![]() ![]() The powerful Philadelphia Building Trades Council has endorsed her, along with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ, which represents school workers like bus drivers, among others. Though Gym had the backing of grassroots liberal activist groups, larger organizations like the Working Families Party and the city’s teachers, municipal and hospitality workers unions, Parker also enjoyed the support of influential labor outfits. (Yass also spent big against Democrat John Fetterman in his US Senate race with GOP nominee Mehmet Oz last year.) Gym’s campaign, though, was dealt a late blow by a storm of attack ads from a super PAC bankrolled by Republican donor Jeffrey Yass, who has spent roughly a million dollars on ads and mailers. “Throughout this campaign, so many people who always felt like they had the right to run this city called our ideas too radical, too complicated and our dreams too big,” Gym said days ahead of the vote, which progressives were hoping would add to a winning streak in big city mayoral elections, following Karen Bass in Los Angeles, Michelle Wu in Boston and, most recently, Brandon Johnson in Chicago. This past weekend, she was joined at a rally by Vermont Sen. She had the support of progressive movement leaders in Philadelphia and around the country. This election, which has centered on education and public safety, will be viewed as a lost opportunity for progressives, who sought to flex their growing local electoral power by supporting Gym, a long-time activist who served on the city council from 2016 until resigning to run for mayor. Parker will face the only Republican in the race, former City Council member David Oh, in the fall. The long and historically expensive campaign, which at one point featured a dozen candidates, ultimately came down to a handful of contenders, with Parker claiming victory over former city council members Helen Gym and Allan Domb former city controller Rebecca Rhynhart and Jeff Brown, a city grocery store magnate. Parker will instantly emerge an important national political player among Democrats, led by President Joe Biden, who is counting on Philadelphia to deliver big turnout and heavy margins in statewide races like the coming contest for its 20 presidential electoral votes. Parker, who had the support of influential unions and local elected leaders, will enter the general election as an overwhelming favorite in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-to-1. Philadelphia Democrats on Tuesday will nominate Cherelle Parker to be the city’s next mayor, CNN projects, the 100th in its history and the first Black woman to hold the top job. ![]()
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