2007 Philadelphia mayoral election

2007 Philadelphia mayoral election
← 2003 November 6, 2007 2011 →
Turnout29%[1] Decrease 10 pp
 
Nominee Michael Nutter Al Taubenberger
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 227,090 46,984
Percentage 82.52% 17.07%
Results by ward
Nutter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Mayor before election

John F. Street
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Michael Nutter
Democratic

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The 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election was held on November 6, 2007 when Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States elected Michael Nutter as the Mayor of Philadelphia starting in 2008. The incumbent mayor, John F. Street was barred from seeking a third term because of term limits. The Democratic Party primary campaign saw two well-known, well-funded Philadelphia congressmen – Bob Brady and Chaka Fattah – eclipsed by self-funding businessman Tom Knox and reformist former Philadelphia City Council member Nutter, who won by a surprisingly large margin in the primary election on May 15. He went on to face Republican Party nominee Al Taubenberger in the general election, which he won by a large margin and with the lowest voter turnout in a Philadelphia mayoral election without an incumbent since 1951.[2] Mayor Nutter was sworn in on January 7, 2008.

Background

[edit]

The 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election was held to select the replacement for incumbent Mayor John F. Street, who was prevented from being re-elected a third time by term limits. Nearly four out of five Philadelphia voters are registered Democrats and the city has not elected a Republican mayor in close to sixty years.[3]

Issues

[edit]

The two major issues in the mayoral campaign were crime and corruption. Philadelphians felt crime was the most important issue because of the city's rising murder rate. There were more than 400 murders in 2006, the most in almost a decade. Corruption was also an important issue. A corruption probe resulted in the conviction a close to two dozen people, some with close ties to Mayor John F. Street.[3] An early poll on issues concerning young adults, crime was the number one issue with public transit, economic development, education and job growth rounding out the top five.[4]

Democratic primary

[edit]
January 2007 mayoral candidate forum

Philadelphia City Council member Michael Nutter won the Democratic mayoral primary on May 15. His opponent, businessman Tom Knox came in second, with congressmen Bob Brady and Chaka Fattah and State Representative Dwight Evans coming in third, fourth, and fifth respectively.[3]

Businessman Tom Knox had started off strong as his self-financed campaign created a barrage of advertising. However, Nutter's message of government reform and criticism of mayor Street gained him enough support to win the primary.

Polling

[edit]
Opinion Polls
Candidate Jan 31 Feb 15 March 13 April 5 April 17 May 1 May 14
Bob Brady 8% 18% 17% 16% 17% 11% 13%
Dwight Evans 10% 10% 13% 10% 10% 9% 6%
Chaka Fattah 26% 32% 22% 17% 18% 18% 13%
Tom Knox 22% 22% 25% 24% 32% 29% 25%
Michael Nutter 12% 8% 11% 12% 14% 27% 36%
Undecided 22% 21%
Source Keystone Poll SurveyUSA SurveyUSA Keystone Poll SurveyUSA SurveyUSA SurveyUSA
Link [5] [6] [6] [7] [6] [6] [6]

Results

[edit]
Democratic primary results by ward
  Nutter
  •   20%-30%
  •   30%-40%
  •   40%-50%
  •   50%-60%
  •   60%-70%
  •   70%-80%
  Knox
  •   20%-30%
  •   30%-40%
  •   40%-50%
  •   50%-60%
  •   60%-70%
  Brady
  •   30%-40%
  •   40%-50%
  Evans
  •   40%-50%
Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Nutter 106,805 36.64
Democratic Tom Knox 71,731 24.61
Democratic Bob Brady 44,474 15.26
Democratic Chaka Fattah 44,301 15.20
Democratic Dwight Evans 22,782 7.82
Democratic Queena Bass 950 0.33
Democratic Jesus White 437 0.15
Democratic Write-in 12 0.00
Total votes 291,492 100.0

Results by ward

Ward Nutter Knox Brady Fattah Evans Bass White Total

votes

# % # % # % # % # % # % # %
1 1,099 29.37% 1,206 32.23% 1,253 33.48% 114 3.05% 59 1.58% 6 0.16% 5 0.13% 3,742
2 3,095 57.06% 1,095 20.19% 775 14.29% 332 6.12% 118 2.18% 7 0.13% 2 0.04% 5,424
3 1,966 38.59% 832 16.33% 418 8.20% 1,400 27.48% 457 8.97% 17 0.33% 5 0.10% 5,095
4 1,675 34.79% 634 13.17% 561 11.65% 1,665 34.58% 253 5.25% 21 0.44% 6 0.12% 4,815
5 4,541 70.40% 1,108 17.18% 316 4.90% 293 4.54% 179 2.78% 3 0.05% 10 0.16% 6,450
6 971 34.87% 461 16.55% 362 13.00% 839 30.13% 136 4.88% 10 0.36% 6 0.22% 2,785
7 328 15.11% 1,180 54.35% 475 21.88% 122 5.62% 43 1.98% 15 0.69% 8 0.37% 2,171
8 5,073 71.65% 1,155 16.31% 296 4.18% 338 4.77% 199 2.81% 11 0.16% 8 0.11% 7,080
9 3,829 74.80% 486 9.49% 138 2.70% 401 7.83% 255 4.98% 6 0.12% 4 0.08% 5,119
10 1,915 25.82% 650 8.76% 293 3.95% 1,166 15.72% 3,367 45.40% 18 0.24% 7 0.09% 7,416
11 907 28.41% 513 16.07% 456 14.28% 903 28.28% 374 11.71% 29 0.91% 11 0.34% 3,193
12 1,933 39.07% 711 14.37% 310 6.27% 1,209 24.44% 742 15.00% 32 0.65% 10 0.20% 4,947
13 1,618 34.54% 694 14.81% 467 9.97% 1,333 28.45% 530 11.31% 34 0.73% 9 0.19% 4,685
14 533 30.90% 341 19.77% 247 14.32% 418 24.23% 166 9.62% 15 0.87% 5 0.29% 1,725
15 3,042 66.00% 765 16.60% 355 7.70% 290 6.29% 146 3.17% 6 0.13% 5 0.11% 4,609
16 806 30.02% 520 19.37% 217 8.08% 683 25.44% 432 16.09% 17 0.63% 10 0.37% 2,685
17 1,958 32.88% 810 13.60% 364 6.11% 1,372 23.04% 1,404 23.58% 31 0.52% 16 0.27% 5,955
18 858 30.85% 946 34.02% 752 27.04% 148 5.32% 66 2.37% 7 0.25% 4 0.14% 2,781
19 266 11.91% 1,445 64.68% 283 12.67% 158 7.07% 58 2.60% 13 0.58% 11 0.49% 2,234
20 479 32.67% 269 18.35% 114 7.78% 397 27.08% 200 13.64% 5 0.34% 2 0.14% 1,466
21 5,241 59.01% 2,078 23.40% 975 10.98% 387 4.36% 189 2.13% 7 0.08% 5 0.06% 8,882
22 4,208 55.69% 675 8.93% 281 3.72% 1,450 19.19% 916 12.12% 18 0.24% 8 0.11% 7,556
23 926 28.49% 972 29.91% 738 22.71% 425 13.08% 176 5.42% 11 0.34% 2 0.06% 3,250
24 964 39.49% 461 18.89% 206 8.44% 658 26.96% 134 5.49% 14 0.57% 4 0.16% 2,441
25 461 18.61% 1,010 40.78% 828 33.43% 125 5.05% 39 1.57% 8 0.32% 6 0.24% 2,477
26 778 18.53% 1,551 36.94% 1,783 42.46% 49 1.17% 30 0.71% 6 0.14% 2 0.05% 4,199
27 1,103 57.75% 248 12.98% 75 3.93% 362 18.95% 112 5.86% 5 0.26% 5 0.26% 1,910
28 1,005 34.56% 478 16.44% 319 10.97% 856 29.44% 233 8.01% 14 0.48% 3 0.10% 2,908
29 824 33.50% 403 16.38% 452 18.37% 569 23.13% 192 7.80% 15 0.61% 5 0.20% 2,460
30 2,100 60.82% 431 12.48% 200 5.79% 505 14.62% 204 5.91% 9 0.26% 4 0.12% 3,453
31 473 22.06% 713 33.26% 885 41.28% 49 2.29% 15 0.70% 7 0.33% 2 0.09% 2,144
32 1,347 32.77% 707 17.20% 487 11.85% 1,173 28.54% 347 8.44% 32 0.78% 17 0.41% 4,110
33 450 19.35% 1,167 50.19% 400 17.20% 211 9.08% 71 3.05% 16 0.69% 10 0.43% 2,325
34 3,436 37.38% 1,171 12.74% 1,617 17.59% 2,507 27.28% 438 4.77% 16 0.17% 6 0.07% 9,191
35 1,181 28.69% 1,321 32.09% 618 15.01% 559 13.58% 425 10.33% 10 0.24% 2 0.05% 4,116
36 1,759 29.92% 1,197 20.36% 853 14.51% 1,526 25.96% 505 8.59% 26 0.44% 13 0.22% 5,879
37 684 26.07% 778 29.65% 283 10.79% 573 21.84% 279 10.63% 21 0.80% 6 0.23% 2,624
38 2,361 52.94% 714 16.01% 306 6.86% 788 17.67% 268 6.01% 20 0.45% 3 0.07% 4,460
39 1,607 16.95% 3,393 35.79% 4,116 43.41% 257 2.71% 82 0.86% 18 0.19% 8 0.08% 9,481
40 2,346 32.38% 1,568 21.64% 1,228 16.95% 1,630 22.50% 438 6.05% 26 0.36% 9 0.12% 7,245
41 673 18.45% 1,674 45.90% 1,132 31.04% 110 3.02% 54 1.48% 3 0.08% 1 0.03% 3,647
42 907 26.71% 1,206 35.51% 527 15.52% 474 13.96% 256 7.54% 15 0.44% 11 0.32% 3,396
43 779 25.01% 1,065 34.19% 338 10.85% 531 17.05% 372 11.94% 19 0.61% 11 0.35% 3,115
44 1,126 35.64% 547 17.32% 219 6.93% 1,069 33.84% 185 5.86% 11 0.35% 2 0.06% 3,159
45 503 17.44% 1,367 47.40% 892 30.93% 70 2.43% 40 1.39% 8 0.28% 4 0.14% 2,884
46 2,514 51.13% 782 15.90% 206 4.19% 1,073 21.82% 319 6.49% 13 0.26% 10 0.20% 4,917
47 376 30.59% 182 14.81% 204 16.60% 321 26.12% 128 10.41% 11 0.90% 7 0.57% 1,229
48 811 26.12% 775 24.96% 643 20.71% 646 20.81% 209 6.73% 13 0.42% 8 0.26% 3,105
49 1,671 32.55% 838 16.33% 562 10.95% 1,236 24.08% 793 15.45% 17 0.33% 16 0.31% 5,133
50 3,222 36.86% 866 9.91% 338 3.87% 1,947 22.27% 2,329 26.64% 26 0.30% 14 0.16% 8,742
51 1,718 34.27% 875 17.45% 461 9.20% 1,542 30.76% 384 7.66% 20 0.40% 13 0.26% 5,013
52 3,253 45.82% 968 13.63% 483 6.80% 1,978 27.86% 387 5.45% 23 0.32% 8 0.11% 7,100
53 970 29.98% 1,237 38.24% 639 19.75% 253 7.82% 127 3.93% 8 0.25% 1 0.03% 3,235
54 756 30.74% 1,000 40.67% 455 18.50% 149 6.06% 88 3.58% 9 0.37% 2 0.08% 2,459
55 935 20.87% 1,908 42.59% 1,489 33.24% 88 1.96% 47 1.05% 10 0.22% 3 0.07% 4,480
56 1,752 26.34% 3,423 51.47% 1,230 18.49% 136 2.04% 90 1.35% 14 0.21% 6 0.09% 6,651
57 1,164 25.50% 2,072 45.40% 1,147 25.13% 128 2.80% 39 0.85% 8 0.18% 6 0.13% 4,564
58 2,204 31.48% 2,974 42.47% 1,585 22.64% 129 1.84% 89 1.27% 15 0.21% 6 0.09% 7,002
59 2,181 41.29% 635 12.02% 274 5.19% 1,315 24.90% 838 15.87% 31 0.59% 8 0.15% 5,282
60 1,666 38.75% 736 17.12% 401 9.33% 1,178 27.40% 291 6.77% 22 0.51% 5 0.12% 4,299
61 1,694 34.29% 850 17.21% 355 7.19% 978 19.80% 1,042 21.09% 11 0.22% 10 0.20% 4,940
62 907 23.74% 1,402 36.69% 1,028 26.90% 310 8.11% 153 4.00% 13 0.34% 8 0.21% 3,821
63 1,487 36.82% 1,613 39.94% 787 19.49% 77 1.91% 66 1.63% 7 0.17% 2 0.05% 4,039
64 628 24.94% 1,068 42.41% 739 29.35% 44 1.75% 33 1.31% 4 0.16% 2 0.08% 2,518
65 1,166 25.73% 2,074 45.77% 1,045 23.06% 164 3.62% 72 1.59% 6 0.13% 4 0.09% 4,531
66 1,596 23.71% 2,737 40.66% 2,193 32.58% 115 1.71% 74 1.10% 11 0.16% 5 0.07% 6,731


Republican primary

[edit]

Al Taubenberger became the Republican nominee after running unopposed.[3]

Results

[edit]
Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Al Taubenberger 17,449 99.50
Republican Write-in 88 0.50
Total votes 17,537 100.0

General election

[edit]

On November 6, Michael Nutter easily won the mayoral election, receiving 83.4% of the vote to Taubenberger's 17.3%. The margin of victory is the largest since 1931.[9] Nutter's margin of victory was so large the Associated Press declared a winner after just one percent of the vote was counted. Turnout in the election was light with only 28.7 percent of registered voters casting a ballot. The 2007 election had the lowest turnout in a Philadelphia mayoral election without an incumbent since the Home Rule Charter of 1951.[2]

In the general election, the candidates for Mayor were:

In the general election, Michael Nutter became the odds-on favorite to win the election. Nutter raised US$2.9 million for his campaign while Taubenberger raised no more than US$20,000. The candidates held numerous joint appearances and had few disagreements. Towards the end of the race Taubenberger was advertising himself as the "super underdog" .[12]

One of the most significant disagreements on issues the two candidates had was on Nutter's "stop and frisk" proposal. The proposal would allow police officers to stop and frisk people suspected of carrying illegal firearms. Taubenberger criticized the proposal, which was also criticized by Nutter's opponents in the primary and Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, saying the proposal could be abused and violate civil rights. Taubenberger proposed hiring more police officers to reduce the city's high murder rate.

Other disagreements dealt with the city's requirement that public employees live within the city, which Taubenberger proposed removing. Nutter said he would keep the rule, but would remove the restriction that allows only people who have lived in the city for at least one year to apply for city positions. Nutter and Taubenberger also disagreed on the city's decision to charge rent for the Cradle of Liberty Council as result of the Boy Scouts of America's policy on homosexuality which the city says violates its laws on discrimination. Nutter supported the decision saying his administration would not subsidize discrimination. Taubenberger said the decision was wrong because the Boy Scouts do too much good and keep kids off the streets.[13]

Polling

[edit]
Opinion Polls
Candidate Oct 17–21
Michael Nutter 74%
Al Taubenberger 8%
Undecided 18%
Source Keystone poll
Link [14]

Results

[edit]
Philadelphia mayoral election, 2007[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michael Nutter 227,090 82.52 +25.2
Republican Al Taubenberger 46,984 17.07 −26.3
Socialist Workers John Staggs 1,038 0.38 N/A
Independent Write-in candidates 78 0.03 N/A
Turnout 275,190 28.9
Democratic hold Swing

Results by ward

Ward Michael Nutter

Democratic

Al Taubenberger

Republican

John Staggs

Socialist Workers

Total

votes

# % # % # %
1 2,558 80.80% 598 18.89% 10 0.32% 3,166
2 4,355 86.05% 648 12.80% 58 1.15% 5,061
3 4,101 96.25% 155 3.64% 5 0.12% 4,261
4 3,845 96.00% 151 3.77% 9 0.22% 4,005
5 5,629 88.16% 717 11.23% 39 0.61% 6,385
6 2,194 96.23% 81 3.55% 5 0.22% 2,280
7 1,396 88.58% 175 11.10% 5 0.32% 1,576
8 6,173 88.68% 747 10.73% 41 0.59% 6,961
9 4,540 89.92% 483 9.57% 26 0.51% 5,049
10 5,757 96.84% 173 2.91% 15 0.25% 5,945
11 2,552 95.44% 117 4.38% 5 0.19% 2,674
12 3,850 94.46% 197 4.83% 29 0.71% 4,076
13 3,572 94.35% 202 5.34% 12 0.32% 3,786
14 1,305 95.33% 61 4.46% 3 0.22% 1,369
15 4,017 90.05% 418 9.37% 26 0.58% 4,461
16 2,095 95.53% 92 4.20% 6 0.27% 2,193
17 4,813 96.01% 190 3.79% 10 0.20% 5,013
18 1,928 79.51% 474 19.55% 23 0.95% 2,425
19 1,538 93.84% 99 6.04% 2 0.12% 1,639
20 1,155 94.98% 57 4.69% 4 0.33% 1,216
21 8,055 80.67% 1,894 18.97% 36 0.36% 9,985
22 6,452 95.73% 249 3.69% 39 0.58% 6,740
23 2,391 80.75% 565 19.08% 5 0.17% 2,961
24 1,957 94.54% 101 4.88% 12 0.58% 2,070
25 1,641 66.25% 824 33.27% 12 0.48% 2,477
26 2,667 68.30% 1,231 31.52% 7 0.18% 3,905
27 1,636 90.84% 143 7.94% 22 1.22% 1,801
28 2,312 96.78% 72 3.01% 5 0.21% 2,389
29 2,047 95.39% 93 4.33% 6 0.28% 2,146
30 2,840 92.90% 191 6.25% 26 0.85% 3,057
31 1,583 67.08% 758 32.12% 19 0.81% 2,360
32 3,132 96.40% 108 3.32% 9 0.28% 3,249
33 1,479 74.58% 497 25.06% 7 0.35% 1,983
34 7,113 93.53% 473 6.22% 19 0.25% 7,605
35 3,115 72.37% 1,179 27.39% 10 0.23% 4,304
36 4,593 92.90% 326 6.59% 25 0.51% 4,944
37 2,025 95.70% 85 4.02% 6 0.28% 2,116
38 3,699 92.73% 277 6.94% 13 0.33% 3,989
39 5,937 78.10% 1,642 21.60% 23 0.30% 7,602
40 5,560 91.33% 519 8.52% 9 0.15% 6,088
41 2,335 63.11% 1,344 36.32% 21 0.57% 3,700
42 2,475 87.64% 343 12.15% 6 0.21% 2,824
43 2,235 93.36% 154 6.43% 5 0.21% 2,394
44 2,426 95.93% 99 3.91% 4 0.16% 2,529
45 2,037 58.65% 1,424 41.00% 12 0.35% 3,473
46 4,067 95.00% 162 3.78% 52 1.21% 4,281
47 922 95.54% 39 4.04% 4 0.41% 965
48 2,393 85.49% 397 14.18% 9 0.32% 2,799
49 3,999 94.36% 228 5.38% 11 0.26% 4,238
50 7,309 96.65% 232 3.07% 21 0.28% 7,562
51 3,920 95.91% 149 3.65% 18 0.44% 4,087
52 5,888 94.63% 322 5.18% 12 0.19% 6,222
53 2,341 67.23% 1,130 32.45% 11 0.32% 3,482
54 1,718 77.14% 497 22.32% 12 0.54% 2,227
55 3,138 57.69% 2,289 42.08% 12 0.22% 5,439
56 4,349 60.00% 2,884 39.79% 15 0.21% 7,248
57 3,356 58.96% 2,310 40.58% 26 0.46% 5,692
58 5,569 59.42% 3,781 40.34% 22 0.23% 9,372
59 4,204 94.77% 204 4.60% 28 0.63% 4,436
60 3,477 95.84% 139 3.83% 12 0.33% 3,628
61 4,001 90.50% 404 9.14% 16 0.36% 4,421
62 2,621 73.81% 922 25.96% 8 0.23% 3,551
63 3,562 55.06% 2,894 44.74% 13 0.20% 6,469
64 2,074 54.26% 1,737 45.45% 11 0.29% 3,822
65 3,277 66.85% 1,612 32.88% 13 0.27% 4,902
66 5,790 57.69% 4,226 42.10% 21 0.21% 10,037

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Denvir, Daniel (May 22, 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". City Lab. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Brennan, Chris (November 7, 2007). "Voter turnout was, well, light". Philadelphia Daily News.
  3. ^ a b c d e Walters, Patrick (May 15, 2007). "Ex-Philly Pol Wins Dem. Mayoral Primary". Associated Press.
  4. ^ "Voice of Young Philadelphia: Decide, Discuss, Vote Survey: Top 5 Issues of 2007" (PDF). Young America PAC, Young Involved Philadelphia, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's Young Professional Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  5. ^ "Keystone Philadelphia Mayoral Poll" (PDF). Franklin & Marshall College Poll. Franklin & Marshall. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Report Card: 2007 Philadelphia Mayor Election = A+". SurveyUSA. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  7. ^ "April 2007 Philadelphia Mayoral Keystone Poll" (PDF). Franklin & Marshall College Poll. Franklin & Marshall. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  8. ^ a b "2007 Primary Election". Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Associated Press (November 7, 2007). "Philly mayor-elect has largest margin of victory since 1931". whptv.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  10. ^ Gelbart, Marcia (June 11, 2007). "'I've got nothing to lose'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B01.
  11. ^ Warner, Bob (August 2, 2007). "Germantown's John Staggs files for mayoral race on Socialist ticket". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 10.
  12. ^ Gelbart, Marcia; Patrick Kerkstra (November 7, 2007). "Nutter: 'A New Day'". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  13. ^ Fitzgerald, Thomas (November 5, 2007). "Taubenberger takes on Nutter in a final debate". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B01.
  14. ^ "October 2007 Philadelphia Mayoral Keystone Poll" (PDF). Franklin & Marshall College Poll. Franklin & Marshall. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  15. ^ "2007 General Election". Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
[edit]
Preceded by
2003 		Philadelphia mayoral election
2007 		Succeeded by
2011
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2007_Philadelphia_mayoral_election&oldid=1236930419"