On January 31, 2010, The Washington Post reported the results of a voter survey which showed that Fenty's job approval rating was at an all-time low of 42 percent.

On July 31, 2009, prior to Vincent C. Gray entering the race, Fenty's campaign had already exceeded its 2006 primary fundraising total of $2.4 million.

[6][7] Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray officially entered the mayoral race on March 30, 2010, after long anticipation and speculation about his entrance.

[9] Some voters believed that as mayor, Gray would bring fiscal mismanagement and poor city services that existed in the early 1990s while he worked for the District government.

[9] In his State of the District speech, Fenty noted improvements in students' test scores and a record-low homicide rate.

[10] Fenty also discussed the new psychiatric hospital at St. Elizabeths, new housing for homeless people, and a new recreation center in Deanwood.

[10] Fenty contrasted the improvements in the District under his administration with the high crime rate and low school test scores in the 1990s.

[12] During an interview, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools system Michelle Rhee said that she "could not imagine doing this job without the kind of unequivocal support" from Mayor Fenty.

[15] Gray's campaign released an education plan, which included holding teachers accountable for student performance and paying them accordingly, strengthening the office of the deputy mayor for education, increasing infant and toddler care, and giving a tax credit for child and dependent care.

[11][17][18] Fenty criticized Gray for his record as director of the Department of Human Services during former mayor Sharon Pratt's administration.

[22] Gray won as much as 80% of the vote in predominantly black areas east of the Anacostia River, but did poorly in the city's wealthier northwest, winning just 13% in one Georgetown precinct.

[34] In a straw poll held by the District of Columbia Democratic State Convention in June 2010, Gray received the most votes.