AOC endorsed Helen Gym for Philly mayor, becoming the latest national figure to back her candidacy

[RandySF]

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday endorsed Helen Gym for Philadelphia mayor, becoming the latest in a string of celebrities and Democrats with national profiles to back her candidacy.

“Helen isn’t afraid to take on tough fights or go up against big special interests,” Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) said in a statement. “And when she does, she wins.”

In a statement, Gym said she was “honored” to receive the endorsement, saying, “From Philly to New York to Chicago, a bold grassroots movement grounded in meeting people’s basic needs is sweeping the country.”

Gym, who has before been compared to Ocasio-Cortez, has amassed a handful of endorsements from progressives across the country, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. She’s also been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D., N.Y.) and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.), who are Ocasio-Cortez’ fellow members of “the Squad,” a group of left-leaning lawmakers in Congress.

And she’s won the backing of a few celebrities from outside Philadelphia, including actor and longtime environmental activist Mark Ruffalo and actress Jane Fonda, whose climate-change focused political action committee contributed to Gym’s campaign.



https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/helen-gym-aoc-endorsement-philly-mayors-race-20230501.html

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. Yeah, I'm going to pass on Gym.

She talks a good game but she lacks substance. She has no answers on how to pay for her massive spending plans and there’s a lot of inconsistencies in her record. I’ve ruled her out.

[RobinA]

2. I've Come

to same conclusion. I can't vote for mayor because I'm in the 'burbs, but I do follow the race. I originally liked Gym, but I've heard some jaw droppers from. Some of her ideas seem massively expensive. I'm going with Rynhart. To me, all the others just seem like more of the same.

[BlueTsunami2018]

4. I'm down to two.

Rhynhart or Parker. My union has endorsed Parker and I like her well enough but I also like Rhynhart‘s experience as controller. She understands the city’s financial machinations on a different level than the others.

[mvd]

3. No surprise since AOC is a favorite of mine

Philly is the poorest big city in the U.S. and needs bold ideas. A couple things in Gym’s record give me pause, but I am willing to bet on Gym.

[Demsrule86]

5. No, we need to win.