because brown was a declared candidate, he participated with mayor fenty in a number of candidate debates. at the august 2010 forum in ward 8, brown questioned whether fenty loved his parents. according to the "washington post", "during the election, brown, 40, drew attention at debates by urging voters to cast ballots for gray and criticizing incumbent adrian m. fenty." brown received 209 votes in the primary. gray defeated fenty in the september 14, 2010 primary, and gray won the general election in november 2010. gray became mayor in january 2011.