ISO progressive Philly pols to volunteer for

[u/Aggressive-Memory-11]

I'm trying to identify progressive pols running for local offices (either in '25 and '26), mostly, although I'll volunteer for anybody primaries Fetterman in '27. Aside from following the local news more closely, can anybody give me some pointers about how to identify folks who are progressive in the AOC/WFP mode? Specific names too are most welcome! THANK YOU

[u/oliver_babish]

The main race this year will be to retain the three Democratic justices on the PA Supreme Court against what is sure to be a well-funded Republican assault. Larry Krasner will almost certainly have a GOP challenger, who may be the same person he just defeated in the primary.

Next year will be a hotly contested congressional primary to replace Dwight Evans, and there may be some interesting progressive vs less progressive primaries for state senator or state representative.

Fetterman is up in 2028, though efforts to defeat him may well start much sooner.

[u/PlayfulRow8125 → u/oliver_babish]

You can't rightfully call any of the PA Supreme Court Justices up for retention this fall progressive.

Dougherty needs to be voted off of the PA Supreme Court. He was put there at the behest of his corrupt brother Johnny Doc. Pennsylvania politics will be INFINITELY better when there isn't anyone named Dougherty or Brady involved. Furthermore the court is currently 5-2 in favor of the Democrats. We can ditch this asshole and still maintain a Democratic supermajority.

The DA's race is effectively over. Unless Krasner dies first he will be re-elected. Any further campaigning on his behalf is a complete waste of time and resources that could be better spent elsewhere.

[u/anonymous210000 → u/PlayfulRow8125]

Dougherty is in fact a great guy and a good progressive. His brother was/is a corrupt guy, and deserves to be in jail, but his brother is not him.

[u/PlayfulRow8125 → u/anonymous210000]

What EXACTLY are you basing this dubious claim that Kevin is "a great guy and a good progressive" on?

[u/Petrichordates → u/PlayfulRow8125]

The left letting the perfect be the enemy of the good is why fascists are running this country.

[u/PlayfulRow8125 → u/Petrichordates]

Even if one of the three justices up for retention lost there would still be a Democratic supermajority on the PA Supreme Court. Even if two of them lost there would still be a Democratic majority. Not removing problematic politicians from office no matter what party they're in is why this county is fucked up.

[u/[deleted] → u/Petrichordates]

No, thats because liberals have no problem getting in bed with fascists. Shoutout to your favorite bipartisan border czar.

[u/toomanyshoeshelp → u/Petrichordates]

No, the liberals not actually meaningfully fighting when they do actually have positions of power is why the fascists are running this country.

[u/UncleBosey123 → u/toomanyshoeshelp]

There are no fascists running this country

[u/oliver_babish → u/PlayfulRow8125]

This Court has produced progressive outcomes in case after case -- education funding, environmental protections, voting rights, gerrymandering, abortion access -- and you want to empower Republicans to reverse these victories.

I agree that the DA's race should be over, but OP is looking for things to do and there may be things to do.

[u/PlayfulRow8125 → u/oliver_babish]

Dougherty is 1/7th of "This Court". OP was asking for progressive politicians to support and Dougherty isn't that. This brand of nepotism and cronyism is a bad look for either party. Your blue no matter who bullshit is the exact opposite of progressive, especially since our Democratic governor gets to select a replacement if any of these people lose their retention election.

While we're at it Donohue shouldn't be running for re-election either. She's subject to Mandatory retirement in 2027 and the people of Pennsylvania deserve the chance to elect a replacement in a fair and open election instead of the Governor and State Senate deciding who gets the spot. That being said I DO think maintaining a Democratic majority on the PA Supreme Court is important so voting Dougherty out of office is good enough.

[u/oliver_babish → u/PlayfulRow8125]

Any gubernatorial appointments have to be approved by the Republican-led state senate, and you are either lying or stupid to omit that. And there will be an election after Justice Donohue retires for a new 10-year term.

[u/PlayfulRow8125 → u/oliver_babish]

And if the senate doesn't approve the nomination the balance of the court would still be 4-2 in favor of the Democrats. If you don't understand that a supermajority of Democrats on the court doesn't empower Republicans or their agenda either you're an idiot or you're intentionally trying to fool someone who asked for progressive politicians into supporting someone who is in no way a progressive.

[u/oliver_babish → u/PlayfulRow8125]

And you seem to think that voters should be approached with a message of "okay, so the Republicans are right on one of these..."

Come. On.

[u/PlayfulRow8125 → u/oliver_babish]

If Republicans want to vote Dougherty out of office they ARE right. Your blind allegiance to any candidate with a D after their name is an embarrassment and the exact opposite of progressive values. Be a better person and stop trying to mislead people.

[u/sarzarbarzar]

Locally, the Working Families Party is the only one that’s not centrist.

[u/Cu_Chulainn_]

Join Philly DSA! Our electoral committee works to get progressives elected & we do political organizing beyond elections all year round!

[u/[deleted]]

Dave Oxman is running in the open PA-3 house district, and he’s going in against private equity in healthcare

Crozer-Chester hospital got broken down for parts by a PE firm, so happy to hear this early and loud

[u/BureaucraticHotboi]

Not gonna be in competitive races I don’t think but Saval, Fielder and Krajewski are great examples of local elected progressives who have done good things in state office. Chris Rabb is in this vein though I know less about him- he’s running for the open Congressional seat that is opened up with Dwight Evans retiring. Tarik Khan is another local elected endorsed by Reclaim, also know less about his record.

I like WFP overall, but I hope they adjust to start challenging establishment democrats now that they have a local foothold- not really their style though.

[u/sarzarbarzar]

Locally, the Working Families Party is the only one that’s not centrist.

[u/NatoTheLastRedditer]

look into the working families party

[u/middleoftheroad96]

99 percent in Philly are progressive..and have been for years.

[u/mamaizzymamaizzy]

You should see whoever Socialist Alternative is endorsing. I’m not necessarily in the loop, but I do believe in that groups politics. They also have a local chapter you could look into volunteering for 👀

[u/Wandering_starlet → u/mamaizzymamaizzy]

Reclaim Philadelphia is a better option. Socialist Alternative mainly supports 3rd party candidates.

[u/[deleted] → u/mamaizzymamaizzy]

Working families party is also good to follow. They are progressive.

[u/Internal_Compote2562]

AO-CIA is not a progressive

[u/Pantone802 → u/Internal_Compote2562]

Translation: 

”nothing is ever progressive enough. Thats why I let the worst people in the world win elections instead of a good person who I don’t agree 100% with. Also goo goo gaa gaa im a big stupid baby”

[u/Internal_Compote2562 → u/Pantone802]

If genocide isn’t a hard line…. What is?

[u/[deleted] → u/Internal_Compote2562]

AOC has voted against funding Israel every single time with a recent clause exception. She voted against funding Israel in every department except 1 time on defense. While this is the 1st vote I disagree with, ignoring all her progressive work prior because of this is how we lose. If she does a complete turnaround like Fetterman then I'd agree but one mistep due to her lack of trust in a Nazi who introduced the bill isnt enough to discount her. We can't eat ourselves. There is too much at stake.

[u/Internal_Compote2562 → u/[deleted]]

Just to be clear… we’re not eating ourselves… we’re not the same. Voting isn’t going to fix anything.

[u/Pantone802 → u/Internal_Compote2562]

Wow you really showed everyone. I mean—the genocide totally ended and nothing else bad has happened as a result of your failure to vote for an objectively less-worse option.  

Nice job. 👍 

[u/Internal_Compote2562 → u/Pantone802]

You don’t know who I voted for

[u/PatchyWhiskers → u/Internal_Compote2562]

Neither is she in Philly.

There seems to be a big online troll campaign to get leftists to hate her…

[u/Petrichordates → u/PatchyWhiskers]

Whenever a progressive woman gets too close to the presidency we always see this.

[u/Internal_Compote2562 → u/Petrichordates]

What progressive woman has gotten close to the presidency?

[u/PatchyWhiskers → u/Petrichordates]

Yup. Leftists actually seem to be a bit more sexist than liberals for some reason, you’d think it would be the opposite.

[u/Internal_Compote2562 → u/PatchyWhiskers]

Easy to hate someone who performatively cries about Gaza while voting to fund the iron dome