Former Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym fell short in her bid to become the city’s first Asian American and first woman mayor.
She placed third in a crowded field of eight Democratic challengers, reported Politico.
Philadelphia still could get its first woman mayor. Winning the primary is Cherelle Parker, a former city council member and state legislator, with 33% followed by former city controller Rebecca Rhynhart with 22.6% and Gym with 21.3%.
A Republican hasn’t been elected mayor of Philadelphia since the 1940’s. Parker will face former City Councilman David Oh in the general election. He became the first Asian American elected to the city council in 2012.
Some polls had Gym leading narrowly going into Tuesday’s election. She tried to energize her voters Sunday appearing with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a campaign rally.
Oh ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
“I do think it is the right time to do something different. And, that is, take all the things I could not do on council and do that for the city as mayor,” Oh said to NBC Philadelphia.
Parker ran a law and order campaign, according to ABC6. She campaigned on the promise to “stop the sense of lawlessness that is plaguing our city.” She called on the police department to stop someone when they have “just cause and reasonable suspicion.”
Similar stop-and-frisk police tactics have led to accusations of racial profiling.
She had a dental emergency that required hospitalization and did not appear before her supporters Tuesday night.
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