Jim Kenney swept the Democratic primaries for mayor May 19. His victory is a testament not only to his own capacity and determination, but to the power of his coalition building.
It was always understood that the former councilman would have union support, but the strength of Kenney’s campaign came in coalition — with young progressives and education advocates; with immigration and LGBTQ groups; with members of Philadelphia’s African American community.
Kenney’s vision was one of a unified Philadelphia: “From my childhood home of South Philly all the way up to the Northwest, people of every neighborhood — all came together behind this effort. And make no mistake, it was that unity that made us victorious. We could not have accomplished so much in such a short time without all of us working together.”
Though Kenney still has to face Republican Melissa Murray-Bailey in the mayoral election November 3, the ratio of Democratic to Republican voters in the city favors him. Still, in another show of unexpected coalition, Kenney and Murray-Bailey broke with tradition and made their first appearance after primary victories together, at a fundraiser for the Broad Street Ministry, where they addressed the “importance of an all-inclusive approach to city leadership.”

For some Latinos, Kenney’s victory was bittersweet given that for the first time in its history, Philadelphia had a Latino mayoral candidate on the ballot. But Kenney had a good Latino following of his own — especially because of his work on immigration issues during his tenure at City Council — and through his connection with LUPE (Latinos United for Political Empowerment), who endorsed him as mayor.
“#MyMayor!” exulted one member of our readership on her Facebook page.
We extend our congratulations to Kenney for his resounding victory, and we look forward — in the months leading up to the November election — to hearing more about his vision for coalition and unity in the city.