Progressives who’d decided that “soft on crime” is a winning message in urban America got a well-deserved wake-up call Tuesday, as Philadelphia Democrats tapped Cherelle Parker as their nominee, and so near-certain to become the city’s 100th mayor.
Like our own Mayor Eric Adams, Parker won voters over with her promise to address public safety and quality of life concerns. She explicitly vowed to restore stop-question-and-frisk (conducted constitutionally) as a policing tactic and to get more beat officers on street patrol.
The progressive darling was Helen Gym, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. City Comptroller Brad Lander traveled to Philly to campaign with and for Gym.
She placed an embarrassing third.
Parker’s victory was a clear rebuke of progressive elites — especially as she racked up big margins in majority-black wards.
Ryan Boyer, leader of Philly’s Building and Construction Trades Council, told Politico that Parker “grew up in the neighborhood” and understands the effects of crime.
And: “Look at who she’s running against. You have all wealthy people that lived in privileged neighborhoods their whole lives that haven’t lived in high-crime areas.”
Yes, Democratic voters rejected tough-on-crime candidates this year in Chicago and Los Angeles, but Parker’s win suggests other issues decided those races.
In reality, inner-city Democratic voters want to be safe in their communities and homes.
Mainstream Democrats ought to listen to them and push back against the progressives who’d destroy America’s great cities.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
