Global Courant 2023-05-17 22:55:48
There won’t be any decisive elections at the national level in the United States this year, but a few municipal and state contests this week could provide a gauge of voters’ position ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Voters in Florida, Kentucky and Pennsylvania went to the polls Tuesday to choose local leaders and party candidates for statewide offices.
A popular saying in American public life is that all politics is local. Elections outside the year, which fall between presidential elections and midterm votes, can have consequences. Here’s Al Jazeera looking at the key races from Tuesday’s election.
Trump-backed candidate for governor wins Kentucky primary
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, easily won the Republican nomination for governor, defending two serious opponents, including one supported by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
With nearly all ballots counted, Cameron had about 48 percent of the vote. DeSantis-backed Kelly Craft, a former US ambassador to the United Nations, came in third — more than 30 percentage points behind Cameron.
The Florida governor, who has yet to announce a presidential nominee but is largely seen as Trump’s most serious challenger for the 2024 Republican nomination, publicly endorsed Craft a day before the election.
It’s not clear how that endorsement or Trump’s support for Cameron affected the race.
But the former president, who is seeking the White House again in 2024, took a victory lap and lashed out at DeSantis on Wednesday, referring to the Florida governor as “DeSanctimonious.”
“Congratulations to a ‘star’ in Kentucky, Daniel Cameron, who easily won the Republican nomination for governor,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“He had my full and total approval. The DeSanctimonious-backed candidate was DISTANT third. Ron’s magic is GONE!”
Cameron will run against incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in November in what is widely regarded as the most important election of the year. If he wins, Cameron would become Kentucky’s first black governor.
Thanks Kentucky!
Makenze and I are both humbled and honored. Let’s do this. #TeamCameron pic.twitter.com/2fjfzDJpH6
— Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronAG) May 17, 2023
A loss for Florida Republicans
DeSantis took another hit Tuesday, this time in his own home state of Florida, where he has touted his heralded achievements and conservative credentials.
In Jacksonville, a city of nearly a million people in northeastern Florida, Democrat Donna Deegan defeated DeSantis-backed Republican Daniel Davis in the mayoral race.
Jacksonville is now in danger of losing its status as the largest US city with a Republican mayor. Current mayor Lenny Curry was unable to participate this year due to term restrictions.
“Love won tonight and we made history. We have a new day in Jacksonville as people choose unity over division – creating a broad coalition of people across the political spectrum who want a united city,” Deegan, a former local news anchor, wrote on Twitter late Tuesday.
“Together, we will change Jacksonville forever by delivering on decades of broken infrastructure promises, building an economy that works for everyone and improving access to healthcare.”
Deegan will become the first woman to lead the city when she takes office on July 1.
Despite the loss to his Republican Party, Trump once again took the opportunity to lash out at DeSantis.
“Wow! In a major upset, the DeSanctimonious supported the Republican candidate for mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, LOST. This is a shock. If they had asked me to support, he would have easily won,” the former president wrote in a post on social media.
Several Democrats in Congress applauded Jacksonville’s election results.
Love won in Jacksonville, beating a @RonDeSantisFL and Moms for Liberty backed candidate. Donna will be Jacksonville’s next mayor and Democrats should learn a little about the campaign she ran and why we shouldn’t surrender to dark forces in our country.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 17, 2023
Setback for Progressives in Philadelphia
Public safety has been the top issue in municipal elections in major US cities in recent years as crime rates have risen since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Mayoral races in several Democratic-run cities have involved progressives advocating for more funding for social programs and education to address the root causes of crime against moderates advocating for law enforcement to be strengthened.
On Tuesday, the more conservative camp secured a victory in Philadelphia, where former City Councilwoman Cherelle Parker won the Democratic primary for mayor in a crowded pool of candidates.
Parker’s public safety platform called for hiring more law enforcement officers and prioritizing the filling of police positions.
With the most ballots counted, she took about 33 percent of the vote on Tuesday, taking first place out of five serious candidates, including progressive favorite Helen Gym, who took third.
I am so incredibly honored to have earned the Democratic nomination tonight. It’s been a long road, and to see the tireless work of my campaign team, supporters and family pay off is humbling.
I look forward to November and bringing our city together as its 100th mayor.
— Cherelle Parker (@PeopleforParker) May 17, 2023
Parker, who is favored to win against Republican nominee David Oh in November, would become the city’s first female mayor.
“I am so incredibly honored to have earned the Democratic nomination tonight. It’s been a long road, and to see the tireless work of my campaign team, supporters and family pay off is humbling,” Parker wrote on Twitter.
Her victory comes a day after new Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson took office after winning that election on a progressive platform in a contest that also focused on public safety.
