Working Families Party Making Gains in Philadelphia

Democracy, elections, and voting

Leaders of the Working Families Party making gains and mulling contesting the Pennsylvania city-council at-large seat. From Ballot Access News:

Leaders of the Working Families Party are mulling over contesting the Philadelphia Pennsylvania city-council at-large seats. Generally the Working Families Party doesn’t organize in states unless those states permit fusion. Pennsylvania doesn’t permit fusion, except in a very limited manner, but Philadelphia does have a provision that makes it possible for a party with less than majority support to win seats on the city council. That is attractive to the Working Families Party. See this story.

The Philadelphia provision, like similar provisions in Washington, D.C., and in some cities in Connecticut, makes it impossible for any party to run for all the available at-large seats. That leaves an opening for parties who aren’t the dominant party in the city to win some seats.

Also, check out this article from Keystone Politics:

You should know that in Hartford, in 2011, WFP finished the job, and won 3 seats on the Council, knocking off the last Republican. We’ve also elected members to the Boards of Education in Hartford and Bridgeport, under the same kinds of circumstances.

And Philly 2015? We’re totally interested. Stay tuned.