1955 Philadelphia municipal election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1955 Philadelphia mayoral election

| country = Philadelphia

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1951 Philadelphia mayoral election

| previous_year = 1951

| next_election = 1959 Philadelphia mayoral election

| next_year = 1959

| election_date = November 8, 1955

| image1 = 160x160px

| nominee1 = Richardson Dilworth

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 423,035

| percentage1 = 59.30%

| image2 = 160x160px

| nominee2 = Thacher Longstreth

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 290,329

| percentage2 = 40.70%

| map_image = 1955PhiladelphiaMayorByWard.png

| map_size =

| map_caption = Ward-level results in the mayor's race, with Dilworth in blue and Longstreth in red

| title = Mayor

| before_election = Joseph S. Clark Jr.

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Richardson Dilworth

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

In the mayor's race, incumbent Democrat Joseph S. Clark Jr., who had earlier declared he would serve only one term, did not run for reelection.{{sfn|Neal|1990}} He instead ran for election to the United States Senate in 1956 and was successful, serving in the Senate for twelve years.{{sfn|Neal|1990}} For the open seat, Democrat Richardson Dilworth ran against Republican Thacher Longstreth.{{sfn|Daily Times 1955b}}

After service in World War I and a law degree from Yale, Dilworth practiced law in Philadelphia.{{sfn|Mayer|2010|p=149}} He and Clark were allies in the anti-corruption reform effort that had swept the city four years earlier.{{sfn|Mayer|2010|p=149}} Dilworth had run for mayor unsuccessfully in 1947, with Clark as his campaign manager. In 1949, he was elected City Treasurer. He resigned that post to run for governor in 1950, but was defeated by Republican John S. Fine.{{sfn|Daily Times 1955b}} Democratic party leaders had intended Dilworth to be their candidate for mayor again in 1951, but when Clark announced his candidacy, Dilworth agreed to run for district attorney instead.{{sfn|Neal|1990}} He won, taking just shy of 58% of the vote.{{sfn|Miller|1951}} In the primary election in May, Dilworth easily defeated his underfunded opponent, William A. Paschall, a local meat dealer.{{sfn|Loftus|1955}}

The Republicans nominated Thacher Longstreth, a 35-year-old advertising executive who had never run for office before.{{sfn|Daily Times 1955b}} He emerged the victor of a four-way primary contest over George P. Williams (the Republican leadership's preferred candidate), city magistrate James J. Clothier, and Oscar H. Newman, a deputy constable.{{sfn|Loftus|1955}} Longstreth's campaign got off to a rocky start when he broke with the city Republican organization over their failure to elect his preferred candidate, John M. Pomeroy, as chairman of the Republican City Committee.{{sfn|Daily Times 1955a}} Although he did receive a campaign visit and endorsement from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Longstreth had little other assistance from the Republican party machine and ran as an "Independent Republican".{{sfn|Daily Times 1955b}} Republicans still held an edge in voter registration in 1955, but their share of the electorate continued to decline over previous years.{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=28}}

The result was a landslide for Dilworth.{{sfn|Daily Times 1955b}} In an election with higher than expected turnout, the Democrat took 59% of the vote, a slight increase over the party's tally from the mayoral contest of four years earlier.{{sfn|Daily Times 1955b}} The Democrats carried 44 of the city's 52 wards.{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=27}} Longstreth conceded defeat early in the evening, and said that he hoped for "an administration that will be good for all people and the progress of our great city".{{sfn|Inquirer 1955c}} The Philadelphia Inquirer described the result as "a ringing indorsement [sic] of the policies of Mayor Joseph S. Clark Jr., whose Democratic administration was the key issue in the fall ballot drive."{{sfn|Inquirer 1955c}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia mayoral election{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=25}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Richardson Dilworth

|votes = 423,035

|percentage = 59.30

|change = +1.24

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Thacher Longstreth

|votes = 290,329

|percentage = 40.70

|change = −1.24

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Clear}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1955 Philadelphia District Attorney election

| country = Philadelphia

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1951 Philadelphia municipal election#District Attorney

| previous_year = 1951

| next_election = 1957 Philadelphia municipal election#District Attorney

| next_year = 1957

| election_date =

| image1 =

| nominee1 = Victor H. Blanc

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 425,362

| percentage1 = 60.19%

| image2 = 160x160px

| nominee2 = Wilhelm F. Knauer

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 282,176

| percentage2 = 39.81%

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| title = District Attorney

| before_election = Richardson Dilworth

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Victor H. Blanc

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

For the open office of district attorney, vacated by Dilworth when he ran for mayor, the Democrats nominated city councilman Victor H. Blanc against the Republicans' Wilhelm F. Knauer. Blanc, a veteran of both World Wars and former assistant district attorney, had been elected to city council in an at-large seat in 1951.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955b}} During his time on the council, he was in charge of an investigation into corruption in construction at Philadelphia International Airport.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955b}} Knauer, a state deputy attorney general, was a long-time Republican party leader. His wife, Virginia Knauer, would later be elected to city council. As in the mayor's race, the Democrats were victorious, and Blanc was elected. His vote totals led the Democratic ticket, exceeding even Dilworth's numbers.{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=27}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia district attorney election{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=25}} }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Victor H. Blanc

|votes = 425,362

|percentage = 60.19

|change = +2.25

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Wilhelm F. Knauer

|votes = 282,176

|percentage = 39.81

|change = −2.25

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Clear}}

Philadelphians elected a seventeen-member city council in 1955, with ten members representing districts of the city, and the remaining seven being elected at-large. For the at-large seats, each political party could nominate five candidates, and voters could only vote for five, with the result being that the majority party could only take five of the seven seats, leaving two for the minority party. The Democrats' citywide dominance continued into the city council races, as they retained control of nine of ten districts and five of seven at-large seats.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955b}}

In the at-large races, the two incumbent Democratic candidates, Victor E. Moore and Paul D'Ortona, led the ticket. Three other Democrats were also elected: John F. Byrne Sr., who had previously been councilman for the 10th district; Henry W. Sawyer, a civil rights lawyer; and Marshall L. Shepard, a clergyman who had served as Commissioner of Records.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955a}} On the Republican side, incumbent at-large councilman Louis Schwartz was re-elected. The other Republican incumbent, Donald C. Rubel, who had won a special election as an independent Republican backed by Democrats, lost his spot to Thomas M. Foglietta, a young lawyer and son of former councilman Michael Foglietta.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955a}} Also losing bids for the Republican at-large seats were real estate assessor F. Raymond Heuges and former magistrate Hobson R. Reynolds.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955b}}

At the district level, Democratic incumbents Thomas I. Guerin (district 1), Harry Norwitch (district 3), Samuel Rose (district 4), Raymond Pace Alexander (district 5), Michael J. Towey (district 6), James Tate (district 7), and Charles M. Finley (district 9) were all reelected. In the 2nd district, Democrat Gaetano Giordano took the seat from Republican David Zwanetz, who was nominated when incumbent Republican William M. Phillips did not run for reelection. In the 8th, the Republicans evened the score as state representative Wilbur H. Hamilton narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Constance Dallas. Hamilton's brother, Robert S. Hamilton, had lost to Dallas four years earlier. In the final district council seat, the 10th, Democrat John M. McDevitt was elected to the seat previously held by Byrne.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955b}} The Inquirer called the Democratic downballot victories "a rebuke to Republican leaders who sought to tie in the campaign with the 1956 Presidential election," and credited the Democrats with campaigning "on the theory that the issues were purely local."{{sfn|Inquirer 1955c}}

{{Pie chart

| thumb = right

| caption = At-large vote share by party

| other =

| label1 =Democratic

| value1 =59.83

| color1 =#0000FF

| label2 =Republican

| value2 =40.17

| color2 =#FF0000

}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, at large{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=25}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Victor E. Moore (incumbent)

|votes = 422,297

|percentage = 12.01

|change = +0.43

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Paul D'Ortona (incumbent)

|votes = 422,234

|percentage = 12.01

|change = +0.47

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John F. Byrne Sr.

|votes = 420,556

|percentage = 11.96

|change = –

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Henry W. Sawyer

|votes = 419,835

|percentage = 11.94

|change = –

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Marshall L. Shepard

|votes = 418,001

|percentage = 11.89

|change = –

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Thomas M. Foglietta

|votes = 286,334

|percentage = 8.15

|change = –

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Louis Schwartz

|votes = 283,300

|percentage = 8.06

|change = −0.40

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = F. Raymond Heuges

|votes = 281,250

|percentage = 8.00

|change = –

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Donald C. Rubel

|votes = 281,230

|percentage = 8.00

|change = –

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Hobson R. Reynolds

|votes = 279,963

|percentage = 7.96

|change = –

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Philadelphia city council districts 1955.png

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 1{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Thomas I. Guerin (incumbent)

|votes = 43,320

|percentage = 62.22

|change = +4.44

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = David A. Kraftsow

|votes = 26,302

|percentage = 37.78

|change = −4.44

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 2{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Gaetano Giordano

|votes = 40,524

|percentage = 58.75

|change = +17.35

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = David Zwanetz

|votes = 28,453

|percentage = 41.25

|change = −17.35

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 3{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Harry Norwitch (incumbent)

|votes = 44,079

|percentage = 59.59

|change = −2.18

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Joseph P. McSweeny

|votes = 29,896

|percentage = 40.41

|change = +2.18

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 4{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Samuel Rose (incumbent)

|votes = 44,106

|percentage = 68.58

|change = +6.58

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = David E. Brodsky

|votes = 20,203

|percentage = 31.42

|change = −6.58

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 5{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Raymond Pace Alexander (incumbent)

|votes = 36,959

|percentage = 70.27

|change = +12.17

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = William Lynch

|votes = 15,634

|percentage = 29.73

|change = −12.17

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 6{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Michael J. Towey (incumbent)

|votes = 41,866

|percentage = 56.79

|change = +1.74

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Frederick W. Schmidt

|votes = 31,857

|percentage = 43.21

|change = −1.74

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 7{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = James Tate (incumbent)

|votes = 43,921

|percentage = 62.51

|change = +0.53

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Charles K. Miller

|votes = 26,341

|percentage = 37.49

|change = −0.53

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 8{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Wilbur H. Hamilton

|votes = 30,086

|percentage = 49.95

|change = +4.06

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Constance Dallas

|votes = 29,630

|percentage = 49.19

|change = −4.92

}}

{{Election box candidate

|party = Constitution

|candidate = J. Warren Keel

|votes = 520

|percentage = 0.86

|change = +0.86

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 9{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Charles M. Finley (incumbent)

|votes = 49,750

|percentage = 61.61

|change = −1.77

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Arthur M. Soll

|votes = 30,997

|percentage = 38.39

|change = +1.77

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city council election, district 10{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=26}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John M. McDevitt

|votes = 50,126

|percentage = 54.54

|change = −5.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Louis R. Iannarelli

|votes = 41,787

|percentage = 45.46

|change = +5.82

}}

{{Election box end}}

The Democrats' success continued in the down-ballot races. Democratic city commissioners Maurice S. Osser and Thomas P. McHenry were reelected as was Republican Walter I. Davidson. William M. Lennox was reelected county sheriff and Joseph A. Scanlon was reelected clerk of the court of quarter sessions (a court whose jurisdiction is now exercised by the court of common pleas).{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=25}} The Democrats also took four of the seven magisterial district judge positions up for election that year (a local court, the duties of which are now performed by the Philadelphia Municipal Court).{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=27}} The ballot contained two referendums authorizing the city to take loans for construction of medical facilities, streets, sewers, playgrounds, and other civic improvements. They passed with overwhelming support, each tallying 84% affirmative votes.{{sfn|Inquirer 1955d}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia city commissioners election{{sfn|Bulletin Almanac 1956|p=25}} }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Maurice S. Osser (incumbent)

|votes = 421,134

|percentage = 29.86

|change = +0.99

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Thomas P. McHenry (incumbent)

|votes = 421,054

|percentage = 29.86

|change = +0.98

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Walter I. Davidson

|votes = 284,602

|percentage = 20.18

|change = -0.96

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = John J. McGarvey

|votes = 283,439

|percentage = 20.01

|change = -1.11

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |title=1955 Philadelphia sheriff election{{sfn|Inquirer 1955e}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = William M. Lennox

|votes = 420,206

|percentage = 59.81

|change = +1.99

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = J. Russell Gibbons

|votes = 282,359

|percentage = 40.19

|change = -1.99

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=1955 Philadelphia clerk of courts election{{sfn|Inquirer 1955e}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Joseph A. Scanlon

|votes = 415,346

|percentage = 59.85

|change = +2.20

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Nicholas A. Cipriani

|votes = 278,674

|percentage = 40.15

|change = -2.20

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of members of Philadelphia City Council since 1952

{{reflist | colwidth = 26em | refs = }}

{{refbegin}}

Book

• {{cite book|title=Bulletin Almanac 1956 |date=1956 |publisher=The Philadelphia Bulletin |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |oclc=8641470 |ref={{sfnRef|Bulletin Almanac 1956}} }}
• {{cite book|last=Mayer|first=Michael F.|title=The Eisenhower Years|date=2010|publisher=Facts on File, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=978-0-8160-5387-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dIhZxpoZVIQC}}

Newspapers

• {{cite news|title=Dallas Loses by 457, Party's Lone Casualty|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=November 9, 1955|ref={{sfnRef|Inquirer 1955b}} }}
• {{cite news|title=Dilworth Landslide Sinks GOP in Phila.|work=Delaware County Daily Times|date=November 9, 1955|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/65028166|ref={{sfnRef|Daily Times 1955b}} }}
• {{cite news|title=Emotions Tell Vote Story at Party Quarters|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=November 9, 1955|ref={{sfnRef|Inquirer 1955c}} }}
• {{cite news|title=Longstreth Snubs GOP, But Gets Party Backing|work=Delaware County Daily Times|date=June 10, 1955|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/65006090|ref={{sfnRef|Daily Times 1955a}} }}
• {{cite news|title=Schwartz, Rubel, Foglietta Victors|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=May 18, 1955|ref={{sfnRef|Inquirer 1955a}} }}
• {{cite news|title=Voters Approve 2 Phila. Loans For Projects|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=November 9, 1955|ref={{sfnRef|Inquirer 1955d}} }}
• {{cite news|title=City Results At a Glance|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 10, 1955 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/177498385 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|Inquirer 1955e}} }}
• {{cite news|last=Loftus|first=William C.|title=Longstreth, Dilworth Philadelphia Winners|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/65003361|work=Delaware County Daily Times|date=May 18, 1955}}
• {{cite news|last=Miller|first=Joseph H.|title=Democrats win by 122,000|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=November 9, 1951}}
• {{cite news|last=Neal|first=Steve|title=Political Giant Joseph Clark Dead At 88|url=http://articles.philly.com/1990-01-15/news/25905842_1_mayoral-election-public-servant-first-democratic-mayor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020033007/http://articles.philly.com/1990-01-15/news/25905842_1_mayoral-election-public-servant-first-democratic-mayor|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2013|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=January 15, 1990}}

{{refend}}

{{1955 United States elections}}

Philadelphia

1955

Philadelphia

Category:Mayoral elections in Philadelphia

Category:1950s in Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Category:Municipal elections in Philadelphia