Romney wins D.C. primary

Mitt Romney appeared to clinch the Republican presidential nomination with a Tuesday sweep of primaries, including D.C. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, captured 68.2 percent of the vote in the D.C. Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, winning all 16 delegates from the city.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul came in second, with 11.7 percent of the vote, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia coming in third with 10.5 percent.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who dropped out of the GOP presidential race several months ago but whose name remained on the D.C. ballot, received 6.8 percent of the vote.

GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania, did not file papers to run in the D.C. primary.

Romney also won primaries on Tuesday in Maryland and Wisconsin, prompting most political observers to suggest he has all but wrapped up the Republican presidential nomination.

Romney’s victory in D.C. means lesbian Republican activist Rachel Hoff, who was named a candidate for delegate on Romney’s slate, will be going to the GOP convention in Tampa as a confirmed Romney delegate. D.C. gay Republicans Jose Cunningham and David Trebing were named as alternate delegates for Romney.