Mayoral Elections (1947-1919)

The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter of 1951 (April 17) prohibited a mayor from serving more than two consecutive terms.

Mayor

Year

Votes

Opponent

Votes

Diff

B. Samuel

R

1947

413,091

R. Dilworth

D

321,469

91,622

B. Samuel

R

1943

346,297

Bill Bullitt

D

282,832

63,465

Lamberton

R

1939

398,384

Bob White

D

361,143

37,241

Sam Wilson

R

1935

379,222

John Kelly

D

333,825

45,397

Joe Moore

R

1931

362,329

Donahue

D

31,330

H. Mackey

R

1927

296,959

H. Moore

C

128,611

W. Kendrick

R

1923

286,398

Ray Raff

D

37,239

JoeMoore

R

1919

227,739

H.Wescott

D

30,408

The City Charter of 1919, widely considered Philadelphia’s first “modern” charter was largely instituted by the then-young Committee of Seventy, and documented many necessities, requiring municipal services, like garbage collection, be the responsibility of the city, decreasing city council membership and limiting members to that one position.