We’ve all seen some post-election Wednesdays where we would rather pull the covers over our heads instead of confronting losses or new administrations — but this past Wednesday was certainly not one of those.
Progressive candidates saw victories across the board Tuesday. One of the biggest stories for our community was Philly voters approving — by 58-42 percent — a ballot question that will make the Office of LGBT Affairs permanent. While the office wasn’t in any stated danger of closure by future administrations, incorporating it into the City Charter ensures its operation in perpetuity. That inclusivity sends a strong message about the value our city government places on its relationship with the LGBT community, and the vote itself signaled a heartening show of support from city voters.
We also now have a new mayor-elect: Jim Kenney. He was the presumptive winner, with the city’s heavily Democratic majority, and Tuesday’s landslide victory demonstrated the wide support the mayor-elect has. Kenney has long been a friend, and a very strong one at that, to the LGBT community. With a record as robust on LGBT issues as his, we are eagerly looking forward to an administration that will continue to uphold Philly’s status as one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the nation.
There were also wins for LGBT candidates: Chris Mallios and Abbe Fletman were elected to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and Dan Clifford made history as the first out Montgomery County official with his election to the county’s Court of Common Pleas.
Democrats also made a historic sweep of the state courts: Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue and David Wecht were elected to the state Supreme Court, Alice Beck Dubow to Superior Court and Michael Wojcik to Commonwealth Court.
All in all, Tuesday was a good day for progressives.