Pennsylvania State Representative Amen Brown launched his 2023 bid for Philadelphia Mayor earlier this afternoon, Dec. 16, at the University Square Plaza Senior Community Center in his native West Philly. Running as a Democrat, he was first elected to the Pennsylvania State House back in 2020.

“Are y'all ready to take our city in a new direction? Our city has had enough of a lot of things. Enough of the lawlessness, inaction, poor leadership and empty promises. But just saying enough, is not going to restore and rebuild our city. We need action. I am announcing my candidacy for mayor of Philadelphia,” Brown opened. 

The 35-year old is looking to not only replace current Mayor Jim Kenney, but also be the youngest-ever elected Mayor in Philadelphia history. Brown is currently serving his first term as the Pennsylvania State Representative for the 190th district. He is the first sitting state legislator to throw his hat in the crowded Democratic pool for Mayor in 2023. 

Brown has been known to share some of his tough life experiences when trying to relate to many of his constituents, which included food insecurity, addiction in the family, incarceration, being a victim of gun violence, among other circumstances. 

Brown was born and raised in West Philly near 56th and Market. He was one of eight siblings who grew up in a single family home primarily supported by his mother. He was a victim of gun violence near his home at age 12, and due to a police sweep in high school, was incarcerated for 45 days before the drug charges against him were ultimately dropped. 

“I'm running on this promise to make you and all of our residents safe to create equity and build opportunities for everyone across the city of Philadelphia. I will prioritize public safety first Because public safety is the key to prosperity. If we don't combat the lawlessness to make our citizens safe every single day, then nothing else matters. We will continue to lose our citizens to the suburbs, lose our small businesses to inflation, and big businesses to other metropolitan cities,” he said. 

With a packed room present at the kick-off event, Brown touched on bringing about much needed change across the spectrum, but specifically in public safety as the city’s rising gun violence issue has become endemic. It’s not a surprise for someone who has advocated for tough-on-crime policies such as new mandatory minimum sentences. 

“We must work together towards several things. We must work together towards equity for all people in all neighborhoods in our city. My plan includes tangible investments in areas of education, housing and workforce development in the poorest areas of our city,” Brown said. “This inequity has destroyed families for decades. And we can no longer fall short of the political promises may year after year after year, when it is politically advantageous.”

Brown joins a race that includes Reverend Warren Bloom Sr., grocer mogul Jeff Brown, former Philly Municipal Judge James DeLeon, recently resigned at-large City Councilmembers Allan Domb, Derek Green, Helen Gym, District Councilmembers Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, and Cherelle Parker, and recently resigned City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart. 

“I was born and raised in one of the most impoverished communities of West Philadelphia, to a single mother. And currently I live only a few blocks from where I grew up. I'm still here and I feel your pain. Seeing inaction, and feeling like there was no one to help my family or families like mine, is the spark that fired within me to run for office, and be a source of change and hope that my community so desperately needed,” Brown said. 

He first made his intentions clear at this year’s Pennsylvania Society weekend — the annual gathering of PA’s political and wealthy elite — where he all but announced his entrance into the race in a packed room of elites puffing on expensive cigars, where one of his many wealthy supporters — New York real estate developer Marty Burger, spoke highly about Brown to those present. This was the talk of the event during that weekend in Manhattan. 

“I personally persevere in spite of the devastating inequity. I have broken barriers, and I've overcome adversity. We must create opportunities with development. We can maximize public private partnerships to achieve continuous success as a leader in the medical and higher education spaces, and expand in other areas,” Brown continued to the crowd on Friday.

He also has a history of sparring with his party and dabbling with the GOP on certain issues, making somewhat of an outlier compared to the other Democratic candidates. For a Democrat, he is one of the more conservative options. He has also been associated with a few big name Republicans, such as GOP PA Senate nominee Mehmet Oz and other former and current lawmakers, who were at his Manhattan and cigar club event. 

“So for the critics who say I work too closely with Republicans, I have chosen to prioritize problem solving over party lines. I have developed relationships on both sides to bring money to my district instead of focusing on one division. And I have gained a reputation for working with a diverse group of folks to get the job done for my constituency,” Brown said.

Compared to some of the other candidates who have been fundraising and campaigning for a couple months now, Brown now has to catch up. But with some of the wealthy supporters backing him, it will not be much of an issue. According to some that were present at the event in Manhattan, Burger said in his speech that he would be launching a super PAC with as much as $5 million in it. 

“I am not a photo-op politician. It is time for innovative leadership and courage to make some tough decisions to help make a difference in our city. This city deserves action and not empty promises. And that's why I'm running to be your next mayor,” Brown concluded.