From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!
“They say I’m too young, because they can’t say I’m not capable,” Shania Bennett said during a kickoff event for her campaign for mayor of Philadelphia.
At 26, Bennett is not only one of the youngest mayoral candidates in city history, but she is also the first candidate to announce a bid to run against her former boss, incumbent Mayor Cherelle Parker, in the Democratic primary.
“Every time someone tells me I am too young, I will remind them that leadership is not measured by how many birthdays you had,” she said. “Every time someone tells me that I’m too young, I’ll ask them, am I too young to care? Am I too young to understand?”
At 18, Bennett became one of the youngest committee members in the city’s history in South Philadelphia’s 48th Ward and was elected ward treasurer. Until she resigned in May, she served as Parker’s director of Youth Engagement.
“Yes, I’m significantly younger than our current leadership, but the potholes are old, and the excuses are even older,” Bennett said to a crowd of supporters.
Many of Bennett’s supporters said they were frustrated with Philadelphia’s current leadership, arguing not enough is being done quickly enough to address issues such as education and infrastructure.
Anjalee Pai, 25, said she hopes Bennett will improve city roads.
“I want transparency on where funds are going, especially with the conditions of the roads,” she said. “It really affects day-to-day life.”
For many of her supporters, school closures across the city are a top priority. Starting in the 2027-28 academic year, 17 schools are set to close after the Philadelphia Board of Education approved a controversial facilities plan meant to consolidate resources.
Delina Charles, a student at Thomas Jefferson University, said Philadelphia faces an “interconnected crisis that affects every single household”.
“When we shut down schools, we shut down centers for science and discovery. We are telling our students that their growth is secondary. … We are shutting the doors on the very youth who are ready to lead us forward,” Charles said.
Bennett has not released a detailed policy platform. She said her campaign has faced questions about “what kind of Democrat” she is, wanting her to further identify as a Socialist or Progressive.
“I want to be very clear. I will be whatever works for Philadelphia,” she said. “Because I do not think it’s progressive or socialist for Philadelphians to have a government [that] prioritizes them.”
