Warning Signs for Philadelphia Mayor Parker

Since the dust settled on the 2024 campaign, I’ve been concerned that Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s re-election in 2027 was not a sure thing.

We see the alternatives across America.

Look to New York, Portland, and Seattle, alongside who’s about to become of Washington, D.C. Mayors who are out of touch, immature, inexperienced, activist Socialists – shouting, rabble-rousing activists with no private sector experience, no leadership experience, and often living off their parents. In short, train wrecks.

Yet every Democratic politician, strategist, commentator, and union leader who I talk with has either laughed off, brushed aside, or “educated me”: Parker’s re-election is as guaranteed as an Eagles game sellout. Yet I remain uncomfortable.

This is even though she’s the first female mayor – and is African American. Plus, she comes from the old-school Democratic Party stronghold in Northwest Philly and spent 20 years as an elected official, both as a state representative and member of City Council. In addition, she was elected with the active support of the powerful building trades unions.

So, her re-election should be a slam dunk, right?

Well consider how we’ve witnessed the rise of the progressive wing – now openly Socialist – within the Democratic Party. When Parker won in 2023, Democrats’ Working Families Party (“WFP”) true-believing allies (more outwardly Socialist, if not Communist) won the two designated “minority party” seats on City Council, removing the Republicans.

Recall, too, that in 2023, she won a multi-candidate primary with under 33%. Progressive candidates won almost 45%. “Democrat-Socialist” Chris Rabb won the primary to succeed U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans – despite Parker (and other old-guard) endorsing old-school state Sen. Sharif Street.

That victory brought about progressive icon, district attorney Larry Krasner, almost immediately calling for Parker ally, party chairman Bob Brady, to resign, despite serving in his 40th year.

Another warning sign is that these “analytics” warning signs are coupled with Krasner’s rhetoric – plus open discussions about challenges to Parker.

Plus, other warning signs, if you’re paying attention.

The national battle over ICE came to Philadelphia. Parker was sympathetic to the concerns of the anti-ICE crowd. In fact, she allocated funding for legal counsel for those challenged. However, she chose not to scream about ICE, nor go through the ritualistic yelling about President Trump.

So the Working Families Party and Leftists pushed her on anti-ICE legislation – clearly over her objections, as she wanted this out of the headlines. However, the WFP members forced the council president to hold a vote on their bills. (As the Left does to Schumer in DC, and Majority Leader Bradford in the Pennsylvania House.) All passed and were sent to Parker. When presented with the bills, she signed most and allowed the rest to become law.

But for the Left, acquiescence is not good enough. They want full-throated, fist-raising venom. You can’t be merely in the “church”; you must be singing in the choir loft.

Next, look at the lawsuits and hearings being directed against the Parker administration.

The City’s former DEI Officer has sued Parker, alleging she’s not LGBTQ-friendly – merely focused on racial minority contracts and hiring. (This is now a damning criticism against Democrats.) Recall, too, that the Parker administration removed the police department’s DEI officer in the early days of her administration over “policy disagreements.”

This summer, City Council held hearings about the police department’s handling of disturbances during the Pride parade and festival.

Being an experienced, capable African-American female who has been cooperative with the Left may not be good enough for a radical-movement that wants it all – with passion.

So the names of challengers keep being mentioned: Krasner, WFP’s Councilwoman Kendra Brooks, Democratic Council members Thomas and Gauthier. And then the most overt socialist, state Sen. Nikil Saval.

Notably, not one of them has denied having an interest. Not one progressive/WFP/Democrat-Socialist leader has done anything to squash the rumors or said anything to back Parker.

The warning signs are there if we open our eyes: the rise of emboldened Democrat-Socialists, open attacks on Parker and her allies, forcing her hand on ICE, lawsuits questioning her commitment to LGBTQ causes – and no vocal leftwing allies.

I’ve written of the need for a broad-based commonsense coalition across the nation: to block crazy and to stop socialism with blue-collar Dems, trade union members, independents, and Republicans. This regional coalition needs to be built around Parker’s existing old-school, results-oriented coalition.

The battle is on the horizon. Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of Philadelphia.

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for RealClear Pennsylvania and Broad+Liberty. Raised in South Philly and living in Chester County, Guy can be found at @PhilaFreedomGuy