Mt Airy Democrats Impact; 7 Divisions Turnout 60.53%; Almost Twice the City; Good Results Follow
By Michael Kleiner
There was concern over the November election. It was an “off-year election” so turnout could be low, especially in Philadelphia. How would that impact the statewide races, particularly the retention of three Democratic judges on the state Supreme Court? Usually, that doesn’t garner much attention. Republicans were pouring money into the race in an attempt to set up a possible Republican takeover that would reverse decisions on voting rights, reproductive rights and gerrymandering. The anemic 16% turnout in the city in the May primary further sent chills among Democratic activists.
A strange thing happened. The turnout was better–just enough. The three Supreme Court justices-Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht–Superior Court Judge Alice Beck Dubow and Commonwealth Court Judge Michael Wojcik won their retention races. Brandon Neuman was elected to Superior Court, and Stella Tsai to Commonwealth Court, all statewide races. While the city turnout was an unimpressive 35%, it was more than twice the primary figure, and shows even improvement on the margins can have an impact. What if every division and ward could turn out 50% or more?
The turnout was carried by the 9th Ward (61.61%, 7,753 Ballots Cast), 22nd Ward (54.05%, 9,491 Ballots Cast), 15th Ward (53.98%, 8,308 Ballots Cast), 2nd Ward (52.98%, 11,318 Ballots Cast), and 1st Ward (51.13%, 6,844 Ballots Cast). Only five wards of 66 exceeded 50% turnout. There are common denominators. The 9th Ward has a history of large turnouts and being an Open Ward, as is the 1st and 2nd. The 22nd Ward has Mt. Airy Democrats and 15th Ward previously had Fairmount Votes, now an Open Ward.
The Committee of 70 has identified 11 wards as Open: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 15th, 18th, 24th, 27th, 30th, and 39A. Open Wards occupy five of the top seven spots in turnout by percentage with the 30th (47.82%) seventh. The second and sixth positions are the 22nd and 21st (47.83%), respectively, where there is Mt. Airy Democrats and Vote the Ridge. Riverwards Votes encompasses part of the 5th, entire 18th, 25th, and 31st. The 31st was 11th (43.73%) and the 18th, which is also an Open Ward 12th (43.02%). The 8th was 15th (42.08%). There were Open Wards that did poorly, the 24th (29.01%) and the 27th (26.06%) and Riverwards 25th (25.52%).
Among the Mt. Airy Democrats, divisions 22-01, 22-02, 22-03, 22-04, 22-06, 22-07, and 22-14 are represented. In 2021, 22-04 and 22-14 were not represented, but 22-19 and 22-23 were. In the recent election, four Mt. Airy Democrats divisions are in the top five in registered voters; top four in ballots cast, in-person voting, voting by mail and turnout by percentage.
As usual, 22-01, 22–02, and 22-06, led the way with an amazing 74%, 69% and 68%, respectively. In fourth with 67% is 22-04. The overall Mt. Airy Dems turnout was 60.53% compared to 53.09% for the other 22 divisions. In Cindy Bass’ 22-24, the turnout was 57%, 10th overall, sixth among non-Mt. Airy Dems divisions.Ten divisions attracted less than 50%, nine of them non-Mt. Airy Democrat divisions.
The Mt. Airy Democrat Impact led to an increase of 120 votes in 22-04 over 2021 in Larry Krasner’s vote totals with Fred Dedrick in that division. With Jason Hartwig covering 22-14, there were 122 more votes for Krasner than in 2021. The total ballots cast: 22-01 (603), 22-06 (559), 22-02 (540) and 22-07 (498); 22-04, seventh (342); 22-14, 16th (301); 22-03, 18th (287). There are 29 divisions.The Mt. Airy Democrats contributed 33% of the 22nd Ward vote totals with an average of 447.29 voters compared with 289.77 from the other 22 divisions. In 22-24, there were 299 voters, 17th place overall, 12th among the non-Mt. Airy Dems divisions.
Mt. Airy Democrats brought out 31.19% of in-person voters in the 22nd Ward, an average of 300.57 to 211 broken down in 22-01(383), 22-02 (371), 22-07 (351), 22-06 (333); fifth-place 22-04 (255); ninth-place 22-14 (239) and 27th-place 22-03 (172). There were 205 people who voted in-person in 22-24, 19th overall, 13th among the non-Mt. Airy Democrat divisions.
The percentage of mail-in ballots from Mt. Airy Democrats was 37.20%: 22-06 (219); 22-01 (216); 22-02 (169); 22-07 (142); sixth-place 22-03 (110), 15th-place 22-04 (85); 24th-place 22-14 (60), an average of 143 compared to 76 in the other 22 divisions. Bass’ 22-24 was 10th overall, fifth among “the other 22.”
It’s remarkable the results in the division of the leader of the 22nd Ward trail so many of the non-Mt. Airy Dems divisions, where most of her support is. She can ride the successes and work of Mt. Airy Democrats to tout the ward’s turnout.
A lot of organizations pushed for the YES votes on judicial retention and educated voters on why this election was so important. It resonated and the voters turned out. With each election, the importance of engagement is reinforced.
Leave a Reply