Oh, the impact we could have
There is plenty to like about a presidential primary election in which Pennsylvania is still in play and the candidates must show up to stump for votes.
There is plenty to like about a presidential primary election in which Pennsylvania is still in play and the candidates must show up to stump for votes.
My favorite part? More voters show up, too.
That was the case last Tuesday. Initial estimates put Philadelphia's voter turnout for Democrats at 42.6 percent and 37 percent for Republicans - about 39 percent overall, according to data compiled last week by City Commissioner Al Schmidt.
It shouldn't be cause for celebration that three of every five voters didn't cast a ballot. But turnout in non-presidential elections is often far worse.
The national media attention in presidential races stirs voter interest. In "off" years, low turnout can often be tied to some voters' distaste for how politics is practiced here.
This is why that doesn't make sense - the people and organizations that wield tremendous control in low-turnout elections lose that grip on power when voters show up.
You want examples? I've got examples.
Near the top of the Democratic ballot on Tuesday was the race for Pennsylvania attorney general.
That pitted Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. against the chairman of Montgomery County's commissioners, Josh Shapiro. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli was also along for the ride.
Philadelphia's political establishment; the Democratic City Committee and its chairman, U.S. Rep. Robert Brady; and Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers sided with Zappala against Shapiro. That's a lot of Philadelphia love for a guy from Pittsburgh.
It wasn't enough.
Zappala pulled about 34 percent of the Philadelphia vote; Shapiro took almost 56 percent, on his way to handily winning the statewide race.
Brady and Local 98 leader John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty said they still did better than they expected for Zappala in Philadelphia.
"I was ecstatic with the numbers we got in Philadelphia," said Dougherty, who repaid a family political debt in the race. His brother, Kevin, won a seat on the state Supreme Court last year in part due to support from Zappala's father, retired state Supreme Court Justice Stephen Zappala Sr.
Both Brady and Dougherty described the Zappala support as an effort to form partnerships with cross-state Democrats for future races.
Brady and the city Democrats also backed U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who lost his bid for a 12th term and now faces federal trial on racketeering charges. Jury selection is to start this week.
Farther down the ballot, we find more examples.
Democratic ward leaders picked candidates for March 15 special elections that filled two state House vacancies. On that day, Tonyelle Cook-Artis won the 200th District seat in a contest that featured 9.7 percent turnout. Lynwood Savage won the 192nd District seat - with 7.25 percent turnout.
Both ran Tuesday for full terms in those districts. Cook-Artis lost to Chris Rabb. Savage lost to Morgan Cephus. And Savage is a Democratic committeeman in the 34th Ward, which is led by Brady, the chairman.
If the party-chairman-backed state legislator in the party chairman's own ward can be defeated in an election in which two out of five Democrats cast ballots, imagine what impact Philadelphia voters could have in off-year elections.
They just have to show up.
215-854-5973
@ByChrisBrennan