Philadelphians weathered unseasonably hot temperatures to vote in Tuesday’s primary election, with residents of the 3rd Congressional District selecting a Democratic nominee who will almost certainly go to the Capitol in the new year.
City Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson was equipped with water and fans, and she told Metro she would be sending out a water ice truck for city committee members and poll workers in her neighborhood.
“The heat is a challenge,” said Gilmore Richardson, who also serves as Democratic leader of the 52nd Ward, as she delivered donuts to Election Day employees at Sharon Baptist Church in Wynnefield Heights. “We’re going to try to make it as comfortable as possible.”
In addition to the highly anticipated U.S. House contest, there were also a handful of competitive Democratic state legislative races; however, most candidates, at least in Philadelphia, did not have a primary opponent.
Go to metrophiladelphia.com, vote.phila.gov or electionreturns.pa.gov for updates.
Poll workers said turnout was light Tuesday morning at Mastery Charter’s Grover Cleveland Elementary, a voting site in the Tioga section of North Philadelphia. George Stevenson, a Democratic city committee person, said he believes the party needs to print handouts and other political literature further in advance to engage voters.
“We want to make sure that people have voter education,” he added. Stevenson was holding out hope that many of the neighborhood’s residents voted by mail. The City Commissioners reported receiving 60,265 mail-in and absentee ballots, as of Monday evening.
Among those who cast their ballot in-person, multiple individuals referenced the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act, a Civil Rights-era law designed to combat racial discrimination.
“I don’t like what’s going on in our country,” Michael Dorsey, 68, of Wynnefield Heights, said. “It seems like we’re going back to the Jim Crow times, especially my culture. They’re trying to get rid of everything that we fought for, marched for, and I don’t want to go back. We should be moving forward.”
Eric Baines, a 75-year-old North Philadelphia voter, recalled seeing racially segregated water fountains as a child and believes some politicians want to bring back that type of overt discrimination.
“I’ve been around a long time,” he added. “I’ve never seen no sh– like this in my life. Never.”
State Rep. Chris Rabb, one of the leading candidates in the tight Congressional race, stopped by Summit Presbyterian Church, a polling place in West Mount Airy, greeting voters and taking photographs with supporters.
Though Rabb said he was feeling “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” about his chances, he also spoke of the threat posed by President Donald Trump and his allies.
“Any rights we have can be rescinded in a heartbeat,” he told Metro.
The 3rd Congressional District covers West and Northwest Philadelphia, along with much of Center City and parts of North and South Philadelphia. No Republicans filed paperwork to run for the seat.
Dr. Ala Stanford, state Sen. Sharif Street, attorney Shaun Griffith and Rabb are vying to replace sitting U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, who announced in June that he would not be pursuing another term.
Several voters said they came to the polls to express disgust with Trump and his administration’s policies.
“I wanted to make sure I voted for the right candidate and somebody who would not back down to Trump,” Barbara Boswell, 68, of Mount Airy, said. “Something has to be done, and we need to get as many people out as we possibly can to save our democracy.”
Ruth Feldman, after voting at Summit Presbyterian, told Metro that she is focused more on national issues this election.
“Where to start, the Iran war, which he has no approval for, and he's the one that pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Agreement," she said. “And that fund he just approved to pay his crooks, the compensation for deniers.”
Meanwhile, Calvin R. Tucker, a self-described contrarian, set up a Stacy Garrity sign on the lawn of the West Mount Airy church, which is unlikely to make him many friends in a decidedly liberal area.
Garrity was unopposed in the GOP gubernatorial primary and is set to challenge Gov. Josh Shapiro in November. Tucker, the Republican leader of the 22nd Ward, said he would like to see more dialogue between political parties.
“My concern is ensuring that we get good candidates that address the overwhelming challenges of our community,” he said.
Ije Iheoma, a 36-year-old Wynnefield voter, hinted that she is envious of New York’s new progressive mayoral administration: “Being in Philly and so close to New York, you see what’s happening with Mamdani, and I want to make the changes here in Philly.”
Steve Jeffries contributed to this article.
MORE: Shapiro joins lawsuit targeting Trump’s voting order
