What’s Different About City Council This Year?

Philadelphia’s City Council is back this morning for its first regular session of the year since its 17 members were sworn in earlier this month.

Today, the local lawmakers will establish rules for the chamber. Moving forward, they’ll meet nearly every Thursday at 10 a.m. (sans holidays and their summer break) to introduce, discuss, and vote on city-level legislation.

Thanks to a spate of resignations and 2023’s municipal election, this year’s council is looking pretty different from before.

A New Council President

Former Council President Darrell Clarke decided to retire at the end of last year after serving 24 years on council (12 of them as president).

Taking Clarke’s place as the chamber’s leader is Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, a longtime Philly politician who represents parts of Center City, South Philly, and Southwest Philly. He beat federal corruption charges in 2022 and has since ascended to the highest seat in the chamber.

He’ll be responsible for directing much of council’s work, including appointing committee members, scheduling meetings, and sending legislation to the appropriate committee.

Only One Republican Remains

City Council has 10 district members who represent specific geographic areas, and seven “at-large” members who are elected citywide. Of those seven, only five can be from the same political party. Since Democratic voters are the overwhelming majority in Philly, Democrats have traditionally held five at-large seats, and Republicans have held two.

Recent history has bucked that pattern, though: in 2019, the progressive Working Families Party candidate Kendra Brooks managed to win an at-large seat, and in last year’s election, fellow WFP candidate Nicolas O’Rourke eked out a win.

Now, there are no Republican at-large members. In total, City Council has 14 Democrats, two Working Families Party members, and one Republican: Brian O’Neill, who has represented the Far Northeast for 44 years.

Lots of Fresh Faces

One new member of City Council, Jeffery “Jay” Young Jr., was elected in an uncontested race for Darrell Clarke’s old District 5 seat.

The rest of this year’s new members are essentially filling empty seats left by experienced councilmembers who’d resigned to run for mayor in last year’s municipal election. (In Philly, that’s required by law.)

Councilmembers Nina Ahmad, Rue Landau, and O’Rourke — all at-large members — are starting their first term.

Some other councilmembers were first elected in November 2022 to fill vacancies left by mayoral candidates, so they’ve served for about a year at this point: Quetcy Lozada (District 7), Anthony Phillips (District 9), and Jim Harrity (At-Large).

Councilmember Mike Driscoll (District 6) also hasn’t served a full term, but for a different reason. He was elected in a May 2022 special election after his predecessor, Bobby Henon, was convicted of federal bribery charges and resigned.

In addition to the eight members who’ve served for less than a term, City Council also has a few members who are just entering their second term: at-large members Brooks, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, and Isaiah Thomas, and Jamie Gauthier (District 3).

Want To Watch What Goes On in City Council?

You can tune in on Xfinity channel 64, Fios channel 40, or online.