Philly Dem Mayoral Primary Winner Hospitalized, Skips Victory Party.

Cherelle Parker Wins Democratic Nomination for Philadelphia Mayor

Cherelle Parker, a 50-year-old politician, won the Democratic nomination for Philadelphia’s upcoming mayoral election with 33% of the vote. Her victory celebration was missed due to an emergency that caused her to be hospitalized.

The Emergency

Parker had to go to the hospital due to a “dental emergency” that required immediate medical attention. She was hospitalized at the University of Pennsylvania, according to campaign spokesperson Aren Platt.

In February, Parker had reportedly been told that she needed to have a tooth removed but delayed the procedure until last Friday. “It needed to come out, so we made a decision to sort of just push it off because I was trying to get through the primary, and then it came up,” she told the Inquirer.

The Democratic Nomination

Pollsters predict Parker will win the November election, as Philadelphia is heavily Democratic. A Republican mayor hasn’t been elected there since the 1940s, and the current mayor, Jim Kenney, won with 80% of the vote in his last election.

“I’m so incredibly honored to have earned the Democratic nomination tonight. It’s been a long road, and to see the tireless work of my campaign team, supporters, and family pay off is humbling. I’m looking forward to November and bringing our city together as its 100th mayor,” Parker said on Twitter.

The Core Issue

Elevated crime levels were a core issue in the primary. Philadelphia saw 516 homicides last year, just below the 2021 total of 562, a decades-long high in the City of Brotherly Love, according to data from the Philadelphia Police Department. Parker took a more moderate approach to law and order, promising to increase the number of police officers to “stop the sense of lawlessness that is plaguing our city.”

The Opponent

Helen Gym, a leftist candidate, was heavily favored by the far Left in the city and had the endorsements of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Rebecca Rhynhart, a former city comptroller, earned 22% of the vote.

Cherelle Parker’s victory in the Democratic nomination for Philadelphia’s mayoral election is a historic moment for the city. With her moderate approach to law and order, she promises to bring the city together and tackle the core issue of elevated crime levels.