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The midterm elections are upon us, and the November ballot in Philadelphia is full of important races at all levels of government: federal, state, and local.

At the top of the ticket are two contests receiving lots of national attention: the race to replace Gov. Tom Wolf and the race to fill retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey’s seat. Down ballot, there are a slew of battles that could help determine if Republicans maintain control of the Pa. legislature.

In Philly, there are two questions about changes to the city charter, which could alter the civil service workforce and shift control of PHL Airport. Also up for a vote: special election nominees to fill City Council seats left vacant by resignations in advance of next year’s mayoral race.

The Billy Penn procrastinator’s guide is here to help. Scroll through this article, then bookmark it for easy access when you complete your mail ballot or head to the polls on Nov. 8.

Have questions that aren’t answered here? Let us know at tips@billypenn.com.

Your polling place

First up: Are you registered to vote? You can double check your status with the state lookup tool here. You had until Oct. 24 to register for this election.

What about where you can vote? To find that out, you can enter your address here, which will determine your polling location — plus what ward and division you’re in.

If you plan to vote in person, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 8 o’clock, you’re guaranteed be able to cast a ballot.

About ID: You’ll only need to show identification if you’re voting at a specific polling place for the first time.

Mail ballots

You don’t need a reason or excuse to vote by mail in the commonwealth.

If you already have your mail ballot, you can drop it off at one of several secure ballot drop boxes around Philly, or bring it to the City Commissioners’ office in Room 104 of City Hall. Want to apply for one? Do that here before Nov. 1.

Applied but never received your mail ballot? To start, check the status with the Department of State’s online tracker. If the status is “Canceled,” that means the U.S Postal Service ran into issues and canceled your delivery, so you’ll want to request a replacement.

The fastest way to secure a replacement is to request one in person at the Board of Elections office in City Hall, Room 140, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Afterward, you have the option of completing and submitting your ballot right then and there.

You can also request a replacement mail ballot by filling out a form on the City Commissioner’s website or calling 215-686-3469.

What if you never got your replacement and it’s suddenly Election Day? Don’t worry, there’s a plan for that: Head to your polling place to ask for a provisional ballot, which will get counted after local election officials verify you didn’t vote by mail.

All mail ballots must be delivered to a drop box or received by election officials by the time the polls close: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Have a mail ballot but want to switch to in person? You can bring it to the polls — envelopes and all — and surrender it to election workers, then head into the booth and cast your vote.

Ballot questions

There are two referendums on changes to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter. Find a detailed explanation at the links below:

Jump to a section to read about the candidates

Governor
Lieutenant governor
U.S. Senate
Congress
Pa. Senate
Pa. House
City Council special elections

Governor

Josh Shapiro (left) and Doug Mastriano Credit: Matt Slocum and David Dermer / AP Photo

Douglas V. Mastriano (Republican)

After a 30-year military career where he rose to the rank of colonel, Mastriano won his first political office in a 2019 special election for the Pa. Senate’s 33rd District, which includes Adams County and surroundings.

A self-proclaimed Trump follower, Mastriano continues to advocate for investigating Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results, which helped make Joe Biden president. The state senator was in DC on Jan. 6 and has been subpoenaed by the U.S. House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection.

Mastriano’s stated goals for the commonwealth involve limiting the role of government regulators and closing what he calls the “revolving door” between public service and lobbying.

He is also stridently anti-abortion, and wants to sign into law a “heartbeat bill” that would ban the procedure without any exceptions after about six gestational weeks, before many people know they’re pregnant. He has also said he wants to ban transgender women from women’s sports.

Priorities:

Eliminating two regulations for any new regulation created
Constitutional carry law
Ending all Wolf-era COVID executive orders and all vaccine mandates

→ Campaign site is here

Josh Shapiro (Democrat)

Shapiro is currently Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, the state’s top prosecutor. He has served in that role since 2017.

A former political staffer, Shapiro was elected to the Pa. House in 2005. He ran for Montgomery County Commissioner in 2011 and won, helping Democrats gain a majority for the first time. He ran for AG in 2016, after Kathleen Kane resigned under indictment, and won.

His landmark achievement as the state’s highest law enforcement official is 2018’s report exposing clergy sexual abuse and serial coverups in Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic dioceses. He was also active after the 2020 presidential race, filing multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration. He has made voting rights a central tenet of his campaign.

If elected, Shapiro says he’ll veto any attempts by Pa. legislators to restrict abortion. He also wants to improve job training and access to stable, good paying jobs.

Priorities:

Election reform
Education
Reproductive rights

→ Campaign site is here

Christina DiGiulio (Green)

DiGiulio lives near Marsh Creek Lake in Chester County. She describes herself as “an avid lover of nature” and “a water protector” who believes that pollution is an infringement on Constitutional rights. Her platform aligns with the Green Party’s “Ten Key Values.”

Priorities:

Anti-fracking
Changing fossil fuel infrastructure in Pa.
Liberating people from heteronormativity

→ Campaign page is here

Matt Hackenburg (Libertarian)

Hackenburg lives in Northampton county. He’s a computer engineer in the aviation industry and a veteran of the New Jersey National Guard, but he calls himself anti-war and he is against deploying National Guard members without a formal declaration of war. He told Lehigh Valley Live that he got involved with the Libertarian party because of his opposition to COVID-19 policies enacted by Gov. Tom Wolf. He also said doesn’t expect to win the election but his goal is “to spread a message.”

Priorities:

Decriminalizing “victimless crimes”
Second Amendment
Stop federal lawmakers from making laws that affect Pennsylvania

→ Campaign site is here

Joe Soloski (Keystone)

Soloski is an accountant who long managed his own firm in Pittsburgh, but he now lives in Centre County, Pa. He is against COVID-related restrictions and wants to cut government spending and taxation. He’s also opposed to raising the minimum wage.

Priorities:

Decriminalize recreational marijuana
Reduce emergency powers of the governor
Eliminate personal income tax and reduce corporate net income tax

→ Campaign site is here

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Lieutenant governor

Austin Davis (Democrat)

Davis, a state representative from Allegheny County since 2018, would be the highest ranking Black official in Pa. history if elected. He touts long-term involvement in politics, including a college internship at the Pa. House and a stint working for Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Davis has the endorsement of gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro. He has no campaign site of his own, but there is a page for Davis on Shapiro’s.

Carrie Lewis DelRosso (Republican)

Lewis DelRosso reps Pa.’s 33rd House District, having scored an upset victory in 2020 when she unseated 30-year incumbent and then-Minority Whip Democrat Frank Dermondy. Before turning to public service, DelRosso ran a public relations firm that worked with schools in the PIttsburgh suburbs. She aims to support law enforcement against what she views as lax prosecutors and increasing crime due to “the madness in Philadelphia.” Other aims include lowering the cost of healthcare for older constituents and making the state attractive for business owners.

→ Campaign site is here

Michael Badges-Canning (Green)

Badges-Canning is the mayor of Cherry Valley in Butler County, Pa. and a retired teacher. He is pro-abortion rights and wants to approach gun violence and other issues with a holistic approach, and he is anti-fracking. He previously ran for a seat in the Pa. House and lost.

→ Campaign page is here

Tim McMaster (Libertarian)

McMaster is currently an auditor and chair of the audit committee for Conewago Township in York County. He and his wife run a farm there, and he’s run several other business ventures as well. He is pro-abortion rights and wants to decriminalize sex work, legalize recreational marijuana and make property taxes lower. He previously ran for state Senate and lost.

→ Campaign site is here

Nicole Shultz (Keystone)

Shultz is a Pa. native, and she now lives in York County. She’s a business person in the farming industry. She was elected as auditor of Windsor Township in 2021. She is against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and does not want the government to be able “to legislate a woman’s reproductive system.” She wants to reform the state’s welfare system and child protective services.

→ Campaign site is here

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U.S. Senate

As soon as Republican Pat Toomey announced he wouldn’t run again, national eyes turned to Pennsylvania as key in the battle for control of the Senate. If Democrats pick up the seat, that brings them closer to their goal of ending the filibuster and getting policies enacted into law. If the GOP keeps it, President Biden will have trouble getting anything through.

John Fetterman (left) and Mehmet Oz Credit: Gene J. Puskar and Matt Rourke / AP Photo

John Fetterman (Democrat)

Fetterman is currently lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, elected in 2019 after serving as the mayor of Western Pa. town Braddock, which he did from 2005 until the step up to statewide office. He previously attempted a Senate run in 2016, coming in third in the Democratic primary.

This year, Fetterman handily won the primary, getting nearly 60% of the total vote. Just days prior, he suffered from a stroke he says could’ve killed him, from which he is still recovering. Ramesh Chandra, Fetterman’s doctor, said that as long as the candidate “takes his medications, eats healthy, and exercises, he’ll be fine.” Fetterman has continued to utilize closed captioning in interviews and public events, as his hearing has been impacted.

Politically, Fetterman is a populist with a progressive streak, supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020 and receiving reciprocal support from the Democratic Party’s left wing.

Priorities:

Voting to abolish the Senate’s legislative filibuster
Implementing ban on members of Congress holding or trading stock
Supporting steps toward universal access to healthcare

→ Campaign site is here

Mehmet Oz (Republican)

Oz is a cardiovascular surgeon and researcher who became a celebrity with the nationally televised “Dr. Oz Show,” which ran from 2009 all the way through 2022, after he announced his candidacy. A first-time candidate, he won the Republican primary with a margin so slim a recount was triggered — it came down to the wire with Dave McCormick, who eventually conceded the race.

Buoyed by an endorsement by former president Trump, Oz has mostly campaigned via smaller-scale meetings, like town halls and receptions, instead of big rallies. On the trail, he’s focused on casting Fetterman as too extreme for Pennsylvania, and calling out Philadelphia as a hotbed of crime.

When it comes to policy, Oz has adopted much of the platform of the state GOP, especially as it aligns with federal hot button issues for the Republican party — reducing illegal immigration, boosting fossil fuel production, and resisting efforts to make gun laws more restrictive. He’s been endorsed by the state’s police unions, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Priorities:

Increasing natural gas and coal production
Opposing laws that make getting guns harder
Supporting policies banning abortion

→ Campaign site is here

Erik Gerhardt (Libertarian)

Gerhardt, a Montco native, is a carpenter and member of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. Gerhardt has self-funded the bulk of his campaign’s holdings.

Gerhardt has received few endorsements, but has garnered support from Philly’s Libertarian Party. He has stated some views that run counter to the conventional libertarian platform that thought and action should be autonomous and privatized. For instance, he has doubts about supporting gender affirming care for trans youth and wants to end intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical companies.

Priorities:

Reducing taxes “to their absolute minimum”
Marijuana legalization
Ending foreign intervention

→ Campaign site is here

Richard L Weiss (Green)

Weiss is a Pittsburgh-born lawyer who worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development in the 1990s before pivoting to practice corporate law in the Pittsburgh area.

Weiss has run for statewide office before, throwing his hat in the ring in the 2020 race for attorney general, where he received 1% of the vote. His policies reflect the Green Party’s priorities on environmental issues, international relations, militarization and more. In Pa., the party has laid out more specific goals, like repealing the state’s uniformity clause to allow for more targeted tax policy.

Priorities:

Revoke the AUMF (Authorizations for Use of Military Force)
Support the Green Party’s Green New Deal
Ease tensions with China to bolster cooperation over competition

→ Campaign site is here

Daniel Wassmer (Keystone)

Daniel Wassmer, an attorney and business owner from Pike County, ran for Pennsylvania Attorney General in 2020, on the Libertarian Party line. He did marginally better than Weiss by getting 1.8% of the vote.

Now part of the new Keystone Party, Wassmer has a goal beyond winning: meeting the vote threshold – 2% of the winner’s total in at least 10 counties — needed for the organization to be officially recognized as a political party in the next election cycle.

The Keystone Party is running former Libertarian Party members on a platform that includes more civic reform — like ranked choice voting, term limits, a part-time legislature, and more — than Libertarians tend to endorse. In a Facebook post, Wassmer said he left the GOP and then the party because of the “blatant racism” he saw exhibited in both organizations.

In previous interviews, Wassmer has noted his positions are scattered between Democratic and Republican platforms, and wants to make impartiality a big aspect of his leadership.

Priorities:

Cut down on public corruption
Publicly funded primary elections open to all registered voters
End over policing and sentencing disparities across racial and class differences

→ Campaign site is here

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U.S. House

In a year of redrawn Congressional districts, Philadelphia’s three Democratic incumbent representatives are defending their seats — in two cases against Republicans, and in one case, against a member of the Socialist Workers’ Party. The ultimate winners of the races in November will go on to serve a two-year term representing Philly and surroundings in D.C.

2nd District

Brendan Boyle (Democrat, incumbent)

Born and raised in Olney, Boyle’s been involved in politics for over a decade. He represented a typically Republican-voting Northeast Philly district in the Pa. House from 2009 to 2015, and has represented part of Philadelphia in DC since 2015.

In Congress, Boyle co-chairs the Blue Collar Caucus, the Macedonia Caucus, and several others, and he’s a member of the House Budget and Ways and Means committees. He’s sponsored bills to nationally regulate levels of PFAS in drinking water and to establish Harriett Tubman Day as a federal holiday. He also called for investigation and potential sanctioning of House members claiming election fraud in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Boyle has been endorsed by organizations like the Progressive Turnout Project, the Sierra Club, PennEnvironment, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Priorities:

Debt ceiling reform
Expand health care coverage
Supporting working families

→ Campaign site is here

Aaron Bashir (Republican)

Bashir’s campaign seeks to put “God, Community & Country First!” Originally from Pakistan, Bashir came to the U.S. in 2001 and became a citizen in 2006. He’s attended the Community College of Philadelphia, Temple University, and La Salle University, according to his website, and has been an accountant, real estate investor, entrepreneur, and adjunct faculty member.

Bashir was the Republican nominee for the 172nd Pa. Legislative District in 2020, but lost in November to Brendan Boyle’s brother, Kevin. Though he announced on Facebook last year that he’d be pursuing election in the 172nd again, the new district lines didn’t work out for him, so he apparently decided to challenge the other Boyle instead. He has been endorsed by the Philadelphia GOP.

Priorities:

Creating IT, trade, and energy-related jobs
Neighborhood safety
School choice & promoting higher education for middle class families

→ Campaign site is here

3rd District

Dwight Evans (Democrat, incumbent)

Evans’ website brands him as a “pragmatic leader who knows how to put public policy above politics and make ideas matter.” An alum of Germantown High School, the Community College of Philadelphia, La Salle, and Temple, Evans was a public school teacher and then worked for the Urban League of Philadelphia before he got into politics.

Following nearly four decades as a Pa. state representative, Evans’ time in Congress began in 2016. His district is one of the most Democratic congressional districts in the country, as the lines are currently drawn.

In Congress, Evans is a member of the House Ways and Means and the Small Business committees. During his first term, he introduced a bill to reduce costs for small business owners who apply for loans through the Small Business Administration, which ended up becoming law. Recently, he’s introduced a plan to tackle gun violence through $51 billion wrapped into the currently-stalled Build Back Better Act and VICTIM Act.

His campaign has been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the Progressive Turnout Project, PennEnvironment, and the Sierra Club.

Priorities:

Creating a “Plan for America’s Cities”
Revitalizing neighborhoods with stable jobs and refurbished housing
Tackling gun violence

→ Campaign site is here

Christopher Hoeppner (Socialist Workers Party)

Hoeppner is a freight train conductor and union member who wants to see workers “get on a course to build a labor party that can challenge capitalist rule.” He favors unions, affordable housing and childcare, and ending the trade embargo with Cuba, per The Pottstown Mercury.

A South Philly resident, Hoeppner has previously been on the ballot in a few other races, both inside and outside of Philly. He ran for Philadelphia City Controller in 2013, Congress in New York in 2011 (for former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s old seat), and mayor of Seattle in 2005.

Priorities:

Building unions into organizations that can fight for the working class
Opposing capitalism

→ Billy Penn could not locate a website or social media account for Hoeppner’s campaign.

5th District

Mary Gay Scanlon (Democrat, incumbent)

First elected to Congress in a 2018 special election, Scanlon is vying for her third full term. Scanlon, who lives in Swarthmore, was a founding board member of Philadelphia Legal Assistance, worked as a senior staff attorney at the Education Law Center of Pa., served on the Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board, and spent 15 years as pro bono counsel at Ballard Spahr.

In Congress, Scanlon is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Rules. She chairs the Youth Mentoring Caucus and co-chairs the Legal Aid Caucus. She sponsored bills to ban data brokers from selling individuals’ health and location data, penalize fraudulent firearm sales, expand civic education, and improve voting accessibility for disabled and older people.

Scanlon has been endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, PennEnvironment, the Sierra Club, and the Progressive Turnout Project.

Priorities:

Advocating for children and families
Expanding and protecting voting rights
“Common sense” gun safety

→ Campaign site is here

David Galluch (Republican)

An alum of the U.S. Naval Academy, Galluch served in the Navy after finishing grad school at the University of Cambridge and was deployed to the Middle East and Somalia. He left the military in 2019 to work for Comcast and now lives in Newtown Square in Delaware County.

Galluch “spent his time in the Navy defusing bombs,” and he wants to represent the 5th District so he can “go to Washington to defuse our explosive politics,” according to his website.

Priorities:

Decreasing inflation and balancing the federal budget
Incentivizing work through fiscal policies
Supporting American manufacturing, including in the Philly region

→ Campaign site is here

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Pa. Senate

It’s election year for 3 of 7 Pennsylvania Senate districts that cover Philly. Each of those three has an incumbent Democrat on the ballot, and one is uncontested. Winners will serve a 4-year term in the General Assembly.

Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg Credit: Jason Pope / Flickr Creative Commons

4th District

Art Haywood (Democrat, incumbent)

Haywood, whose district encompasses parts of Northwest Philadelphia and parts of Montgomery County, was first elected to the state Senate in 2015 and is seeking a third term. A graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Michigan Law School, Haywood worked for organizations like Regional Housing Legal Services before becoming a township commissioner in Cheltenham. As state senator, he’s been the prime sponsor on bills to codify the state’s Office of Health Equity, to require independent investigations into uses of deadly force by police officers, and to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at state-run colleges. He serves as the minority chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

→ Campaign site is here

Todd Johnson (Republican)

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Johnson attended Frankford High School and Geneva College, per the Philly GOP’s website. He’s been a pastor at the First Immanuel Baptist Church for more than a decade, according to the GOP bio, and he’s also a ward leader and block captain. He’s previously spoken in favor of former President Donald Trump, the opportunity zones created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, smaller government, expanding charter schools, and scaling back abortion rights, according to news reports.

→ Campaign site is here

8th District

Anthony Hardy Williams (Democrat, incumbent)

Williams has a long career in Pennsylvania politics (including a few unsuccessful bids for Philly mayor). He served in the Pa. House starting in 1988, and was elected to the state Senate in 1998 after his father, Hardy Williams, stepped down from the seat. In the legislature, Williams has advocated for school choice and sponsored a bill requiring applicants for school jobs to disclose sexual abuse allegations. He now serves as the state senate’s Democratic whip.

→ Campaign site is here

John Hayes (Republican)

Hayes’ website calls him a “hard working, conservative father who believes in America First!!” Per Ballotpedia and his LinkedIn, he ran for U.S. Congress in the 5th District earlier this year (hence his campaign website domain, hayes4uscongress.com) — but he ultimately didn’t appear on the primary ballot in May. The issues page on Hayes’ campaign website indicates that he supports energy independence, reducing government spending, strengthening the military, school choice, “medical screening on immigrants,” and lowering prescription costs. He opposes mask mandates, vaccine mandates, teaching critical race theory, and wars.

→ Campaign site is here

Uncontested

2nd District – Christine Tartaglione (Democrat, incumbent)

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Pa. House

All Pa. House of Representatives seats are up for election every two years. There’s a new map this time around, thanks to redistricting. It shifted some lines and created an entirely new district that covers part of Philadelphia. (Candidates in districts with uncontested races are listed at the end of this section.)

Pennsylvania state capitol Credit: Harvey Barrison/Flickr

172nd District

Kevin J. Boyle (Democrat, incumbent)

Boyle is the younger brother of U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle and was first elected to the Pa. House in 2010. He currently serves as the Democratic chair for the Finance Committee, and has previously had appointments on committees for health, finance, and urban affairs. Last fall, Boyle was arrested for allegedly violating a protection from abuse order, a shakeup that saw him stripped of committee leadership. Ultimately Boyle didn’t resign but did seek mental health counseling.

Recently, he was one of four Democrats to vote in favor of forming a committee that would investigate Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office. He’s endorsed for re-election by the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, Ceasefire PA, the Progressive Turnout Project, and the AFL-CIO. Policy wise, he’s pro-choice on abortion and wants to increase police funding. Billy Penn could not locate a campaign site.

Al Taubenberger (Republican)

Taubenberger served as an at-large city councilmember from 2016 to 2020 and is a former president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. On City Council, Taubenberger pushed for first-year exemptions to the business income and receipts tax, and sponsored a bill prohibiting smoking in bus shelters. After he lost his Council seat, he recommended Philly Republicans cut down on infighting.

Taubenberger recently published an op-ed in the Northeast Times that advocated for impeaching the DA Krasner and instating term limits. His platform includes improving street safety, bringing down the cost of living in Philly, and protecting victims of crime. In this race, he’s endorsed by Philly’s Republican City Committee.

→ Campaign site is here

177th District

Joe Hohenstein (Democrat, incumbent)

Hohenstein was first elected to the Pa. House in 2018. His priorities include defining inclusive education standards, creating jobs, and ensuring corporations “pay their fair share” in taxes, according to his website. Most notably, Hohenstein’s public safety platform mixes a desire to improve relationships between communities and law enforcement with support for legislation that increases gun safety regulations. Hohenstein is endorsed for re-election by numerous organizations, including the Working Families Party, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, UFCW Local 1776 Keystone State, and Planned Parenthood. He has also served as a committee member for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

→ Campaign site is here

Mark Lavelle (Republican)

Lavelle is a warehouse manager for a medical equipment company, according to his LinkedIn page, which says he aims to be bipartisan and work with law enforcement. An interesting tidbit: Lavelle is also a coach with the Port Richmond Tigers youth league, but Billy Penn was unable to determine his sport. We also could not locate a campaign website.

182nd District

Ben Waxman (Democrat)

Waxman is a former journalist (he once worked at WHYY), who switched to politics, where he worked for Pa. Sen. Vincent Hughes and District Attorney Larry Krasner. As a candidate, Waxman has focused on raising the minimum wage, drug policy reform, and school funding equity. Ahead of Nov. 8, the Waxman campaign contributed $10,000 to the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee to help candidates in tougher races. Waxman is endorsed by Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner, current and former City Councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson and Maria Quiñoes Sánchez, and Transport Workers Union Local 234, among others.

→ Campaign site is here

Albert Robles Montas (Republican)

Robles is a litigator in Philadelphia. He is endorsed by the Philadelphia Republican City Committee. Billy Penn could not locate a campaign website.

184th District

Elizabeth Fiedler (Democrat, incumbent)

Fiedler has been a member of the Pa. House since 2019. A former WHYY reporter, her focus in Harrisburg has been on equity in health care, education and housing, as well as workers’ rights and climate. She is endorsed by a number of labor unions, organizations including the Democratic Socialists of America and Planned Parenthood, as well as elected officials such as Gov. Wolf and Attorney General Shapiro.

→ Campaign site is here

Marjilyn Murray (Republican)

Murray is a lifelong South Philadelphia resident. She describes herself as pro-law enforcement, pro-life, and anti-safe injection site. Murray is also concerned about rising inflation and keeping schools safe. She is endorsed by organizations like the Philly GOP, Councilmember David Oh, and the Temple University Police Union.

→ Campaign site is here

194th District

Tarik Khan (Democrat)

Khan, a nurse and the former president of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, says he’s “running for state representative to give Harrisburg a shot in the arm” on his campaign website. His nursing background influences his politics: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Khan co-launched a homebound vaccination program and has since continued his support of Medicaid for All. Khan is also an advocate for environmental justice on a state and local level, with a commitment to push for a statewide Green New Deal and a ban on fracking after protesting SEPTA’s Nicetown natural gas plant in 2019. Khan has been endorsed by the Pa. Working Families Party and state Sen. Nikil Saval.

→ Campaign site is here

Torren Danowski (Libertarian)

Danowski is a data analyst and founder of the “freedom-centric” podcast “Don’t Tread on Philly.” Danowski advocates for medical freedom and mental health services, having spoken publicly about trans rights and how transitioning did — or didn’t — work for them. They also promote some level of education reform and have waded into foreign policy with the belief that the United States must end involvement in foreign wars. Billy Penn could not locate a campaign website.

200th District

Chris Rabb (Democrat, incumbent)

Now in a new legislative district that combines Mt. Airy and West Oak Lane, Rabb beat out other incumbent candidate Isabella Fitzgerald in the Democratic primary. A self-proclaimed progessive who took office in 2017, Rabb’s third-term priorities included policy accountability, abating climate change, and social equity measures. Six of Rabb’s bills have become laws, including the creation of a police misconduct database. He’s also known for more hot-button legislation: he intro’d a parody bill to require vasectomies for men over 40 in an effort to spotlight abortion rights, and put forth a proposed ban on book bans. This election, he has endorsements from Reclaim Philly, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and several other labor unions.

→ Campaign site is here

Kionna West (Republican)

A current law student and banking professional, West describes herself as a “woman of God [who is] conservative, pro-life, [and] pro-women’s rights,” per her campaign website. West’s priorities include securing funding for small business owners, increased salaries for public school teachers, and partnerships with police to stem crime. West has endorsements from Philadelphia Young Republicans, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, and the Philly GOP.

→ Campaign site is here

Uncontested races:

10th District — Amen Brown (Democrat, incumbent)
170th District — Martina White (Republican, incumbent)
173rd District — Patrick Gallagher (Democrat)
174th District — Ed Neilson (Democrat, incumbent)
175th District — Marylouise Isaacson (Democrat, incumbent)
179th District — Jason T Dawkins (Democrat, incumbent)
180th District — Jose A Giral (Democrat)
181st District — Malcolm Kenyatta (Democrat, incumbent; yes, he’s also running for U.S. Senate)
185th District — Regina G Young (Democrat, incumbent)
186th District — Jordan A Harris (Democrat, incumbent)
188th District — Rick Krawjewski (Democrat, incumbent)
190th District — Roni Green (Democrat)
191st District — Joanna McClinton (Democrat, incumbent)
192nd District — Morgan Cephas (Democrat, incumbent)
195th District — Donna Bullock (Democrat, incumbent)
197th District — Danilo Burgos (Democrat, incumbent)
198th District — Darisha K Parker (Democrat, incumbent)
201st District — Stephen Kinsey (Democrat, incumbent)
202nd District — Jared Solomon (Democrat)
203rd District — Anthony Bellmon (Democrat)

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City Council

In advance of Philly Mayor Jim Kenney’s second term expiring next year, several members of City Council are lining up to replace him. Four have already stepped down because of the city’s resign-to-run law — two who were at-large councilmembers, representing the whole city, and two who represented specific districts.

Council President Darrell Clarke made the decision to call special elections for all four vacant seats. On the Nov. 8 ballot are nominees chosen by the city’s respective political parties. Anyone who wins this fall will have to run again next year if they want to retain their seat.

At large (first open seat)

Jim Harrity (Democrat)

Political director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and a longtime aide for state Sen. Sharif Street, Harrity grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and earned his GED at the Community College of Philadelphia. He’s previously served as Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Sheriff, per his bio on the city Democratic Party’s website, and he’s also worked in the restaurant and construction industries. A recovering alcoholic who quit drinking after surviving a heart attack, Harrity told The Inquirer that Street gave him a second chance — and Harrity wants to be on Council to ensure people in places like Kensington (where he moved to be with his girlfriend 15 years ago) can get a “first chance” at life and success.

→ Campaign site is here

Drew Murray (Republican)

Murray grew up in Villanova, attended St. Joseph’s Prep in Philly, went to Dickinson College for undergrad, and earned an MBA at Temple. He now works as a regional sales manager at Montco-based O’Brien Systems and lives in Logan Square, where he serves on the board of the neighborhood association. He’s also a ward leader and on the board of the Center City District. Murray supports returning “law and order” to the city, repealing the soda tax, reforming real estate taxes, and reducing the wage tax. He opposes safe injection sites.

→ Campaign site is here

Poetica Bey (Libertarian)

Bey is a “longtime activist, performer, artist, and so many other things,” who “cares about the people of Philadelphia and believes in empowering independent voices,” as described by the Libertarian Party of Philadelphia on its Twitter account. She’s a spoken word artist and a Saturday radio host on WPEB 88.1, where her work focuses on local arts and activism. Billy Penn could not locate a website or social media account for Bey’s campaign.

At large (second open seat)

Sharon Vaughn (Democrat)

A Feltonville resident and ward leader, Vaughn has spent 33 years working in City Hall. She’s worked for former councilmembers Augusta Clark and Marian Tasco, and served as chief of staff for Derek Green, one of the at-large councilmembers who resigned to run for mayor next year. Per The Inquirer, some top-of-mind issues for her are school funding, the opioid epidemic, public safety, violent crime, police staffing issues, and evening curfews for minors. Billy Penn could not locate a website or social media presence for Vaughn’s campaign, though she actively posts on her personal Facebook account.

Jim Hasher (Republican)

Torresdale resident Hasher is a longtime realtor, and more recently became owner and operator of Jimmy’s Timeout Sports Pub in Northeast Philly. He’s led and volunteered for several youth sports organizations, and he (unsuccessfully) ran for Congress and (successfully) managed a Republican City Council campaign, per his Philly GOP candidate bio. Hasher describes himself as a moderate and told The Inquirer he’d be campaigning on quality-of-life issues and the opioid epidemic.

→ Campaign site is here

Marc Jurchak (Libertarian)

Jurchak is the local chair of the Libertarian Party of Philadelphia. According to LinkedIn, he attended Temple and has worked in engineering, programming, and hospitality. Billy Penn could not locate a website or social media account for Jurchak’s campaign.

District 7

Quetcy Lozada (Democrat)

Lozada, a lifelong resident of Kensington, was former Councilmember Maria Quiñones Sánchez’s chief of staff for over a decade. Most recently, she was VP of community organizing at faith-based community organization Esperanza. She has said she is more conservative than her predecessor, but still considers herself to be progressive. Campaign website quetcylozada.com was not active when Billy Penn tried to access it. Lozada’s personal Facebook page is here.

James Whitehead (Republican)

Whitehead is a lifelong resident of Frankford and a graduate of Philadelphia public schools. He is a business owner and a father of two children, according to his profile on the Philadelphia Republican Party’s website.

Randall J Justus (Libertarian)

Attempts to contact Justus’ campaign were unsuccessful, and Billy Penn could not locate a campaign website or social media accounts.

District 9

Anthony Phillips (Democratic)

Phillips, a North Philly native, is an educator and Democratic committee person in the Ninth District. He’s been the executive director at leadership development nonprofit Youth Action for over a decade and director of pre-college programs at college prep nonprofit TeenSHARP for over two years. Phillips explained his governing philosophy at a campaign launch event, saying, “I’m running because we have to invest in our children.” Billy Penn could not locate a campaign site or active social media profile for Phillips.

Roslyn Ross (Republican)

Ross is a Mt. Airy resident who became a Republican after leaving the Democratic Party. According to an interview with Northeast Times, she plans to prioritize combating crime, education, and programming for senior citizens as she canvasses around the district. Ross aims to run for the seat again next year, seeking a four-year term. Billy Penn could not locate a campaign site or active social media profile for Ross.

Yusuf Jackson (Libertarian)

Jackson, a retired PPD officer, ran for a Pa. House seat as a Democrat last spring. He garnered the lowest vote count in the three person race, losing to Anthony Bellmon. Beyond self-funding, he received fiscal support from the FOP Lodge Five PAC. Jackson’s site from the primary campaign is still up, and hosts a video where he emphasized a livable wage, workforce development, affordable housing, and more. Since then, Jackson joined the Libertarian Party, which has a platform incompatible with some of his stated goals, including a desire to increase affordable housing stock. Billy Penn could not locate a current campaign site or active social media profile for Jackson.