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Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting.
Just 30 minutes after the polls closed, Jim Kenney had a clear lead with more than 50 percent of the vote. By 9 o’clock, news agencies began calling it, declaring Kenney the dominating victor.
As for the losing candidates, the night was an awkward mixture of polite concession speeches, congratulatory remarks for Kenney and gratitude for their supporters. Coming up at the wrong end of shockingly steep landslide, here are how the candidates handled the loss in the order they ranked in the polls.
Anthony Williams
Percentage of the Vote: 6.74 percent
Closing Remarks: The race’s forerunner held his head high after the defeat, addressing supporters positively. “Tonight ends an election,” Williams said. “It doesn’t end the values that brought us together during the course of this journey and this campaign.” Williams stated that the issues of education reform and changes in the police department will not go away and need to be addressed. Williams continues to serve as Pennsylvania senator, representing the 8th District.
Tweet to Remember:
Tony: “While the campaign ends, the work continues — until we create one city that embraces and lifts up everyone.” pic.twitter.com/nsrPKpBPIM
— Anthony H. Williams (@JoinTeamTony) May 20, 2015
Lynne Abraham
Percentage of the Vote: 8.39 percent
Closing Remarks: “No regrets,” was the sentiment of former district attorney Lynne Abraham’s speech after finishing a distant third in the mayor’s race. “I love the sport of competition,” Abraham told CBS. Abraham, who would have been Philly’s first female mayor, encouraged more women to seek the mayor’s office. “[That] in 334 years, only two women have ever sought the office of mayor to me is stunning and all wrong,” Abraham said.
Tweet to Remember:
Filmmaker N.A. Poe to Lynne Abraham yesterday: “If you smoke a joint w/ me, I’ll vote for you.” Lynne: “No thanks.” http://t.co/OtuZfwAeMw
— Billy Penn (@billy_penn) May 20, 2015
Doug Oliver
Percentage of the Vote: 4.25 percent
Closing Remarks: Doug Oliver, an underdog in the race in terms of political experience and name recognition, closed the race with positive remarks. Oliver addressed followers on Twitter saying, “We could not have done this much without your support. This was a win by any standards.” In an interview with Billy Penn, Oliver stated, “It’s not quite surprising that the results showed the way we did. But I feel proud. So proud of the campaign we ran.”
Tweet to Remember:
Doug Oliver and his son in the voting booth in East Oak Lane. Pops explaining the political process. #PHL2015 pic.twitter.com/EuKXe8Crxo — AL DÍA News (@ALDIANews) May 19, 2015
Nelson Diaz
Percentage of the Vote: 3.71 percent
Closing Remarks: Nelson Diaz was the first mayoral candidate to concede, throwing in the towel shortly after the polls closed. Via his Twitter account (which has since been deleted), he stated, “Progress is a process. This isn’t a defeat – it’s a step towards a better Philadelphia I’m proud to have taken.” Diaz championed on education and affordable housing. If elected, he would have been Philadelphia’s first Latino mayor, and stated that his running will allow for the next Latino candidate to “start in a better place than I did.”
Tweet to Remember:
.@JaredShelly: Nelson Diaz party surely has the best lighting and music #PHL2015 #NextMayorPHL pic.twitter.com/tneO6UK1yj #phillysocial — PhillySocial.com (@PhillySoc) May 20, 2015
Milton Street
Percentage of the Vote: 1.69 percent
Closing Remarks: Milton Street trailed a distant sixth, pulling less than two percent of the vote. At his election party (at which he apparently told people to stop coming and just stand around in the parking lot), he told supporters, “I will continue to fight, struggle, yell, holler until we can stop this violence,” according to a Tweet from an Inquirer reporter.
Tweet to Remember:
Street campaign deciding not to gather in hall. He says he told other supporters not to bother coming #NextMayorPHL pic.twitter.com/JNsizIBJcb — Angelo Fichera (@AJFichera) May 20, 2015
