1955 Philadelphia municipal election

none January 2025 September 2023 1955 Philadelphia municipal election Philadelphia presidential no 1953 1957 November 8, 1955 The 1955 Philadelphia municipal election, held on Tuesday, November 8, involved contests for mayor, district attorney, all seventeen city council seats, among other offices. Citywide, the Democrats took majorities of over 130,000 votes, continuing their success from the elections four years earlier. Richardson Dilworth, who had been elected district attorney in 1951, was elected mayor. Victor H. Blanc, a city councilman, was elected district attorney. The Democrats also kept fourteen of seventeen city council seats, losing one district seat while gaining another, and kept control of the other citywide offices. The election represented a further consolidation of control by the Democrats after their citywide victories of four years earlier. Mayor 1955 Philadelphia mayoral election Philadelphia presidential no 1951 Philadelphia mayoral election 1951 1959 Philadelphia mayoral election 1959 November 8, 1955 160x160px Richardson Dilworth Democratic Party (United States) 423,035 59.30% 160x160px Thacher Longstreth Republican Party (United States) 290,329 40.70% 1955PhiladelphiaMayorByWard.png Ward-level results in the mayor's race, with Dilworth in blue and Longstreth in red Mayor Joseph S. Clark Jr. Democratic Party (United States) Richardson Dilworth Democratic Party (United States) In the mayor's race, incumbent Democrat Joseph S. Clark Jr., who had earlier declared he would serve only one term, did not run for reelection.Neal 1990 He instead ran for election to the United States Senate in 1956 and was successful, serving in the Senate for twelve years.Neal 1990 For the open seat, Democrat Richardson Dilworth ran against Republican Thacher Longstreth.Daily Times 1955b After service in World War I and a law degree from Yale, Dilworth practiced law in Philadelphia.Mayer 2010 149 He and Clark were allies in the anti-corruption reform effort that had swept the city four years earlier.Mayer 2010 149 Dilworth had run for mayor unsuccessfully in 1947, with Clark as his campaign manager. In 1949, he was elected City Treasurer. He resigned that post to run for governor in 1950, but was defeated by Republican John S. Fine.Daily Times 1955b Democratic party leaders had intended Dilworth to be their candidate for mayor again in 1951, but when Clark announced his candidacy, Dilworth agreed to run for district attorney instead.Neal 1990 He won, taking just shy of 58% of the vote.Miller 1951 In the primary election in May, Dilworth easily defeated his underfunded opponent, William A. Paschall, a local meat dealer.Loftus 1955 The Republicans nominated Thacher Longstreth, a 35-year-old advertising executive who had never run for office before.Daily Times 1955b He emerged the victor of a four-way primary contest over George P. Williams (the Republican leadership's preferred candidate), city magistrate James J. Clothier, and Oscar H. Newman, a deputy constable.Loftus 1955 Longstreth's campaign got off to a rocky start when he broke with the city Republican organization over their failure to elect his preferred candidate, John M. Pomeroy, as chairman of the Republican City Committee.Daily Times 1955a Although he did receive a campaign visit and endorsement from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Longstreth had little other assistance from the Republican party machine and ran as an "Independent Republican".Daily Times 1955b Republicans still held an edge in voter registration in 1955, but their share of the electorate continued to decline over previous years.Bulletin Almanac 1956 28 The result was a landslide for Dilworth.Daily Times 1955b In an election with higher than expected turnout, the Democrat took 59% of the vote, a slight increase over the party's tally from the mayoral contest of four years earlier.Daily Times 1955b The Democrats carried 44 of the city's 52 wards.Bulletin Almanac 1956 27 Longstreth conceded defeat early in the evening, and said that he hoped for "an administration that will be good for all people and the progress of our great city".Inquirer 1955c The Philadelphia Inquirer described the result as "a ringing indorsement [sic] of the policies of Mayor Joseph S. Clark Jr., whose Democratic administration was the key issue in the fall ballot drive."Inquirer 1955c 1955 Philadelphia mayoral electionBulletin Almanac 1956 25 Democratic Party (United States) Richardson Dilworth 423,035 59.30 +1.24 Republican Party (United States) Thacher Longstreth 290,329 40.70 −1.24 District Attorney 1955 Philadelphia District Attorney election Philadelphia presidential no 1951 Philadelphia municipal election#District Attorney 1951 1957 Philadelphia municipal election#District Attorney 1957 Victor H. Blanc Democratic Party (United States) 425,362 60.19% 160x160px Wilhelm F. Knauer Republican Party (United States) 282,176 39.81% District Attorney Richardson Dilworth Democratic Party (United States) Victor H. Blanc Democratic Party (United States) For the open office of district attorney, vacated by Dilworth when he ran for mayor, the Democrats nominated city councilman Victor H. Blanc against the Republicans' Wilhelm F. Knauer. Blanc, a veteran of both World Wars and former assistant district attorney, had been elected to city council in an at-large seat in 1951.Inquirer 1955b During his time on the council, he was in charge of an investigation into corruption in construction at Philadelphia International Airport.Inquirer 1955b Knauer, a state deputy attorney general, was a long-time Republican party leader. His wife, Virginia Knauer, would later be elected to city council. As in the mayor's race, the Democrats were victorious, and Blanc was elected. His vote totals led the Democratic ticket, exceeding even Dilworth's numbers.Bulletin Almanac 1956 27 1955 Philadelphia district attorney electionBulletin Almanac 1956 25 Democratic Party (United States) Victor H. Blanc 425,362 60.19 +2.25 Republican Party (United States) Wilhelm F. Knauer 282,176 39.81 −2.25 City Council Philadelphians elected a seventeen-member city council in 1955, with ten members representing districts of the city, and the remaining seven being elected at-large. For the at-large seats, each political party could nominate five candidates, and voters could only vote for five, with the result being that the majority party could only take five of the seven seats, leaving two for the minority party. The Democrats' citywide dominance continued into the city council races, as they retained control of nine of ten districts and five of seven at-large seats.Inquirer 1955b In the at-large races, the two incumbent Democratic candidates, Victor E. Moore and Paul D'Ortona, led the ticket. Three other Democrats were also elected: John F. Byrne Sr., who had previously been councilman for the 10th district; Henry W. Sawyer, a civil rights lawyer; and Marshall L. Shepard, a clergyman who had served as Commissioner of Records.Inquirer 1955a On the Republican side, incumbent at-large councilman Louis Schwartz was re-elected. The other Republican incumbent, Donald C. Rubel, who had won a special election as an independent Republican backed by Democrats, lost his spot to Thomas M. Foglietta, a young lawyer and son of former councilman Michael Foglietta.Inquirer 1955a Also losing bids for the Republican at-large seats were real estate assessor F. Raymond Heuges and former magistrate Hobson R. Reynolds.Inquirer 1955b At the district level, Democratic incumbents Thomas I. Guerin (district 1), Harry Norwitch (district 3), Samuel Rose (district 4), Raymond Pace Alexander (district 5), Michael J. Towey (district 6), James Tate (district 7), and Charles M. Finley (district 9) were all reelected. In the 2nd district, Democrat Gaetano Giordano took the seat from Republican David Zwanetz, who was nominated when incumbent Republican William M. Phillips did not run for reelection. In the 8th, the Republicans evened the score as state representative Wilbur H. Hamilton narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Constance Dallas. Hamilton's brother, Robert S. Hamilton, had lost to Dallas four years earlier. In the final district council seat, the 10th, Democrat John M. McDevitt was elected to the seat previously held by Byrne.Inquirer 1955b The Inquirer called the Democratic downballot victories "a rebuke to Republican leaders who sought to tie in the campaign with the 1956 Presidential election," and credited the Democrats with campaigning "on the theory that the issues were purely local."Inquirer 1955c right At-large vote share by party Democratic 59.83 #0000FF Republican 40.17 #FF0000 1955 Philadelphia city council election, at largeBulletin Almanac 1956 25 Democratic Party (United States) Victor E. Moore (incumbent) 422,297 12.01 +0.43 Democratic Party (United States) Paul D'Ortona (incumbent) 422,234 12.01 +0.47 Democratic Party (United States) John F. Byrne Sr. 420,556 11.96 – Democratic Party (United States) Henry W. Sawyer 419,835 11.94 – Democratic Party (United States) Marshall L. Shepard 418,001 11.89 – Republican Party (United States) Thomas M. Foglietta 286,334 8.15 – Republican Party (United States) Louis Schwartz 283,300 8.06 −0.40 Republican Party (United States) F. Raymond Heuges 281,250 8.00 – Republican Party (United States) Donald C. Rubel 281,230 8.00 – Republican Party (United States) Hobson R. Reynolds 279,963 7.96 – thumb|Philadelphia city council districts after the 1955 election (Democrats in blue, Republicans in red) 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 1Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) Thomas I. Guerin (incumbent) 43,320 62.22 +4.44 Republican Party (United States) David A. Kraftsow 26,302 37.78 −4.44 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 2Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) Gaetano Giordano 40,524 58.75 +17.35 Republican Party (United States) David Zwanetz 28,453 41.25 −17.35 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 3Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) Harry Norwitch (incumbent) 44,079 59.59 −2.18 Republican Party (United States) Joseph P. McSweeny 29,896 40.41 +2.18 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 4Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) Samuel Rose (incumbent) 44,106 68.58 +6.58 Republican Party (United States) David E. Brodsky 20,203 31.42 −6.58 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 5Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) Raymond Pace Alexander (incumbent) 36,959 70.27 +12.17 Republican Party (United States) William Lynch 15,634 29.73 −12.17 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 6Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) Michael J. Towey (incumbent) 41,866 56.79 +1.74 Republican Party (United States) Frederick W. Schmidt 31,857 43.21 −1.74 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 7Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) James Tate (incumbent) 43,921 62.51 +0.53 Republican Party (United States) Charles K. Miller 26,341 37.49 −0.53 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 8Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Republican Party (United States) Wilbur H. Hamilton 30,086 49.95 +4.06 Democratic Party (United States) Constance Dallas 29,630 49.19 −4.92 Constitution J. Warren Keel 520 0.86 +0.86 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 9Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) Charles M. Finley (incumbent) 49,750 61.61 −1.77 Republican Party (United States) Arthur M. Soll 30,997 38.39 +1.77 1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 10Bulletin Almanac 1956 26 Democratic Party (United States) John M. McDevitt 50,126 54.54 −5.82 Republican Party (United States) Louis R. Iannarelli 41,787 45.46 +5.82 Other offices and ballot measures The Democrats' success continued in the down-ballot races. Democratic city commissioners Maurice S. Osser and Thomas P. McHenry were reelected as was Republican Walter I. Davidson. William M. Lennox was reelected county sheriff and Joseph A. Scanlon was reelected clerk of the court of quarter sessions (a court whose jurisdiction is now exercised by the court of common pleas).Bulletin Almanac 1956 25 The Democrats also took four of the seven magisterial district judge positions up for election that year (a local court, the duties of which are now performed by the Philadelphia Municipal Court).Bulletin Almanac 1956 27 The ballot contained two referendums authorizing the city to take loans for construction of medical facilities, streets, sewers, playgrounds, and other civic improvements. They passed with overwhelming support, each tallying 84% affirmative votes.Inquirer 1955d 1955 Philadelphia city commissioners electionBulletin Almanac 1956 25 Democratic Party (United States) Maurice S. Osser (incumbent) 421,134 29.86 +0.99 Democratic Party (United States) Thomas P. McHenry (incumbent) 421,054 29.86 +0.98 Republican Party (United States) Walter I. Davidson 284,602 20.18 -0.96 Republican Party (United States) John J. McGarvey 283,439 20.01 -1.11 1955 Philadelphia sheriff electionInquirer 1955e Democratic Party (United States) William M. Lennox 420,206 59.81 +1.99 Republican Party (United States) J. Russell Gibbons 282,359 40.19 -1.99 1955 Philadelphia clerk of courts electionInquirer 1955e Democratic Party (United States) Joseph A. Scanlon 415,346 59.85 +2.20 Republican Party (United States) Nicholas A. Cipriani 278,674 40.15 -2.20 See also List of members of Philadelphia City Council since 1952 References 26em Sources Book Bulletin Almanac 1956 1956 The Philadelphia Bulletin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 8641470 Bulletin Almanac 1956 Mayer Michael F. The Eisenhower Years 2010 Facts on File, Inc. New York, New York 978-0-8160-5387-2 https://books.google.com/books?id=dIhZxpoZVIQC Newspapers Dallas Loses by 457, Party's Lone Casualty The Philadelphia Inquirer November 9, 1955 Inquirer 1955b Dilworth Landslide Sinks GOP in Phila. Delaware County Daily Times November 9, 1955 https://www.newspapers.com/image/65028166 Daily Times 1955b Emotions Tell Vote Story at Party Quarters The Philadelphia Inquirer November 9, 1955 Inquirer 1955c Longstreth Snubs GOP, But Gets Party Backing Delaware County Daily Times June 10, 1955 https://www.newspapers.com/image/65006090 Daily Times 1955a Schwartz, Rubel, Foglietta Victors The Philadelphia Inquirer May 18, 1955 Inquirer 1955a Voters Approve 2 Phila. Loans For Projects The Philadelphia Inquirer November 9, 1955 Inquirer 1955d City Results At a Glance The Philadelphia Inquirer November 10, 1955 https://www.newspapers.com/image/177498385 Newspapers.com Inquirer 1955e Loftus William C. Longstreth, Dilworth Philadelphia Winners https://www.newspapers.com/image/65003361 Delaware County Daily Times May 18, 1955 Miller Joseph H. Democrats win by 122,000 The Philadelphia Inquirer November 9, 1951 Neal Steve Political Giant Joseph Clark Dead At 88 http://articles.philly.com/1990-01-15/news/25905842_1_mayoral-election-public-servant-first-democratic-mayor https://web.archive.org/web/20131020033007/http://articles.philly.com/1990-01-15/news/25905842_1_mayoral-election-public-servant-first-democratic-mayor dead October 20, 2013 The Philadelphia Inquirer January 15, 1990 Philadelphia 1955 Philadelphia Category:Mayoral elections in Philadelphia Category:1950s in Philadelphia Philadelphia Category:Municipal elections in Philadelphia