Democrats Parker, Innamorato elected first women to lead Philadelphia, Pittsburgh's Allegheny County
Source: AP
Updated 12:03 AM EST, November 8, 2023
Voters elected two women for the first time to lead Philadelphia and Pennsylvanias second-largest county, installing Democrat Cherelle Parker as the 100th mayor of the states largest city and Democrat Sara Innamorato as executive of the county that includes Pittsburgh.
Parker, 51, who has held office at the state and local level after first becoming involved in politics as a teenager, emerged from a crowded field in the May party primary as the only leading Black candidate and was heavily favored over Republican David Oh in the Democratic stronghold city. She will replace Democrat Jim Kenney, who was ineligible for reelection due to term limits.
Across the state in Allegheny County, Innamorato, 37, defeated Republican Joe Rockey, a political newcomer. The former state legislator who campaigned on progressive models to modernize county government will replace Democrat Rich Fitzgerald, who has served in the role since 2012 and was ineligible for reelection due to term limits.
The races will set the electoral stage for 2024, when Pennsylvania will be a presidential battleground state, with candidates taking lessons about how Democrats see crime and the strength of progressives in local races.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-election-mayor-district-attorney-169b5783547fae96440b71cff3876b50
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Former City Councilmember Cherelle Parker has been elected as Philadelphia's mayor, making her the first woman to serve in the role.
Parker, a Democrat, will succeed Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney, who was prevented by term limit laws from running again. http://bit.ly/47015yb
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8:37 PM · Nov 7, 2023
Article updated.
Original article/headline -
Updated 8:31 PM EST, November 7, 2023
Cherelle Parker, a Democrat who has held office at the state and local level after first becoming involved in politics as a teenager, was elected Tuesday as Philadelphia's 100th mayor, becoming the first woman to hold the post.
Parker, 51, emerged from a crowded field of Democrats in the May primary and was heavily favored over Republican David Oh in the city, a Democratic stronghold. She will replace Democrat Jim Kenney, who was ineligible for reelection due to term limits.
She campaigned on a promise to make Philadelphia the "safest, cleanest, greenest big city in the nation that will provide access to economic opportunity for all."
Parker, who served for 10 years as a state representative for northwest Philadelphia before her election to the city council in 2015, touted herself as a leader whose government experience would allow her to address gaping problems in the city.
bucolic_frolic
(55,143 posts)BumRushDaShow
(169,761 posts)I think between the pandemic, the economic collapse after that, and then the damn 2020 election mess, anyone who was a mayor during the period that Jim Kenney was serving, deserves a medal if they made it through that.
BigmanPigman
(55,162 posts)That ass was the mayor while I was of voting age and volunteered to work at the polls in Phila. I still feel like puking when I think of him.
BumRushDaShow
(169,761 posts)(the charter change failed 2 - 1 back in the day) and when he ran later as a Republican, he lost by a landslide.
BigmanPigman
(55,162 posts)of him? I think my mom told me they did not let his "legacy" stay up for too long. I can picture Philadelphians doing that. We can get quite passionate.
BumRushDaShow
(169,761 posts)
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The statue represented bigotry, hatred, and oppression for too many people, for too long. It is finally gone.
Crew of five workers surround statue at night.
Front of Municipal Services Building without statue at night.
6:24 AM · Jun 3, 2020


BigmanPigman
(55,162 posts)My home town makes me proud.
hibbing
(10,598 posts)I'm obviously stating the obvious, but our party reflects America, and I'm here for it.
Peace
BumRushDaShow
(169,761 posts)is Korean-American. So this shows how far minorities have come in getting into elected positions of power at all levels.