Candidates in the May primary drew their ballot positions Wednesday, and the two LGBT candidates running for Philadelphia City Council fell in the middle of the line in their race.
Of the 21 Democratic at-Large candidates vying for five open seats, Paul Steinke pulled the 11th spot and Cohen the 14th. All of the top-five ballot positions went to challengers, not incumbents: Derek Green, Jenne Ayers, Wilson Alexander, Allan Domb and Tom Wyatt, respectively. Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown was the only incumbent to pull in the top 10, with the eighth spot.
Ballot positions are drawn randomly at a Harrisburg meeting and are thought to be influential in races with large groups of candidates.
Of the 61 individuals running for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judgeships, LGBT candidates Abbe Fletman pulled the 13th spot, Leon King 19th and Chris Mallios 47th.
In the mayoral race, state Sen. Anthony Williams will be listed first, followed by Milton Street, Jim Kenney, Doug Oliver, Nelson Diaz and Lynne Abraham. In the state Supreme Court race, the ballot order for the Democrats will be: David Wecht, Christine Donahue, Kevin Dougherty, John Foradora, Anne Lazarus and Dwayne Woodruff.