UPDATE: Democrat Roni Green won the special election with about 85 percent of the vote. Green told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she will focus on “education, job creation and programs to prevent gun violence.” The election allows Green to serve out the remainder of Movita Johnson-Harrell’s term, which runs through this year. She will be on the primary ballot on April 28 vying for a full two-year term.

Voters in the 190th state legislative district (see map) will go to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to elect a new state representative.

The special election features Democrat and union official G. Roni Green and Republican Wanda Logan (Facebook link), who is making her fifth bid for the seat and her first as a Republican. The seat was left vacant after Movita Johnson-Harrell stepped down following charges that she stole nearly $500,000 from her non-profit. She pleaded guilty and began serving a three-month jail sentence earlier this month. That will be followed by 8-and-a-half months of house arrest.  Continue Reading

The 190th House district.

A special election will be held tomorrow, March 12, to fill the state 190th House district seat left vacant after Vanessa Lowery Brown was forced to resign. This is the only race on the ballot.

The 190th district includes some neighborhoods around Malcolm X. Park and west of 52nd Street as well as Belmont, Carroll Park, Cathedral Park, Mill Creek, Haddington, East Parkside, West Powelton, Allegheny West and Lehigh West.

Go here to find your polling place and to figure out if you live in the 190th. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Continue Reading

A few days after he was handpicked to run for the vacant 190th state District seat, West Philly native Darryl Thomas has withdrawn from the race following a Philadelphia Inquirer article questioning his place of residence and voting record.

Within 48 hours, Movita Johnson-Harrell, who runs the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Victims Services office, was unofficially named the new Democratic nominee for the special election on March 12. She announced the nomination on her social media late Sunday.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (Monday, Jan. 28, 2019): Darryl Thomas stepped down over the weekend. Democratic leaders appointed Movita Johnson-Harrell as the nominee for the March 12 special election.

Democratic ward leaders have selected Darryl Thomas, a Howard University graduate and the owner of Philly Cuts barbershop on Chestnut near 44th, to stand in a special election in March to fill the 190th state House District seat left vacant when former Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown resigned in December.

Thomas has long been vocal on community issues, including zoning, and ran in the Democratic primary for the seat in 2016, losing to Brown.

“I’m not a politician, even though I’m running for office. I’m a social activist,” Thomas, a West Philly native, told West Philly Local during the campaign. Continue Reading