April 23, 2008

Victories for NN Endorsed Candidates

By John Hogan, Elections Committee

Neighborhood Networks-endorsed candidates scored some remarkable victories in the April 22nd Pennsylvania primaries....

Kenyatta Johnson defeated State Rep. Harold James in the 186th House district--a rare defeat for a longtime incumbent. Johnson will have no Republican opponent in the November general election.

Vanessa Brown also won the Democratic nomination for the 190th district House seat, overcoming a write-in challenge by incumbent Tommie Blackwell (who failed to qualify for the ballot).

State Rep. Tony Payton of the 179th District fended off a challenge from Guy Lewis, who had the support of many of the Democratic ward leaders in Payton’s district. Payton had beaten another party-endorsed candidate to win the seat in 2006.

And State Rep. Babette Josephs fended off two challengers to hold her seat in the 182nd District.

Not all of our endorsees were so successful. Tim Kearney lost the Democratic nomination for the 172nd district House seat to Rich Costello. Christian DiCicco lost to incumbent State Rep. Bill Keller in the 184th House district. And Anne Dicker finished third in the Democratic race for the 1st Senate district, finishing behind Larry Farnese (who was supported by incumbent Sen. Vincent Fumo and by many young progressives) and John Dougherty.

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