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City elections in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2023)
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| 2023 Philadelphia elections |
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| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: March 7, 2023 (primary) August 1, 2023 (general) |
| Primary election: May 16, 2023 General election: November 7, 2023 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor, register of wills, sheriff, city council, city controller (special), city commissioners, court of common pleas, and municipal court |
| Total seats up: 59 (click here for mayoral elections) |
| Election type: Partisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2023 |
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held general elections for mayor, register of wills, sheriff, city council, city commissioners, court of common pleas, and municipal court on November 7, 2023. Philadelphia also held a special election for city controller on the same date. A primary was scheduled for May 16, 2023. The filing deadline for the primary was March 7, 2023, and the filing deadline for the general election was August 1, 2023.
Click here to learn more about the city's mayoral election.
Elections
Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.
Candidates and results
Offices up for election in 2023:
Register of Wills
General election
General election for Philadelphia Register of Wills
John Sabatina Sr. defeated Linwood Holland in the general election for Philadelphia Register of Wills on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Sabatina Sr. (D) | 82.4 | 225,156 | |
| Linwood Holland (R) | 17.3 | 47,187 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 886 | ||
| Total votes: 273,229 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia Register of Wills
John Sabatina Sr. defeated incumbent Tracey Gordon, Elizabeth Lowe, and Rae Hall in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia Register of Wills on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Sabatina Sr. | 32.2 | 58,310 | |
 | Tracey Gordon | 30.5 | 55,123 | |
| Elizabeth Lowe | 22.4 | 40,428 | ||
| Rae Hall | 14.9 | 27,012 | ||
| Total votes: 180,873 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Craig Smith (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Philadelphia Register of Wills
Linwood Holland advanced from the Republican primary for Philadelphia Register of Wills on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Linwood Holland | 99.0 | 13,296 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 128 | ||
| Total votes: 13,424 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Sheriff
General election
General election for Philadelphia Sheriff
Incumbent Rochelle Bilal defeated Mark Lavelle in the general election for Philadelphia Sheriff on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rochelle Bilal (D) | 73.7 | 199,406 | |
| Mark Lavelle (R) | 25.7 | 69,512 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 1,587 | ||
| Total votes: 270,505 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia Sheriff
Incumbent Rochelle Bilal defeated Michael Untermeyer and Jackie Miles in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia Sheriff on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rochelle Bilal | 43.5 | 78,444 | |
 | Michael Untermeyer | 40.5 | 72,963 | |
| Jackie Miles | 15.5 | 27,865 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 1,054 | ||
| Total votes: 180,326 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jacque Whaumbush (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Philadelphia Sheriff
Mark Lavelle advanced from the Republican primary for Philadelphia Sheriff on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mark Lavelle | 98.9 | 13,763 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 148 | ||
| Total votes: 13,911 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
City Controller
General election
Special general election for Philadelphia City Controller
Christy Brady defeated Aaron Bashir in the special general election for Philadelphia City Controller on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Christy Brady (D) | 81.0 | 225,917 |
 | Aaron Bashir (R) | 18.9 | 52,603 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 297 | ||
| Total votes: 278,817 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Philadelphia City Controller
Christy Brady defeated Alexandra Hunt and John Thomas in the special Democratic primary for Philadelphia City Controller on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christy Brady | 46.1 | 86,884 |
 | Alexandra Hunt | 31.4 | 59,068 | |
| John Thomas | 22.4 | 42,292 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 170 | ||
| Total votes: 188,414 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Philadelphia City Controller
Aaron Bashir advanced from the special Republican primary for Philadelphia City Controller on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Aaron Bashir | 99.1 | 13,545 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 121 | ||
| Total votes: 13,666 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
City Commissioners
General election
General election for Philadelphia City Commission (3 seats)
Incumbent Lisa Deeley, incumbent Omar Sabir, and incumbent Seth Bluestein won election in the general election for Philadelphia City Commission on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lisa Deeley (D) | 44.1 | 209,374 | |
| ✔ | Omar Sabir (D) | 43.0 | 204,260 | |
| ✔ |  | Seth Bluestein (R) | 12.8 | 60,850 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 704 | ||
| Total votes: 475,188 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia City Commission (3 seats)
Incumbent Omar Sabir and incumbent Lisa Deeley advanced from the Democratic primary for Philadelphia City Commission on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Omar Sabir | 51.1 | 147,436 | |
| ✔ | Lisa Deeley | 48.6 | 140,326 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 849 | ||
| Total votes: 288,611 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Philadelphia City Commission (3 seats)
Incumbent Seth Bluestein advanced from the Republican primary for Philadelphia City Commission on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Seth Bluestein | 98.6 | 13,645 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.4 | 198 | ||
| Total votes: 13,843 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
City Council
General election
Philadelphia City Council elections, 2023 |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| at-large (7 seats) |
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Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 1 |
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| District 2 |
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| District 3 |
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Jabari Jones (West is Best) |
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| District 4 |
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| District 5 |
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| District 6 |
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| District 7 |
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| District 8 |
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| District 9 |
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| District 10 |
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Primary
Philadelphia City Council elections, 2023 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| at-large (7 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 1 |
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No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 2 |
Did not make the ballot: |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 3 |
Did not make the ballot: |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 4 |
Did not make the ballot: |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 5 |
Did not make the ballot: |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 6 |
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No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 7 |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 8 |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 9 |
Did not make the ballot: |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 10 |
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Judicial offices
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judges Genece E. Brinkley, Joel S. Johnson, and Rayford A. Means filed to run for retention in 2023 but later withdrew.[1] As a result, 10 seats on the court were up in the primary election, but 13 seats were up in the general election on November 7, 2023. The Democratic Party nominated candidates James Eisenhower, Elvin Ross, and Raj Sandher to run for the additional three seats in the general election.[2]
Partisan election
General election
General election for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (13 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tamika Washington (D) | 9.5 | 204,468 |
| ✔ |  | Natasha Taylor-Smith (D) | 9.4 | 201,305 |
| ✔ |  | Samantha Williams (D) | 8.9 | 190,770 |
| ✔ |  | Kay Yu (D) | 8.6 | 184,310 |
| ✔ |  | Brian McLaughlin (D) | 8.4 | 181,161 |
| ✔ | Chesley Lightsey (D) | 8.2 | 175,248 | |
| ✔ | John Padova Jr. (D) | 7.7 | 165,392 | |
| ✔ |  | Jessica Brown (D) | 7.2 | 155,170 |
| ✔ |  | Caroline Turner (D) | 7.1 | 152,850 |
| ✔ | Damaris Garcia (D) | 6.6 | 141,108 | |
| ✔ | James Eisenhower (D) | 6.5 | 138,927 | |
| ✔ | Elvin Ross (D) | 6.0 | 128,519 | |
| ✔ | Raj Sandher (D) | 5.8 | 124,315 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 3,961 | ||
| Total votes: 2,147,504 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (13 seats)
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Natasha Taylor-Smith | 10.3 | 145,242 |
| ✔ | | Tamika Washington | 9.3 | 130,896 |
| ✔ | | Samantha Williams | 8.6 | 121,340 |
| ✔ | | Kay Yu | 7.8 | 109,961 |
| ✔ | John Padova Jr. | 7.2 | 100,946 | |
| ✔ | Chesley Lightsey | 6.5 | 91,646 | |
| ✔ | | Brian McLaughlin | 6.2 | 87,367 |
| ✔ | Damaris Garcia | 6.2 | 86,824 | |
| ✔ | | Caroline Turner | 6.1 | 86,095 |
| ✔ | | Jessica Brown | 5.8 | 81,517 |
 | Will Braveman | 5.6 | 78,447 | |
 | Wade Albert | 5.5 | 78,124 | |
 | Kenneth Joel | 5.0 | 69,900 | |
| Qawi Abdul-Rahman | 3.9 | 54,810 | ||
| Melissa Francis | 3.5 | 48,868 | ||
| Joe Green | 2.7 | 38,524 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 865 | ||
| Total votes: 1,411,372 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- MK Feeney (D)
- Colleen McIntyre Osborne (D)
- Aaron Bell (D)
Retention elections
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas retention elections, 2023 | |
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| Office | Candidates |
| Anne Marie Coyle's seat |
 Anne Marie B. Coyle (i) |
| Genece Brinkley's seat | This general election was canceled. Did not make the ballot: |
| Giovanni Campbell's seat |
Giovanni O. Campbell (i) |
| Holly Ford's seat |
Holly J. Ford (i) |
| J. Scott O'Keefe's seat |
J. Scott O'Keefe (i) |
| Jacqueline Allen's seat |
Jacqueline F. Allen (i) |
| Joe Fernandes' seat |
Joe Fernandes (i) |
| Joel Johnson's seat | This general election was canceled. Did not make the ballot: |
| Nina N. Wright Padilla's seat |
Nina M. Wright Padilla (i) |
| Paula Patrick's seat |
Paula A. Patrick (i) |
| Ramy Djerassi's seat |
Ramy Djerassi (i) |
| Rayford Means' seat | This general election was canceled. Did not make the ballot: |
| Sierra Thomas Street's seat |
Sierra Thomas Street (i) |
| Timika Lane's seat |
Timika Lane (i) |
Philadelphia Municipal Court
Partisan election
General election
General election for Philadelphia Municipal Court (2 seats)
Barbara Thomson and Colleen McIntyre Osborne defeated Rania Major in the general election for Philadelphia Municipal Court on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Barbara Thomson (D) | 50.1 | 208,221 |
| ✔ |  | Colleen McIntyre Osborne (D) | 39.0 | 162,250 |
| Rania Major (R) | 10.8 | 44,774 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 420 | ||
| Total votes: 415,665 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court (2 seats)
Barbara Thomson and Colleen McIntyre Osborne defeated Melissa Francis and Rania Major in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Thomson | 41.4 | 126,504 |
| ✔ | | Colleen McIntyre Osborne | 29.1 | 88,841 |
| Melissa Francis | 15.2 | 46,476 | ||
| Rania Major | 14.1 | 43,218 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 511 | ||
| Total votes: 305,550 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joe Green (D)
- Caroline Turner (D)
- Qawi Abdul-Rahman (D)
- Cortez Patton (D)
- MK Feeney (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court (2 seats)
Rania Major advanced from the Republican primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rania Major | 97.9 | 10,429 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.1 | 228 | ||
| Total votes: 10,657 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Retention elections
Philadelphia Municipal Court retention elections, 2023 | |
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| Office | Candidates |
| Brad Moss's seat |
Brad Moss (i) |
| David Shuter's seat |
David Shuter (i) |
| Karen Simmons' seat |
Karen Simmons (i) |
| Marissa Brumbach's seat |
Marissa Brumbach (i) |
| Marvin Williams' seat |
Marvin L. Williams (i) |
| Matt Wolf's seat |
Matt Wolf (i) |
| William Meehan Jr.'s seat |
William Meehan Jr. (i) |
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Pennsylvania elections, 2023
May 16, 2023
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections, 2023
- Pennsylvania intermediate appellate court elections, 2023
- Mayoral election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2023)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Division of Workforce Solutions Amendment (May 2023)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 2, Budget Stabilization Reserve Amendment (May 2023)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 3, Employees of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission Exempt from Civil Service Amendment (May 2023)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 4, Office of the Chief Public Safety Director Amendment (May 2023)
November 7, 2023
What was at stake?
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Candidate survey
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About the city
- See also: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is a city in Pennsylvania. The city is consolidated with Philadelphia County, which means that the city and county share a government and boundaries. It is the center of the Delaware Valley Metropolitan Area. As of 2020, its population was 1,603,797.
City government
- See also: Mayor-council government
The city of Philadelphia uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[3][4]
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | |
| Population | 1,603,797 | 13,002,700 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 134 | 44,741 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 36.1% | 75.8% |
| Black/African American | 39.9% | 10.7% |
| Asian | 7.8% | 3.7% |
| Native American | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Other (single race) | 8.4% | 3.4% |
| Multiple | 7.3% | 6.1% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 15.2% | 8.4% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 87.4% | 91.9% |
| College graduation rate | 34.6% | 34.5% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $60,698 | $76,081 |
| Persons below poverty level | 22% | 11.8% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
See also
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Three key Court of Common Pleas judicial seats are now up for grabs in Philly’s general election," September 8, 2023
- ↑ The Legal Intelligencer, "3 New Candidates Added to Ballot for 'Magic Seat' Spots on Phila. Bench," September 19, 2023
- ↑ City of Philadelphia, "Government Organization," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Philadelphia City Charter, 1.101-102, accessed October 29, 2014
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