PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS MAY 17TH : THIS PRIMARY WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF PENNSYLVANIA-AND THE NATION.
POLLING PLACE: LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 7301 GERMANTOWN AVE
Dear Democratic Voter:
While the PA GOP tramples democracy, voting rights, women’s reproductive freedom, the rights of racial equity and social justice, and efforts to clean up our air and water, we Democrats need to fight back. We must elect Democrats who will stand up for the right to a fair minimum wage, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare, and action to fight climate change.
PA GOVERNOR Democrats have had to rely on the power of Gov. Wolf’s veto pen to strike down the reactionary bills the GOP-controlled PA House and Senate have passed in session after session. We cannot let the governorship come under GOP control. Josh Shapiro is the most eminently qualified candidate to make sure this critical office remains in Democratic hands. Having served as a state rep, a county commissioner, and PA’s Attorney General, Josh has proven that he has the vision, progressive track record, and focus to lead our commonwealth in these very uncertain times. The 9th Ward strongly and unanimously endorses Josh Shapiro to be the next governor of Pennsylvania.
PA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR The lieutenant governor oversees the parole board, presides over the PA Senate, and is next in line to be Governor, should there be a vacancy in that office. With 10 years’ experience as a PA member of the State House, and a former civil rights attorney, we believe that Brian Sims is better suited to fill this post than the endorsed candidate of Ward 9, Austin Davis. Brian Sims will be an independent voice for justice in Harrisburg, not tied to the political machine. We recommend voting for Brian Sims for PA Lieutenant Governor.
US Senate The primary is the time when we have an opportunity to vote for the Democrat that we believe best represents our values and beliefs and those of the constituents that s/he will represent. We believe that person is Malcolm Kenyatta, although that position is contrary to the majority of members of our Ward Committee, which has endorsed the moderate candidate, Conor Lamb. Malcolm, a lifelong Philadelphian, is committed to a progressive platform that includes a quality education for all children, a living wage job for all workers, affordable housing, healthcare for all, a clean and safe environment including an end to fracking, and retirement with dignity. As a legislator, he has championed proposals to address generational poverty, raise the minimum wage, protect workers’ rights, increase access to mental healthcare, stem the rise of gun violence, and protect our digital infrastructure.
Kenyatta is now positioned well to win this all-important race for US Senate as he is the one candidate in this race that can reassemble and energize the Biden coalition that won the state for Democrats in 2020. He is widely recognized as an electrifying speaker who can get out the vote in crucial Philly wards like no one else in this race. He has also earned a wide swath of endorsements across the state. Malcolm can win this race, and we need him in the Senate. We recommend Malcolm Kenyatta for US Senate.
US CONGRESS In his six years in office,Congressman Dwight Evans has fought for tax fairness, civil rights, better housing, and the revitalization of our neighborhoods, although we have some concerns about his failure to support Medicare for All. The 9th Ward endorses the reelection of Rep. Dwight Evans.
PA SENATE State Sen. Art Haywood has been a steadfast advocate for public education, raising the minimum wage, restricting access to guns, and fighting for solutions to the scourge of gun violence.The 9th Ward strongly and unanimously endorses the reelection of Sen. Art Haywood to the PA State Senate.
PA STATE HOUSE State Rep Chris Rabb has been an impassioned, visible, quintessentially progressive, and tireless advocate for criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, social justice, racial equity, public education, workers’ rights, and youth services. He has been a staunch supporter of access to healthcare for all Pennsylvanians, and has provided robust, innovative, and energetic constituent services throughout the 200th District. Whether we gain a Democratic majority in the PA House or continue in the minority, we want Rep Rabb there to fight all the good fights on behalf of us all. The 9th Ward strongly endorses the reelection of the 9th Ward’s own Rep. Chris Rabb to the PA State House.
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE The 9th Ward unanimously endorses Nina Ahmad and Ahsan Nasratullah.
9th WARD COMMITTEE The ward endorses the reelection of our division’s Democratic committee people, Margaret Lenzi and Stan Shapiro, to a 4-year term in the 9th Ward.
CHARTER CHANGE BALLOT QUESTIONS The 9th Ward recommends “yes” votes on all four ballot initiatives: (1) amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to increase the number of mayoral appointees to the Zoning Board of Adjustment from five to seven; (2) amending the Charter to remove all gender-based references; (3) amending the Educational Supplement to the Charter to remove all gender-based references; (4) amending the Charter to establish the Fair Housing Commission as an independent commission to adjudicate unfair rental practices and issues concerning landlord and tenant relationships.
For Vote by Mail: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is May 10, by 5 PM. Apply online at pavoterservices.pa.gov. Your completed ballot must be received (not postmarked) by May 17, at 8 PM. Drop boxes available at City Hall, Room 142 (1400 JFK Blvd), Dorothy Emanuel Rec Center (8500 Pickering Street), and Pleasant Playground (305 Slocum St.)
9TH Ward Democratic Committee Reps: Margaret Lenzi (mlenzi@comcast.net) & Stan Shapiro (shapsj@comcast.net)
