Sherrell Parker wins crowded Democratic Philadelphia mayoral primary.Democrats retain majority in Pennsylvania House of Representatives

The Philadelphia Democratic Party has selected Sherrell Parker as its candidate for mayor, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

Parker is expected to win against Republican Richard Ohr in November’s general election.

The winner will be the 100th mayor. Philadelphia has strong Democratic support and has not elected a Republican mayor since the 1950s.

About 66% of the precincts and reportSherrel Parker came out on top with 32.89% of the vote, followed by Rebecca Reinhart in second place with 22.33%.

Democrats also retained a narrow majority in the Pennsylvania legislature on Tuesday, thanks to their victory in a high-profile special election, according to the Associated Press.

Poll for Philadelphia mayoral election

A recent poll put five Democrats — Parker, Reinhart, Helen Jim, Alan Domb and Jeff Brown — among the likely winners, including the city’s first woman. Three potential mayors were also included. In April, a bipartisan nonprofit Committee of SeventiesA study found that all five were statistically tied.

according to CBS PhiladelphiaA poll suggests that one in five Democratic voters has yet to make a decision. All five leading candidates were actively campaigning for the primary.

Philadelphia and the National Democratic Party

Philadelphia is the sixth most populous city in the United States and a nationally important city for Democrats in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. President Biden wins Pennsylvania by 80,000 votesmostly from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the surrounding suburbs.

“The state is one of the few states that has been fairly close in the 2020 election, and for Pennsylvania Democrats, the big challenge for a mayor is not only to govern the city, but to increase voter turnout and participate in the election. “Presidential polls are important,” said William Drexel, a professor of political science at Drexel University.

The National Democratic Party is eyeing the state, and Mr. Biden endorsed candidate Heather Boyd in the special general assembly election, which also took place on Tuesday. Boyd defeated Republican Katie Ford to win the election, helping Democrats retain a narrow majority in the state House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press.

In November, Democrats took control of Congress for the first time since 2010, but State Rep. Mike Zab resigned in March over sexual harassment charges. Mr. Zabe’s former constituency is located in the increasingly blue suburb of Philadelphia, but Democrats have raised more than $1 million since April, and what bets on Mr. Boyd’s campaign. I didn’t.

Republicans hold a majority in the state Senate.

The most expensive election in Philadelphia mayoral history

Philadelphia’s mayoral election was the most expensive in the city’s history. According to the Philadelphia InquirerDerek Green and María Quiñones Sanchez, two contenders withdrew because the price of the race was too high.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, more than $14 million of the $24 million spent came from two wealthy candidates who funded the campaign. Real estate developer Dom poured $10.2 million into his campaign, while Philadelphia grocery chain owner Brown donated $3 million to the campaign.

Two other heavyweights, Jim and Reinhart, had raised about $2 million each. Parker raised $1.7 million.

Issues in the mayoral election

Crime is the dominant issue in the race, but all candidates generally agree on how to fight crime. Poverty and quality of life are also major issues.

“You guys have more real grievances than I normally think,” said Drexel University’s political science department director and author of Philadelphia’s Reforms 1682-2022. One Richardson Dilworth says: “Fairly or unfairly, the current mayor has been completely accused of hiding and not doing much,” he said of Mayor Jim Kenny.

Dilworth said voters need to feel “like someone’s home, in a way.”

Mayor Candidates

Parker was a former member of the Philadelphia City Council and was endorsed by many ward leaders and other local political leaders. And Mayor Kenny also said he voted for Parker. She was the only black candidate left in the election, with her 44% of the city’s population being black. Parker had the support of many black community leaders.

A former teacher, community organizer and city councilor, Jim was progressive in this race. And last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received a boost from two of the country’s most prominent progressives as they campaigned for her.

Meanwhile, Reinhart also had the support of major Democratic figures, including former mayors Ed Rendell and Michael Nutter, as well as the Philadelphia Inquirer. Reinhart, a former Philadelphia administrator, has made a difference on the policy front.

While all three women had garnered union support, Ms. Brown won much-needed support from the city’s largest municipal union.

Turnout was expected to be low for the May primary, as it was outside the election period. Candidates were trying to expand their support at the polling stations. Sanders said in his Sunday speechtold voters that if the whole crowd voted and brought a few friends and family to the polling place, “there is no doubt in my mind that Helen will be the next mayor of Philadelphia.” Told.