
A Democratic primary that will likely determine who becomes Philadelphia’s next mayor could boost a progressive cause struggling to make a comeback after national setbacks, but with no clear front-runner it's just as likely to fortify the city's existing Democratic machine.
Not one of the five top candidates has emerged as a clear favorite in Tuesday's primary, a digression from mayoral races in recent history, said Richardson Dilworth, author of the book “Reforming Philadelphia,” which examines the city’s government over the course of 350 years.