfume's victory gathering in Baltimore to say she was thrilled he had won and cited his experience as a main reason for supporting him.

"He's from Baltimore. That is exciting to us, and we need that in Baltimore right now. We know that when he gets to Congress he's going to hit the ground running," she said.

After her win Tuesday night, GOP nominee Klacik tweeted "We did it!!!!!!"

Klacik gained attention last year after her social media posts showing trash in Baltimore prompted President Donald Trump to tweet that the district is a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” where “no human being would want to live.”

A crowded field of 24 Democrats and eight Republicans were on the 7th...