Welcome to your complete guide to Philadelphia’s primary election on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. In a city where turnout is typically low, you’d think Philly voters would overlook a primary. But in a city that’s as one-party as we are, the primary election — specifically, the Democratic primary — largely determines who wins in the general election.
On the ballot: Democratic and Republican: candidates for Mayor, all City Council seats, Controller, Registers of Wills, Sheriff, City Commissioners and judges galore. (Statewide judicial offices, 10 judges for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, 2 judges for Philadelphia Municipal Court.) Plus, ballot questions!
Note: All listed candidates will appear on the primary ballot. Candidates who filed petitions but were subsequently removed or withdrew from the ballot are not included.
Read on for all the candidates, or skip ahead to what you need to know. (And go here for all the info you need on how to register, apply for a mail-in ballot and find your polling place.)
- MAYOR (ALL)
- AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL: DEMOCRATS
- AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL: REPUBLICANS
- DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL (ALL)
- CITY CONTROLLER
- CITY COMMISSIONER
- SHERIFF
- REGISTER OF WILLS
- PA SUPREME COURT
- SUPERIOR COURT OF PA
- COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PA
- PHILADELPHIA COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
- JUDGE OF PHILADELPHIA MUNICIPAL COURT
- BALLOT QUESTIONS
