Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah
Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah insists he'll seek re-election despite being
indicted for corruption charges, but no one's really sure who will make it to the 2016 ballot. If Fattah ends up resigning after being convicted (which is perhaps the most likely outcome),
Democratic ward leaders, led by neighboring Rep. and Philadelphia Democratic Party head Bob Brady, would choose the party's nominee for a special election. The Democratic candidate would have absolutely no trouble winning PA-02, which voted for Obama by a
90-9 margin, and the new representative would not be easy to unseat in a primary.
As Roll Call's Emily Cahn points out, serious prospective Democratic candidates are unlikely to risk angering the Philadelphia Democratic establishment by kicking off their campaigns anytime soon. But it's also quite possible that Fattah doesn't end up resigning before the April primary. Over at Philadelphia Magazine, Holly Otterbein games out some potential scenarios.
If Fattah decides to retire rather than resign, we could see a crazy primary, and there really are no shortage of potential candidates. Some familiar names include outgoing Mayor Michael Nutter, Council President Darrell Clarke, state Sen. Vincent Hughes, and District Attorney Seth Williams. When the Philadelphia Inquirer asked Nutter and Williams about their plans, they each deflected the question, which is exactly what they should be doing right now if they have any interest in succeeding Fattah.
But if Fattah seeks re-election with an indictment (but not a conviction) over his head, there's a good chance he could actually win renomination. Fattah does have plenty of allies left who wouldn't oppose him, and some other possible rivals like Williams and Clarke could need to resign from their current positions if they wanted to run. However, Fattah only has a measly $24,000 on hand, and it's possible that someone will decide to take him on. Fattah could also defy the odds and win in court, which would likely ensure his re-election.