Results from Tuesday’s much-anticipated primary election have been finalized, with several progressive and LGBT candidates securing ballot positions for November’s general election — but a few LGBT candidates narrowly missing the mark.
Long-time City Councilman and LGBT ally Jim Kenney easily secured the Democratic nomination for mayor by a margin of 2-1 over other front-runner state Sen. Anthony Williams. The other candidates — former District Attorney Lynne Abraham, Nelson Diaz, Doug Oliver and Milton Street — trailed far behind.
“It has been a long journey to get here,” Kenney said in his acceptance speech, referencing the LGBT community among his “broad and unprecedented coalition” of supporters.
Out City Council-at-Large candidates Sherrie Cohen and Paul Steinke placed eighth and 10th, respectively, in their race; if either had been one of the top-five vote-getters, she or he would have been poised to become the first out elected LGBT councilmember.
In his concession speech Tuesday night, Steinke thanked his broad base of supporters.
“In so many unexpected ways people came out and supported my campaign. I will be eternally grateful for all the support you all have provided me. I will also always be proud of the many endorsements I received in the campaign, the most of any candidate,” he said, adding that while the campaign is over, he will “find other ways to serve this city, to make it grow, to make it the best city in the United States. That is my commitment here to you tonight.”
Incumbent Councilmembers Wilson Goode Jr. and Ed Neilson were ousted, while longtime Councilmembers Blondell Reynolds Brown and Bill Greenlee were successful, being joined by Democratic nominees and newcomers Derek Green, Helen Gym and Allan Domb. Green, who has previously served as special counsel to Ninth District Councilwoman Marian Tasco, won the most votes. He received 67,201 votes, or 10.7 percent of registered Democrats.
In November, the five winning Democrats will compete against the five Republican winners to fill seven Council seats, two of which are reserved for the Republican minority.
In the Court of Common Pleas, out candidates Abbe Fletman and Chris Mallios were successful, while Leon King was not.
Fletman is currently a Common Pleas judge, but was appointed to fill a vacancy and thus had to run to remain on the bench. Fletman finished fourth and Mallios 10th out of more than 40 candidates vying for 12 spots.
Also nominated was out candidate Dan Clifford for Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.
The general election will take place Nov. 3.