PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Latest on the Democratic primary for Philadelphia mayor (all times local):
9:05 p.m.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is poised to keep his job after fending off two challengers in the city’s Democratic primary.
Tuesday night’s victory all but assures Kenney will stay on as Philadelphia’s mayor.
The primary serves as the de facto mayoral election in a city where no Republican has been elected to the office since 1948.
Two longtime city political figures took Kenney on, attacking him over his signature achievement: a soda tax helping to provide free preschool classes.
Former city Controller Alan Butkovitz and state Sen. Anthony Williams were both banking on voter discontent with the soda tax. They also argued Kenney hadn’t done enough to combat crime.
Voters didn’t share the outrage.
Kenney will face Billy Ciancaglini, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, in November.
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6 a.m.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is hoping to keep his job and his signature achievement, a soda tax that’s helping to provide free preschool classes.
In Tuesday’s mayoral primary, the Democrat is facing two longtime city political figures who’ve attacked him over the soda tax.
State Sen. Anthony Williams and former city controller Alan Butkovitz both want the tax repealed. They also argue Kenney hasn’t done enough to combat crime and other problems plaguing the city, the nation’s sixth largest.
Philadelphia is a heavily Democratic city, and the winner of the primary is all but assured of victory in November’s general election.
Kenney doesn’t seem concerned. During a radio interview, he referred to his challengers as “annoying gnats.”
Billy Ciancaglini is running unopposed in the GOP primary.
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