Your guide to the District Council races
Only two of the 10 districts have contested races.
What is the role?
Philadelphia’s 10 district Council members each represent a geographic area, all of which are roughly the same size by population. These Council offices field service requests from constituents.
While district Council members can and do draft legislation that affects the city writ large, much of their time is spent on hyperlocal issues like zoning, development, streets, and the delivery of city services within their districts.
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How do District Council seats differ from at-large Council seats?
District Council members wield an exceptional amount of power over land-use decisions within their areas and are sometimes seen as mini mayors. That’s because Council adheres to an unwritten tradition called councilmanic prerogative, which means that all members defer to the district Council member when they bring legislation that only affects their district.
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How do I find my district?
Only district residents can vote on who their Council member will be. Find your district here:
Only two of the 10 districts have contested races in November. For the remainder, you can either vote for the Democratic nominee, write in a candidate, or decline to cast a vote.
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Who’s on the ballot and what do I need to know about them?
1ST DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Mark SquillaSquilla is a veteran member of City Council who is seeking his fourth term.Key facts:
Squilla has prioritized business development in his district, including improving the Reading Viaduct and revitalizing the East Passyunk commercial corridor.
He will play a key role in the future of the proposed 76ers arena in Center City. It will be up to Squilla to introduce legislation that the developers need to pass for the project to move forward.
2ND DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Kenyatta JohnsonJohnson is a veteran member of City Council who is seeking his fourth term. He is a top contender for Council president, a role that will become vacant in January. Prior to serving on Council, he was a state representative.Key facts:
Johnson, who was born and raised in Point Breeze where he still lives, has long been Council’s most vocal advocate for gun violence prevention. He was an anti-violence advocate before he was an elected official, and he often hosts “Peace Not Guns” walks in neighborhoods after they experience shootings.
He has held a tight rein over development in his district and says his main objective is to ensure residents are not priced out of their homes as a result of gentrification.
He and his wife were acquitted of federal bribery charges last year, and he maintains strong support in City Hall and his district.
He appears to have enough support from his colleagues to become the next Council president, a role that will become vacant in January. To win the post, a member must secure votes from a majority of Council, or at least nine members.
3RD DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Jamie GauthierGauthier, an urban planner by trade, is a West Philadelphia native running for her second term on Council. She won her first term in 2019 by toppling Jannie Blackwell, an incumbent whose family was one of the strongest political dynasties in the city.Key facts:
Gauthier has often aligned with Council’s progressive bloc, and she has prioritized housing affordability. Her most controversial initiative was a zoning overlay in much of her district that forces developers to build affordable housing in new apartment buildings.
She has been outspoken about the Kenney administration’s response to gun violence and publicly pressed him to declare a state of emergency, to no avail.
Over the last two years, her office has prioritized quality-of-life issues and she advocated for millions of dollars in new investments to tackle nuisances like illegal dumping and abandoned cars.
The West is Best Party 🧭
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Jabari JonesJones is a small-business advocate in West Philadelphia who is running as a member of a third party that he created.Key facts:
This is Jones’ second attempt to challenge Gauthier. In the spring, he formed a campaign to challenge her as a Democrat, but he dropped out of the race amid a legal challenge over his nomination petitions.
Most of his campaign is focused on public safety and crime. He has a tough-on-crime posture and believes Council has been too focused on funding violence-prevention programs outside law enforcement.
He has positioned himself as pro-development and opposes Gauthier’s affordable housing overlay.
4TH DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Curtis Jones Jr.Jones is a veteran member of City Council who is seeking his fifth term. He is the body’s Democratic majority leader and is vying for Council president, a role that will become vacant in January.Key facts:
Jones has for years prioritized public safety and economic development, and now chairs committees on both.
He championed several pieces of legislation related to criminal justice reform, including a law that bans employers from putting inquiries into criminal records on job applications.
Before his first run for Council in 2007, he spent 15 years as the president and CEO of the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation.
5TH DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Jeffery Jay Young Jr.Young is an attorney who is poised to replace outgoing Council President Darrell L. Clarke.Key facts:
Young has worked in Clarke’s office as a legislative counsel on zoning and land-use. He is also a former intern for ex-Mayor Michael Nutter and Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.
He left Clarke’s office in 2019 and has represented developers since.
He became the Democratic nominee by default, after six other candidates didn’t make it onto the ballot due to paperwork or petition defects.
6TH DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Michael DriscollDriscoll, a former state representative, was elected last year in a special election and replaced former Councilmember Bobby Henon, who was convicted of federal corruption charges.Key facts:
Driscoll has prioritized small-business corridors and improving the Delaware River waterfront throughout his district that stretches from the Northeast to parts of the Riverwards.
He has championed several bills related to public safety and quality-of-life, including legislation that allows police to crack down on nuisance vehicles and so-called “boom parties.”
He is a native of Northeast Philadelphia, where he’s long been a well-known civic leader.
7TH DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Quetcy LozadaLozada, the former chief of staff to ex-Councilmember Maria Quiñones Sánchez, was elected last year in a special election and is now seeking a full term.Key facts:
Lozada, who lives in Northwood, has spent almost her entire life living in the 7th District. She was a top leader of Esperanza, a faith-based nonprofit organization.
She has described herself as more conservative than her predecessor, and was chief architect of legislation that effectively prohibits supervised injection sites across most of the city.
She has been critical of how law enforcement handled the police killing of Eddie Irizarry, who was fatally shot in her district. She recently introduced legislation to denounce a judge’s decision to throw out criminal charges against the officer responsible.
8TH DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Cindy BassBass is a veteran Council member who has spent 11 years in the legislative body.Key facts:
Bass has made quality-of-life issues a major priority, has fought against nuisance businesses, and has been a top advocate for funding for the city’s parks and libraries.
She has been critical of the Kenney administration’s response to gun violence, and has called on the administration to seek assistance from the National Guard.
She is closely tied to the Democratic city committee and is the leader of the 22nd Ward.
9TH DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Anthony PhillipsPhillips was elected last year in a special election, taking over the seat that had been held by Cherelle Parker, who resigned to run for mayor.Key facts:
During his first year in Council, Phillips has focused largely on quality-of-life issues in his neighborhood, including tackling pedestrian safety and nuisance truck parking.
He is the youngest member of Council.
He cofounded a successful nonprofit, Youth Action, when he was 14, and he has a master’s degree from Yale University.
10TH DISTRICT
Democrat 🐴
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Gary MasinoMasino is the longtime leader of the sheet metal workers union. He lives in Morrell Park with his family, and he has never before run for public office.Key facts:
A South Philadelphia native, Masino is a third-generation sheet metal worker, and his wife worked in the electricians union.
Masino is in favor of the 76ers’ proposal to build a new arena in Center City, saying it will boost the economy.
Masino’s campaign is unusually well-financed for a Council challenger thanks to donations from unions in the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, including his Sheet Metal Workers Local 19.
Republican 🐘
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Brian O’NeillO’Neill has served on City Council since 1980, making him by far the body’s most senior member. O’Neill is a Northeast Philadelphia native and a retired attorney.Key facts:
O’Neill is currently the only Republican on City Council, and he has for years been the only GOP member to win his seat by beating Democrats. (The other two seats that are usually held by Republicans are effectively reserved for non-Democrats.)
O’Neill is close with the city’s police union, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, which has endorsed his campaign.
O’Neill prides himself on his hands-on approach to development matters in his district by opposing projects that he says could change the Northeast's suburban feel.
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