Philadelphia in 2025 isn’t just about the usual Democrat-versus-Republican battle, and that’s something people need to understand right away.
Yes, the city has always leaned blue, but at this point, the bigger struggle is happening inside the Democratic Party itself.
On one side, you have the reform-focused, more moderate Democrats who have traditionally run the city.
On the other, there’s a growing wave of progressives pushing for big structural changes, and that internal split is really shaping Philly politics right now.
So, let’s start with what’s happening in the City Council because that’s where a lot of these shifts have been playing out.
Philadelphia has an unusual system where seven of the City Council seats are elected at-large, meaning the entire city votes for them.
However, no single party is allowed to run more than five candidates, which is why five Democrats and two Republicans have always filled those seats—until recently.
Back in 2019, Kendra Brooks from the Working Families Party shook things up by winning one of the at-large seats that had traditionally gone to a Republican.
Then, in 2023, Nicolas O’Rourke, also from the Working Families Party, won the second at-large Republican seat.
Just like that, the Republicans were completely shut out of those spots for the first time in modern history, and progressives saw it as a major win.
But, as we’ve seen over and over again in politics, things don’t stay the same for long.
In 2024, Republican votes in Philly actually started creeping back up, which is something many people didn’t expect.
Not only did the GOP improve their numbers, but they also won a state Senate seat in the city for the first time in two decades.
Now, does this mean a Republican takeover is coming? Probably not.
But it does raise an important question—was the progressive surge of the last few years a lasting shift, or was it more of a temporary reaction to Trump-era politics?
For now, Brooks and O’Rourke are safe in their seats until 2027, but their victories don’t look as secure as they did a couple of years ago.
At the same time, Mayor Cherelle Parker, who took office in 2023, is making it clear that she’s not following the same progressive path as some of the newer members of the City Council.
Yes, she’s a Democrat, but she’s focused on traditional priorities like public safety, economic development, and keeping the city clean—rather than the big social justice reforms that some of her party’s progressive members have been pushing.
One of her biggest moves has been increasing the police budget so the city can hire 400 more officers.
She also appointed Kevin Bethel as police commissioner, a longtime Philly cop known for his work on juvenile justice and diversion programs.
For some, this is exactly the kind of leadership the city needs, especially with public safety being a top concern for many voters.
For others, though, it feels like a step backward, reinforcing old policing strategies instead of addressing the root causes of crime.
And that brings us to one of the biggest flashpoints in this debate—Kensington.
If you’re familiar with Philadelphia, you know that Kensington has long struggled with open-air drug markets and some of the highest overdose rates in the country.
For years, multiple administrations have tried to address the issue, but nothing has made a noticeable difference.
Now, Parker has made it clear that cleaning up Kensington is one of her top priorities.
She’s already started pushing for more police intervention, shutting down encampments, and trying to make the area safer for businesses and residents.
But here’s where opinions start to split.
Some people see this as a necessary move—after all, crime, addiction, and homelessness have made parts of Kensington almost unlivable.
Others, however, argue that simply cracking down without investing in long-term solutions, like addiction treatment and housing support, is just going to push the problem elsewhere.
While all of this is happening, another major election in 2025 could bring even more big changes—the race for district attorney.
Larry Krasner has been in office since 2017, and from day one, he’s been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform.
His policies have focused on reducing mass incarceration, holding police accountable, and moving away from aggressive sentencing.
Back in 2021, he won reelection without too much trouble.
But this time, things could be different.
With Parker’s law-and-order approach gaining support and crime still a major concern for voters, Krasner may be facing a much tougher primary than before.
Historically, the DA’s office in Philly has been dominated by more conservative Democrats and even some Republicans.
So, if Krasner’s progressive approach doesn’t sit well with voters this time around, we could see a shift back toward a more traditional, tough-on-crime candidate.
Now, as if all of that weren’t enough, there’s also the fact that Philadelphia has to deal with the new Trump administration.
Even though the city is overwhelmingly Democratic, the federal government still has a big impact on local policies.
And if history is any indication, the relationship between Philly and Trump isn’t going to be smooth.
The last time Trump was in office, he went after Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policies, trying to pull federal funding as punishment for not cooperating with immigration enforcement.
Mayor Jim Kenney fought back, and the city ultimately kept its sanctuary status.
But now, Trump is talking about mass deportations and even using the military to enforce immigration policies, which could make things even more difficult for Philadelphia.
This is especially concerning because immigration greatly affects the city’s economy.
Studies from the Pew Charitable Trusts show that immigrants in Philly are younger, more likely to be working, and more likely to start businesses than native-born residents.
Thus, if Trump’s crackdown is as aggressive as he promises, it could hurt the city’s workforce and slow economic growth.
On the topic of economic setbacks, let’s talk about the collapse of the 76ers’ downtown arena project.
At first, it seemed like a done deal—the City Council voted 12-5 in favor of it in December 2024.
Then, only weeks later, the entire thing was scrapped.
Some people believe the Sixers never intended to move downtown and were simply using the project to negotiate a better deal at Wells Fargo Center.
Meanwhile, Chinatown businesses and community groups who fought hard against the arena now feel like they are being strung along.
And what does this mean for Market East?
The area was supposed to be one of Philly’s most active commercial districts, but instead, it’s struggling.
The Fashion District, which opened in 2019, has been hit hard by bankruptcies and store closures, and now Macy’s is shutting down its store in the historic Wanamaker Building.
Without a clear plan for revitalization, Market East is looking rough heading into 2025.
There is some good news, though.
One major project that’s actually moving forward is the plan to build a park over part of I-95, reconnecting the Delaware Riverfront to Society Hill and Old City.
If all goes according to plan, it should be completed during Parker’s first term, and it could help boost property values and economic activity in the area.
Nonetheless, housing is still a concern.
While Philly’s housing market isn’t as out of control as New York or Los Angeles, affordability is becoming more of a challenge.
For now, things have stayed relatively stable thanks to a construction boom in 2021 when developers rushed to take advantage of tax incentives before they changed.
That led to a surge in new housing projects, but now that wave is slowing down, and as fewer new homes get built, prices could start rising again.
A question on many people’s minds is: Where does this leave Philadelphia in 2025?
Well, it’s clear that the city is at a turning point, dealing with shifting political power, crime and policing debates, economic uncertainty, and major decisions about urban development.
Will Philly stick with progressive policies, or is the pendulum swinging back toward a more moderate approach?
Right now, it’s hard to say, but one thing’s for sure—2025 is going to be a year full of big decisions.
