Reclaim Philadelphia Primary 2024 Ballot Guide
We’re going all in for Cass Green! Sign up now to knock doors for Cass every Saturday in West Philly and Center City in partnership with mass liberation organizations Amistad Movement Power, Free the Ballot, and Straight Ahead!
Full analysis on endorsements and recommendations towards the bottom!
STATEWIDE RACES
ATTORNEY GENERAL (Vote for 1)
Keir Bradford-Grey (#7)
AUDITOR GENERAL (Vote for 1)
Malcolm Kenyatta (#9)
SENATOR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1ST DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Nikil Saval (#15)
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
10TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Cass Green (#18)
184TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Elizabeth Fiedler (#16)
188TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Rick Krajewski (#17)
190TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Roni Green (#17)
194TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Tarik Khan (#16)
200TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Chris Rabb (#16)
201ST DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Andre D Carroll (#16)
RECOMMENDATIONS
STATEWIDE RACES
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Write-in “Uncommitted”
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
181ST DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Malcolm Kenyatta (#17)
STATEWIDE RACES
UNITED STATES SENATOR
No recommendation
STATE TREASURER
No recommendation
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
DISTRICTS 2, 3, & 5
No recommendation
SENATOR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS 3, 5, & 7
No recommendation
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS 170,172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 179, 180, 182, 185, 186, 191, 192, 195, 197, 198, 202, & 203
No recommendation
DELEGATE TO DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS 2, 3, & 5
No recommendation
BALLOT QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1: PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGE 1
No recommendation
Full analysis below :
STATEWIDE RACES
ATTORNEY GENERAL (Vote for 1)
Keir Bradford-Grey (#7)
Keir Bradford Gray became the Chief Public Defender in Montgomery County and Philadelphia after seeing the impact the criminal justice system has had on families like hers. As chief defender she worked in collaboration with social justice movements in Philadelphia to speak out and hold law enforcement accountable and started the first participatory defense hub on the east coast. She also marched with protestors in 2020 after the police killed George Floyd. If elected, she would become the state’s first Black attorney general, and the first Black woman to win statewide office. Keir would be a true mass liberation champion in this role.
AUDITOR GENERAL (Vote for 1)
Malcolm Kenyatta (#9)
Malcolm Kenyatta has been building a broad coalition of statewide support since his run for US Senator. He is the first openly gay Black candidate to receive support from a political party for statewide office in Pennsylvania, and if elected would continue to make history. Malcolm has made the commitment to use the auditing powers of this office to give our movements empirical research that we can use to organize. These audits could be used to defend our democracy, expand funding for Nikil Saval’s Whole Home Repairs program, and get the public schools equitable funding in Philadelphia and across the commonwealth. He’s also committed to making a Bureau of labor protections to support workers who’ve had their labor laws violated. Malcom Kenyatta is the best candidate to win the primary as well as defeat Jeffrey Yass funded election denier Tim Defoor in the general election.
SENATOR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1ST DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Nikil Saval (#15)
As a founding member of Reclaim Philadelphia, Nikil Saval was instrumental in shaping the vision and values of our organization. When he ran and won alongside Reclaim leader Rick Krajewski in 2020, it was a one-two punch win for our movement and our organization. While serving in the State Senate, Nikil introduced housing justice legislation known as Whole Home Repairs with bipartisan support. This legislation has garnered nationwide recognition including from the White House and Pennsylvanians have been lining up to receive this support. In this year’s Pennsylvania budget, Governor Shaprio committed $50 million to this transformative legislation. Nikil is a proven leader and always steadfast in his commitment to our organization and its values.
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
10TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Cass Green (#18)
Cass Green is a grassroots organizer and community leader challenging one of the most conservative democrats in the Philadelphia delegation. She has deep roots in the district cofounding a community based nonprofit in Millcreek and leading community engagement for the People’s Emergency Center in Powelton and Mantua. She first ran in a chaotic election year in 2022, when redistricting created this entirely new district with no incumbent. Although there was not enough time for a full membership endorsement vote, Reclaim’s Board did recommend her in our Primary Ballot Guide. In that election, she came less than 200 votes from beating the now incumbent Amen Brown. In this year’s primary, Cass is the best bet to defeat an incumbent backed by Jeffrey Yass and grow our progressive squad in Harrisburg.
184TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Elizabeth Fiedler (#16)
Reclaim Philadelphia supported Elizabeth Fiedler for State Representative in 2018 in her first successful race for this seat. Our members have consistently endorsed her because she has proven herself to be a movement champion. In this year’s race, she is unopposed. In the state house delegation, she’s on the leadership board of the Progressive Caucus as well as the Blue/Green Caucus where she is making sure that labor and environmental groups are in conversation to deliver for our communities. It’s from the Blue/Green Caucus that she got the idea for her transformative Solar for Schools program, which funds solar energy projects at public k-12 schools, community colleges, and career technical schools across Pennsylvania.
Note to members: Reclaim Philadelphia Board member Adams Rackes is Fiedler’s spouse.
188TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Rick Krajewski (#17)
Rick Krajewski, a former Reclaim Philadelphia organizer, first ran in 2020 when he defeated a 30 year incumbent. He’s on the leadership board of the Progressive Caucus in the state house where he has been pushing back against school vouchers and tough on crime legislation. He led hearings to legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania and in collaboration with West Philly nonprofit YEAH Philly introduced a bill to allow minors access to their birth certificates which would help youth better access jobs, enroll in schools, open up bank accounts and more. We are also proud that his legislation to reform evictions in Philadelphia, in tribute to Angel Davis who was killed by a Landlord Tenant Officer, passed out of the House. Rick faces a challenger in this race, and we can’t risk losing a trusted movement champion.
Note to members: Reclaim Philadelphia Board member Tammer Ibrahim is Krajeweski’s campaign treasurer.
190TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Roni Green (#17)
Roni Green is a labor leader who has a 35 year membership with union SEIU Local 668. As state representative, Roni has introduced transformative legislation for workers to increase the minimum wage to $16 as well as legislation to create a 4 day workweek. Following Philly’s lead, Roni alongside Rep Tarik Khan, introduced legislation to replace old water fountains in public schools so children and staff can have safe drinking water. She last ran in a chaotic election year in 2022, when redistricting inspired the incumbent Amen Brown to district hop to the 10th . Although there was not enough time for a full membership endorsement vote, Reclaim’s Board did recommend her in our Primary Ballot Guide. Roni faces a challenger in this race, and we can’t risk losing a trusted labor ally.
194TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Tarik Khan (#16)
As a frontline nurse before and while running, Tarik Khan delivered vaccinations to homebound patients during the peak of the COVID pandemic. We endorsed him in 2020 when he ran a progressive challenge against incumbent Pam Delissio and won! Tarik is the first Pakistani-American and first nurse practitioner ever elected in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In the state house he’s been a trusted ally when it comes to healthcare justice where he is building up infrastructure for Medicare for All in the commonwealth. Following Philly, Tarik alongside Rep Roni Green, introduced legislation to replace old water fountains in public schools so children and staff can have safe drinking water.
200TH DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Chris Rabb (#16)
First elected in 2016, Chris Rabb has been a solid movement leader in the General Assembly. In his last election, he was redistricted into a race with a fellow incumbent who was receiving funds from Republican billionaire Jeffrey Yass – and Rabb still won! Since that election Rabb worked on police accountability resulting in the creation of the first statewide police misconduct database in 2020 and the passing of the Death Penalty Repeal bill out of committee in 2023. He has also introduced legislation for reparations for the descendants of the enslaved in Pennsylvania. Reclaim Philadelphia’s membership first endorsed Rabb in 2018 and has voted to endorse him for re-election ever since.
201ST DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Andre D Carroll (#16)
Andre Carroll is a Reclaim member, former campaign worker for Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, and former campaign manager for Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke. Andre is committed to mass liberation and has focused a lot of his energy around youth’s impacted by the carceral system. Reclaim endorsed Andre when he first ran for this seat in 2020 almost knocking out a ten year incumbent and winning 43% of the vote. In this year’s race, incumbent Stephen Kinsey has decided to not seek re-election. Andre has run such a strong campaign that other candidates running against him have chosen to withdraw from the race. Now unopposed in both the primary and general elections, we know that he will be the first out gay man elected in the district, and the second out gay Black man elected in the general assembly. This seat has been a key pickup opportunity for our movement and a chance to expand our squad in Harrisburg. We’re excited to support our next State Representative Andre Carroll!
RECOMMENDATIONS
STATEWIDE RACES
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Write-in “Uncommitted”
We have heard from a large majority of our members, volunteer leaders, and staff about their frustrations and horror at Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. We are clear that collective punishment of the Palestinian people is wrong and violates our values. We must do everything in our power to pressure Joe Biden to put an end to this war and call for a lasting and permanent ceasefire. In solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Listen to Michigan campaign, Reclaim’s Board recommends our members write-in “Uncommitted” for President in the April 23 Primary.
Listen to Michigan was able to channel the anger of an ignored and important base of voters in a must-win battleground state, similar to Pennsylvania. As a result, we’ve seen the Democratic Party move on this issue for the first time.
We do not take this recommendation lightly but also know that in Pennsylvania, primaries are where we hold Democrats accountable. In 2020, Biden won Pennsylvania by 80,555 votes and we know that every Philly vote will make a difference. There is still time for Biden to drastically change his administration's course of action in Gaza. This is a warning to Joe Biden. While we are committed to defeating Trump in the general election, we can’t do it alone. It’s up to him to win back voters’ trust by standing with the majority of American voters and the entire international community to use his power and influence to stop this genocide.
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
181ST DISTRICT (Vote for 1)
Malcolm Kenyatta (#17)
When Malcolm Kenyatta first won this seat in 2018, he was the first openly gay person of color to join the Pennsylvania General Assembly and one of the youngest. In this primary, Malcolm faces two challengers in his re-election bid for State Representative. One of those challengers, Lewis Nash, is the 47th Ward Leader who recently made national headlines when a recording was made public where he used homophobic and transphobic narratives to attack both Malcolm and Joe Biden. We cannot let North Philadelphia go backwards and elect a bigot. Our Board strongly recommends Malcolm Kenyatta for re-election for State Representative.
ANALYSIS ON SOME NO RECOMMENDATIONS
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
3RD DISTRICT
The majority of our base and every single one of Reclaim’s Board and staff live in the 3rd Congressional District. This is a solidly progressive district that should have a progressive boldly leading on transformative policies. Unfortunately the incumbent Dwight Evans, who is all but guaranteed to win re-election despite a challenger, is not that leader. Reclaim Healthcare Caucus members lobbied his office for Medicare for All, and were told that he supports Medicare for All yet he still hasn’t signed on to a bill. He largely ignored calls for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, only recently calling for a temporary ceasefire. His support for Amen Brown, the Jeffrey Yass funded candidate in the 10th District tied to school vouchers and the privatization of public schools calls into question his commitment to education funding. The 3rd congressional district has the highest Democratic registration in the country. A Democrat holding this seat has the ability to take bigger risks and fight for meaningful changes, without having to fight off a challenge from the right. While a senior representative is able to bring funding into the district, we deserve a representative that will also lead on the issues that affect his constituents instead of maintaining the status quo.
BALLOT QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1: PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGE 1
“Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to require the City to provide for the indemnification and defense of registered community organizations in connection with claims made against them arising directly out of their lawful participation in the City’s zoning variance process?”
No recommendation
The case for: While Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) may be imperfect, they are important and the only way neighbors can have a seat at the table when it comes to development. RCOs, which are largely volunteer run, face uphill battles against developers that have more resources and can be litigious. Some RCOs have been sued out of existence by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation also known as SLAPP. Because they are mandated actors in the zoning approvals process, there is an inherent risk of liability. Accessing private liability coverage has proved overly burdensome for these small organizations with limited resources. A vote for this ballot question would provide legal and financial support for RCOs and protect the voices of neighbors.
The case against: Opponents of this ballot see this as a bandaid on a broken system and point out that there is little to no regulation or accountability over RCOs. They argue that comprehensive RCO reform is needed in addition to protections against SLAPP. Some RCOs can be stacked with developer friendly interests or powerful political actors motivated by their own financial gain or political agendas. Several RCOs have come under scrutiny for not allowing full and democratic neighborhood participation in their governance and zoning recommendations- essentially functioning as an entity that gives undue influence to largely private actors in the public process. A vote for this bill means that taxpayers would cover the unknown cost of any legal or financial burdens, which could impact city budget negotiations in the future.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING
Update and verify your voter Registration: Even if you are a regular voter, it’s always good to verify your registration before the deadline. If you’ve moved or changed your name, you can update your registration now. The deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration for the General Election is Monday April 8, 2023.
If you have been impacted by the carceral system, you can still vote: as long as you aren’t in prison or jail for a felony conviction or haven’t committed election fraud within the last four years.
If voting in person: Polls are open 7am to 8pm on Election day Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Find your polling location here. Photo ID is not required to vote unless it is your first time voting in your current division. If you requested a mail-in ballot but have changed your mind you will still need to surrender your mail-in ballot and all related envelopes in order to vote at the polls. If you have any problems you can always request to vote by provisional ballot. Wear a mask and observe social distancing inside the polling place. If you are in line by 8pm you are legally allowed to vote.
If voting by mail: The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is Tuesday, April 16, 2024. You still need to apply to receive a mail-in ballot even if you received one last year. You can apply for a mail-in ballot here. To ensure that it arrives in time, we advise you to drop off your mail-in ballot at the Board of Elections in City Hall or the closest 24/7 Ballot Drop Off Box by 8pm on Election Day, not your polling place.
Make your mail-in ballot count: 1) Mark your ballot with a black or blue pen. 2) Seal it in the secrecy envelope. 3) Seal the secrecy envelope into the return envelope. Ballots without the secrecy envelope will not be counted! 4) Sign and date the return envelope.
Get all your voting resources for the upcoming election and reclaim your vote here!
Take Action with us: 1) We’re going all in for Cass Green! Sign up here to join us and knock doors with us and our movement partners: Amistad Movement Power, Free the Ballot, and Straight Ahead. 2) Invest in our canvass program by making a donation here! (this is pac donation link)
Reclaim Philadelphia’s Board is a leadership team directly elected by Reclaim Philadelphia members to two-year terms. See the current membership that was elected on October 17, 2022 at the bottom of our Leadership Team page.