Why Philly’s mayoral candidates are hardly campaigning

Do Philly voters even know there's a mayoral primary going on? Why is the campaign so quiet, even as outside groups pour money into the race?

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Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, center, is being challenged by former City Controller Alan Butkowitz, left, and state Sen. Anthony Williams, right. (WHYY file)

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, center, is being challenged by former City Controller Alan Butkowitz, left, and state Sen. Anthony Williams, right. (WHYY file)

Do Philadelphia voters even know there’s a mayor’s race going on? Mayor Jim Kenney is being challenged by former City Controller Alan Butkowitz and state Sen. Anthony Williams — which is strange, because an established politician hardly ever challenges an incumbent mayor. What’s even more unusual is how quiet the primary has been, especially when outside groups are pouring so much money into the race. WHYY senior reporter Dave Davies explains why this is one of the weirdest campaigns he’s ever covered on this episode of The Why.

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