PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A former longtime Philadelphia councilman with strong union backing is poised to become the city’s next mayor after winning a six-way Democratic primary.

Jim Kenney captured the nomination despite a pro-charter school group spending nearly $7 million in support of challenger Anthony Hardy Williams, a state senator.

The victory all but assures Kenney will be the next mayor of the nation’s fifth largest city, where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 7-1.

Early results show the 57-year-old Kenney beating Williams by about a 3-1 margin.

Kenney served on the council for 23 years. He wants to end police stop and frisk, provide universal pre-kindergarten education and raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Two-term Mayor Michael Nutter could not seek another term.

Kenney faces Republican Melissa Murray Bailey in November.

Source – http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/05/19/primary-win-sets-up-jim-kenney-to-be-philadelphia-mayor/