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Dem Cherelle Parker won Phil. Mayoral Primary

Philadelphia’s former state representative and City Council member Cherelle Parker won the Democratic nomination for mayor. She now faces Republican David Oh in the general election in November, a race she will most likely win in the largely Democratic city. Parker pledged to hire more police officers if she becomes Mayor of Philadelphia, where violent crime remains a chief concern across the nation’s sixth largest city. She would become her city’s first female mayor if she wins, taking over for incumbent Democratic mayor Jim Kenney, who was term limited. The Associated Press has the story:

Dem Cherelle Parker won Phil. Mayoral Primary

Newslooks- (AP)

Democrat Cherelle Parker turned back challenges from the left to win Philadelphia’s mayoral primary, a contest that serves as the nation’s latest barometer of the mood of big cities in dealing with issues such as crime, poverty and inequality.

Her primary win in the heavily Democratic city puts Parker on track to become the first woman elected mayor of Philadelphia. It is the latest local election to represent a clash between moderates and progressives on concerns such as policing and education and to show the power of union support in big city politics.

Supporters of Democratic candidate for mayor Cherelle Parker dance as early results come in at Parker’s watch party at Laborers 332 in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

In Chicago, progressive Democrat Brandon Johnson began serving as mayor this week, promising the city will “grow by rerouting the rivers of prosperity to the base of disinvestment.” In Los Angeles, new Democratic Mayor Karen Bass wants to spend more than $1 billion to get unhoused people into shelter and treatment programs.

And in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Allegheny County’s top public defender, Matt Dugan, ran some 11 percentage points ahead of the 25-year incumbent district attorney, Stephen Zappala, in the Democratic primary. Dugan promised to eliminate cash bail and change a system “where justice depends on where you live or what you look like.” A late write-in effort by Republicans to nominate Zappala may have worked, setting up a possible November rematch.

Supporters of Democratic candidate for Philadelphia mayor Cherelle Parker hug on stage after speaking on her behalf following an announcement that she would not attend her watch party due to a last-minute emergency, at Laborers’ Local 332 in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Parker, a Democrat with a long political history in Pennsylvania, won the Democratic primary on Tuesday, likely setting her up as the city’s 100th mayor and the first woman to serve in the role. (Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Allegheny County voters also turned to state Rep. Sara Innamorato, a liberal who wants to improve policies at the jail as part of a “comprehensive public health approach to public safety,” as the Democratic nominee for county executive. Innamorato supports an end to high fines and fees for minor offenses, mandatory minimums and solitary confinement.

Parker’s mayoral win in Philadelphia, setting her up to likely be the city’s 100th mayor, was a disappointment to progressives who rallied around Helen Gym, who was backed by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Allan Domb, a candidate for the Democratic nomination to Philadelphia mayor, speaks to supporters at his primary-night party Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Philadelphia. Cherelle Parker won the Democratic nomination. (David Maialetti/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Parker, 50, who served for 10 years as a state representative for northwest Philadelphia before her election to the city council in 2015, asserted herself as a leader whose government experience would allow her to address gaping problems with public safety and quality of life in the nation’s sixth-largest city. She will go up against Republican David Oh in the Nov. 7 general election.

Parker, who was the only leading Black candidate in the race, emerged from a crowded field of five front-runner Democratic candidates vying to replace Democrat Jim Kenney, who is term-limited. She beat out other former city council members who resigned from their seats to throw their hats in the ring; a state representative; a former city controller and a political outsider businessman.

Rebecca Rhynhart, a candidate for the Democratic nomination to Philadelphia mayor, thanks supporters Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Philadelphia. Campaign manager Kellan White is at left, and Rhynhart’s husband, David McDuff, is at right. Cherelle Parker won the Democratic nomination. (Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Parker pledged to “stop the sense of lawlessness that is plaguing our city” by putting hundreds more officers on the street to engage in community policing. Parker pushed for officers to use every legal tool, including stopping someone when they have “just cause and reasonable suspicion.”

She received support from members of the Philadelphia delegation in the House, as well as members of Congress. She was also backed by labor unions and a number of wards in the city, and Kenney said he had cast his ballot for her.

Democratic candidate for mayor Helen Gym concedes during her primary Election Day watch party at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Voters in Philadelphia chose Cherelle Parker as their Democratic nominee for mayor. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Innamorato in Allegheny County will face the lone Republican primary contender, Joseph Rockey, in the November general election.

“Allegheny County, I’m going to make one promise to you: I will build a team of leaders who will usher in the future of this region and build a more equitable and just county,” she said at a campaign event Tuesday, asking supporters to enjoy the victory and recharge. “We better get ready, because we have a lot of work to do.”

Jeff Brown, a candidate for the Democratic nomination to Philadelphia mayor, is joined by his family as he concedes the election, at his watch party Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Philadelphia. Cherelle Parker won the nomination. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Our Revolution, a movement born during Sanders’ 2016 presidential race and now one of the largest progressive organizations in the country, had endorsed Innamorato — a win for the movement, even with its loss in the mayoral primary.

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