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Prominent progressive Helen Gym enters packed May 2023 Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia [1]
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Date: 2022-12-01
Gym, Parker, Quiñones Sánchez, and Rhynhart would each be the first woman elected to lead Philadelphia. A victory for Gym would additionally make the City of Brotherly Love the largest city to ever elect an Asian American mayor, while Quiñones Sánchez would be Philadelphia’s first Latino chief executive. Parker would also have the distinction of being the first Black woman to lead the city.
Gym first drew attention for her activism in local education issues and as a board member for Asian Americans United, where she led successful protests to stop planned developments in Chinatown. In 2015 Gym, whom Philadelphia Magazine had dubbed “Philadelphia’s preeminent public agitator” two years before, ran for a citywide Council seat and narrowly advanced by securing the fifth and final spot on the general election ballot, finishing behind both Green and Domb. (Philadelphia has seven at-large seats, but each party can only nominate up to five candidates.)
Gym quickly established herself as a full-throated progressive, with BillyPenn explaining that she’s stood out “on issues like housing, education, youth issues, and worker’s rights.” Primary voters rewarded her in 2019 when she took first place as she was winning more votes than any Council candidate since 1987; the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote afterwards, “Political observers credit Gym’s popularity to a good narrative and a lot of media exposure … She is involved in almost every major battle in Philadelphia.”
Gym is entering a crowded contest without a dominant frontrunner, though the Inquirer’s Sean Collins Walsh wrote just before Thanksgiving that “the conventional wisdom around City Hall” favors Parker at this early point. Parker, Walsh explained, is the party’s leader in Northwest Philadelphia’s 50th Ward, an area full of high-turnout voters. Parker also is close to several prominent unions, though they haven’t endorsed her yet, as well as allies of outgoing Gov. Tom Wolf. However, Walsh notes that the perceived frontrunner went on to fare poorly in both the 2007 and 2015 open seat races, which may explain why Parker herself is rejecting that title.
The other contenders also have their own profiles that could help them stand out in this busy race. Green, who shares a similar geographic base as Parker, for instance made an early effort to run to Gym’s right, saying his former colleague “pushes a socialist agenda to raise taxes, and opposes more funding for the police.” (Both Green and Gym were part of the majority that voted against a planned budget increase for the police in 2020.)
The field may not be set yet, as state Rep. Amen Brown, who has an uneasy relationship with many fellow Democrats, hasn’t ruled out his own campaign. However, while the filing deadline isn’t until March, potential candidates have a strong incentive to declare within the next month. That’s because campaign donation limits reset at the start of each calendar year, so late arrivals would miss out on the chance to take in contributions in 2022.
Raphael Warnock needs all the support he can get to help our Democratic majority in the Senate. Chip in $5 today to his runoff campaign.
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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/12/1/2139450/-Prominent-progressive-Helen-Gym-enters-packed-May-2023-Democratic-primary-for-mayor-of-Philadelphia
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