It’s the most exciting thing about the 2023 election
Jayson Massey
October 20, 2023
There are many important positions up for election this November. The mayor is the CEO of the city, the chief administrator of Philadelphia, making policy choice for its 1.6 million residents. Judges preside over trials, and are tasked with being impartial to ensure fair trials. However these races are already mostly decided, with some judges running to be retained for another 10-year term. Also, out of the ten District City Council races, most are running unopposed. Voters in these districts won’t have any options unless they use the write-in vote.
Philadelphia City Council also has seven at-large seats. These seats may be less powerful than district seats, but they also possess less pressures and can be used to advocate for a chosen agenda. There are five Democrats, two Republicans, and two Working Families Party members on the ballot in November, and voters choose up to five total people. At the end, the seven candidates earning the most votes prevail.
Why does the city use this system? According to the city charter, each political party is allowed to put up to five candidates on the general election ballot. This system ensures that at least two different political parties are elected to Philly City Council. Since 78 percent of Philadelphia voters are Democrats, five Democrats on the ballot usually win, then two non-Democratic candidates.
This November, the biggest intrigue is if the Working Families Party will win both seats, locking the Republicans out of the at-large seats. In the last elections, five Democrats, one Republican, and one Working Families Party candidate gained at-large bids. We’ll have to follow up on November 7 to find out what happens!
