Our Movement Won on Tuesday!
Reclaim Philadelphia endorsed candidates won big across Philadelphia! The champions that will progress to the general election in November include Rick Krajewski, Elizabeth Fiedler, Chris Rabb, Tarik Khan, Roni Green and Ben Waxman. The results in House District 10 are too close to call but we’re rooting for Cass Green to triumph over pro-mass incarceration Amen Brown. We’re proud of our candidates and look forward to seeing what comes next for all of them.
Our candidates faced organized bankrolled resistance: conservative Republican donors like Jeffrey Yass colluding with the Democratic machine, anti-education interests attacking our communities and fighting to silence us. But overwhelmingly across the entire city, our movement of working people of all races in all places was not defeated.
Across the city, community rooted candidates were attacked for their support of policies that prioritize safety and justice over incarceration and criminalization. Vicious and untrue attack mailers were sent out slandering Elizabeth Fiedler, Chris Rabb and Rick Krajewski. Our candidates, who are champions for Philadelphia’s children and public education, were accused of being “anti-playground” (LOLWUT?)
The people of Philadelphia were not fooled and our candidates demolished their competition. In places where people-powered incumbents won, they won big. Where corporate incumbents won, they won by much smaller margins. Votes are still being finalized but currently: Tony Williams will have beat Paul Prescod by 20%, Stephen Kinsey will have bested Andre Carroll by 16% while Rick Krajewski will have destroyed James Wright by 40% and Elizabeth Fiedler will have demolished Trump supporter Mike Giangiordano by 50%. The newly created maps pitted two Democratic incumbents against each other, progressive Chris Rabb against Isabella Fitzgerald. The Philadelphia Democratic Party endorsed Fitzgerald over Rabb. Chris Rabb continued to fight for his community and easily won re-election 62% - 38%. Both Fiedler and Krajewski saw big gains, winning in areas where their opponents bested them last cycle. Rabb won this cycle with his largest margins yet. While we may not have won everything, we’ve proven time and time again that organizing our communities against those that seek to destroy us wins!
This primary season the local Democratic Party’s endorsements included their support for challengers to popular progressive incumbents, endorsing conservative Conor Lamb for Senate and a challenger to Elizabeth Fiedler with a history of supporting Trump and white supremacy. We know the Philly Democratic Party doesn’t represent us or our values. Their endorsements are carried out through closed wards where ward leaders carry the party line rather than the people’s voice. Your local committee person candidates this year can organize within their ward to demand an ‘open’ ward, where committee people vote on who the ward endorses.
Reclaim leaders supported 183 candidates to run for committee person and 157 of them have won! Another 34 candidates were supported in write-in campaigns and we’re waiting for results to be tallied. Ward reorganization meetings will happen on June 6, 2022 and we’re looking forward to a big leadership shake up.
Reclaim Philadelphia is able to be bold and independent in the campaigns we take on and the candidates we endorse because we fund our movement through thousands of small dollar contributions from working people like you. Join us in transforming the world we live in and become a member by making a recurring monthly contribution now.