Nic O'Rourke

Nicolas O'Rourke is running to represent working families in Philadelphia's City Council. 

Nicolas O'Rourke for Philadelphia City Council

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

I believe that we must build a climate resilient Philadelphia. As a city councilperson I am committed to supporting Philadelphians in accessing new state funding through the PA Home Repair Program championed by Senator Nikil Saval. I support greening neighborhoods and investing in a green new deal for schools.&nbsp;I also support shifting our reliance and subsidizing of fossil fuels. I believe that we as a city can change the way that we procure energy through investment in long term contracts for wind and solar energy.

The climate crisis is here, and it’s being felt in working-class and communities of color across Philadelphia. From investing in green solutions for our lower income neighborhoods to creating green solutions in our schools, we can reduce the impact of climate change in Philadelphia together.

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Advance climate justice.

I believe that addressing poverty and access to good paying, secure jobs and housing is critical to addressing the issues of gun violence in our city. I know that investing in housing repairs and improving the quality of life in the most violence impacted parts of the city is critical to addressing gun violence. That is why as a council member I will support community based anti-violence initiatives focused on physical rehabilitation of our neighborhoods. This includes Whole Home Repairs as well as funding and rehabbing our community spaces such as libraries and rec centers.&nbsp;

Every Philadelphian deserves the opportunity to have stable work, a living wage, secure benefits and protections in their workplace, and an economy where they can thrive.

Create an economy that supports families.

I believe that what we build must be affordable and accessible and should benefit Philadelphia’s laborers and workers. Philadelphia is not just a city for the wealthy and our liveability shouldn’t be determined by how what suits the wealthy. A livable Philadelphia means good, union jobs and opportunities for our youth. As a city council member, I am committed to fighting for funding for youth employment and apprenticeship initiatives.&nbsp;

The housing in Philadelphia is becoming less affordable and accessible and new development isn’t meeting the needs of our city. We need to build on the momentum of the City Council’s work to prevent evictions and create more protections for tenants by working to develop new truly affordable housing for all Philadelphians.&nbsp;

Develop affordable, accessible housing. 

I believe that focusing on our youth is imperative to solving the gun violence crisis in Philadelphia. In the United States, we are currently experiencing an adolescent mental health crisis. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html">Nearly 20%</a> of children have a reported behavioral health disorder and from 2009 to 2019, there was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm#:~:text=More%20than%201%20in%203,a%2044%25%20increase%20since%202009.">a 40% increase</a> in students who have persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. In a world where young people don’t have hope and don’t have outlets to talk about their feelings, they often make bad decisions including turning to violence. In order to ensure Philadelphia’s future safety, I know that we must engage our youth in opportunities that center their joy, interests, and health.In council I will work with fellow council persons to secure funding to expand the city's pars and recreation budget to provide critical interventions towards deterring youth gun violence. Libraries, recreation centers, and other communal spaces are important points of contact and intervention for Philadelphia youth and are critical to fighting the underlying mental health crisis, building relationships with service providers and first responders, and supporting families with vital community services.

Like many of you, I have felt the effects of gun violence first hand as it continues to run through my community in Philadelphia. I am concerned about the safety of our community, especially as our youth continue to be impacted by gun violence at alarming rates.

Eliminate gun violence.

I've been a community organizer in Philadelphia focused on shifting our approach to justice for many years. From the many conversations I've had with Philadelphians directly impacted by the existing system I have learned that we must shift the way that we invest in our communities. As a council person I will champion funding for community responder model, ensuring that emergencies are met met with immediate responses that prioritize health and safety, and are tailored to the situation at hand. I support mobile crisis units, mental health interventions, and expanding the city's 911 triage and Co-Responder Program, designed to connect residents experiencing behavioral health crises to the timely support they need.

Our current punitive carceral system promotes the cycle of recidivism rather than innovating to increase rehabilitation. By recognizing this, we can make our communities safer by ensuring sufficient resources to break cycles of violence and crime and make sure those who do not belong in prison don’t end up there in the first place.

Build a just criminal justice system.

As a pastor, my faith calls me to protect people and their freedom. I’ve seen many weaponize faith for political means, especially in the battle over abortion rights.&nbsp;Let me be very clear about where I stand: I will always defend the right to an abortion, in the streets and on City Council.&nbsp;

In Philadelphia, our City Council is working to make sure that reproductive freedoms are protected not only for Philadelphians, but for those who need somewhere to go to seek safe and affordable care. I will work alongside the Council to ensure this legislation is passed. Everyone should be able to access the care they need without the burden of cost or stigma.

Protect reproductive rights.

Nicolas O’Rourke is running to represent working families in the Philadelphia City Council and needs your support! 

<h3>Contribute now to support our campaign!</h3>

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Find more information including polling locations, sample ballots, voting accessibility and other questions on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://vote.phila.gov/voting/voting-at-the-polls/">Philadelphia's elections website</a>.

Philadelphia’s City Council election

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Nov. 7

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Growing up, Nicolas learned the lessons and values from his parents that guide him to this day. Nicolas’s father was a truck driver while his mother worked as a telephone operator, a bus driver, and a union steward. As the son of a proud, Black, working class family, he witnessed first hand the frustrations with the social, political, and cultural realities of his family, and their communities. His parents taught him that anything worth having would require work, to not give up, and to stay dedicated to what he knew was possible.
Today’s stagnant minimum wage and the increasing costs of living are putting intense pressure on families across our city. Nicolas is dedicated to working with the City Council to find and implement aggressive solutions to improve the present and push for a better future.
Philadelphians deserve a city where policy is based on finding fair and just solutions for all Philadelphians. To build this Philly, we need leaders who are connected to the realities of everyday working folks like Nicolas.
As a community leader in Philadelphia at his church, Nicolas has learned about the struggles his communities faced. These stories motivated Nicolas to activism and organizing work where he has become an outspoken advocate to improve the experience of working Philadelphians. Nicolas is dedicated to creating a Philadelphia with jobs that pay a living and a decent wage, homes Philadelphians can afford, schools they can be proud of and streets they feel safe in. Working families, today more than ever, need someone like Nicolas on the City Council, an activist with a proven record of fighting for them.
Today in Philadelphia; teachers in our public schools have to dip into their own wallets to buy school supplies, families live in their cars because they can't afford housing, and people in this city are afraid to walk down their own block for fear of safety.&nbsp;Nicolas is running for City Council, because Philadelphians deserve a just Philly. He will be honored to lend his leadership, rage, and his joy, to making that possible.

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I’m running for one of Philadelphia’s City Council At-Large Seat as a member of the Working Families Party.I am running this campaign as a son of working class parents who taught me the value of dedication, pride in your work, love and joy. I am running as a community leader who has deep connections to the needs of folks across the city. And I am running as a citizen, just like you, who wants to live in a city where we can find good paying jobs, afford homes for our families, feel safe on our streets, and send our kids to schools we can be proud of.I hope you’ll join our campaign and support me to build a more just Philly.”

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Latest Campaign Developments

"As elected Democratic committee people in Philadelphia, we are proud to support Councilmember Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke for CityCouncil. If we don't elect Kendra and Nic on November 7, their seats will be filled by Republicans. With Republicans stripping away rights to abortion care in states across the country, removing books from school libraries across PA, and refusing to accept the decisions of votes rights here in our city, we cannot allow them to win back power in Philly."

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Philly Democrats expel member for Working Families Party support, as 100+ Dems sign WFP endorsement

For more information, contact: Rob Duffey at 646.463.3267 or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:rduffey@workingfamilies.org">rduffey@workingfamilies.org</a>Philadelphia, Pa. (Oct. 12) — City Councilmember Kendra Brooks and council candidate Nicolas O’Rourke were endorsed by Planned Parenthood PA PAC and PhillyNOW in a press conference surrounded by abortion rights activists, health care providers, and everyday Philadelphians.&nbsp;Brooks and O’Rourke are running as Working Families Party candidates to take two at-large council seats reserved for minority parties. Until Brooks’ breakthrough win in 2019, those seats were historically held by Republicans.&nbsp;“Abortion is always on the ballot - whether we’re voting on a constitutional amendment that would outlaw it, for state legislators who regulate it, judges who rule on it, or our municipal leaders who determine whether we can access it,” said Signe Espinoza, Executive Director Planned Parenthood PA PAC. “That’s why Planned Parenthood PA PAC is endorsing candidates up and down the ballot this year who have pledged to fight for continued access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care, and yes - that means abortion. Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke are committed to protecting your rights and freedoms, and PP PAC is committed to supporting them.”“Kendra Brooks has put in the work for abortion rights, from protecting patient confidentiality to fighting to make sure that poverty does not strip people of their bodily autonomy,” said reproductive justice organizational leader Beulah Osueke. “Nicolas O’Rourke would join her as a fierce advocate for reproductive freedom. At a time when the Republican Party has attacked the basic rights and freedoms of people across the country, we need champions at every level of government.”“This is about electing two champions for abortion rights to city government in 2023, who will be strong advocates for women and the NOW agenda,” said Vanessa L. Fields, President of PhillyNOW. “Re-electing Kendra Brooks and electing Nicolas O’Rourke means denying the Republican Party a foothold in our city, and energizing voters who care about abortion rights in a crucial election year. We’re all in for Nicolas and Kendra. It’s Republicans out and Working Families in.”&nbsp; ###

Planned Parenthood PA PAC &amp; PhillyNOW endorse WFP’s efforts to shut Republicans out of City Hall in November&nbsp;

Abortion Rights Groups &amp; Activists Endorse Kendra Brooks &amp; Nicolas O’Rourke for City Council

A longtime progressive organizer, he’s been endorsed by a raft of prominent Democrats.

What to know about Nicolas O’Rourke, the pastor trying to earn a second Working Families Party seat

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/working-families-party-democrats-election-endorsement-city-council-20231005.html?query=nicolas%20o%27rourke">An increasing number of Philadelphia Democratic officials are breaking with party leadership and supporting a pair of third-party progressives who are running for City Council.</a>And in doing so, they’re risking their status with the party entirely.On Thursday, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.inquirer.com/philly/columnists/clout/clout-bernie-sanders-reclaim-south-philadelphia-ward-20180525.html">South Philly’s Second Ward</a> announced it is endorsing Working Families Party members <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/kendra-brooks-city-council-working-families-party-20230905.html">Kendra Brooks</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/nicolas-orourke-city-council-working-families-party-20230829.html">Nicolas O’Rourke</a>, becoming the first Democratic ward in recent memory to back candidates outside their own party in a general election.

Philly Dems Support Nic and Kendra

PHILADELPHIA (September 26, 2023) — Councilmember Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke announced historic fundraising hauls for independent candidates in Philadelphia. As of the September 18th filing deadline, both Working Families Party candidates surpassed their previous 2019 records. The candidates filed with over $440,000 cash on hand ensuring they will have ample resources heading into the final weeks of the campaign.&nbsp;<ul><li>Since 2022, Councilmember Kendra Brooks has raised $406,110. Councilmember Brooks filed with $232,124 cash on hand. In total, 77 percent of her donors are based in Philadelphia and 70 percent of her donors have given under $250 or below. Since her 2019 election, she has raised $522,336. </li><li>Since 2022, Nicolas O’Rourke has raised $322,065.55. O’Rourke filed with $213,476 cash on hand. In total, 63 percent of his donors are based in Philadelphia and 77 percent of his donors have given $250 or below.&nbsp;</li></ul>These numbers represent a significant grassroots effort funding both campaigns. Councilmember Brooks and O’Rourke have released the following statements:“My campaign is blessed to have received the support of so many across Philadelphia,” said Nicolas O’Rourke. “The ongoing investment from small donors will allow us to continue to tap into this fundraising base all the way through the election. The grassroots support we have seen reflects what we are hearing out in the community on our campaign everyday. The people of Philadelphia do not want Republican representation in their City Council. I look forward to continuing to grow our coalition of support and ensuring every voter hears our message ahead of election day.”“Our opponents may have the support of Republican mega donors who do not live in Philadelphia, but we’ve got the people on our side,” said Councilmember Kendra Brooks. “In 2019, my campaign broke records raising money from small-dollar donors who lifted me to victory. I’m proud to say that not only have Nicolas and myself surpassed our 2019 records, but have built an even bigger grassroots army ready to win our elections.”Background <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/kendra-brooks-philly-working-families-party-city-council-fundraising-20191009.html">Philadelphia Inquirer, October 9, 2019</a>: “She’s also raised a record amount of money for a third-party candidate. By mid-September, Brooks had raised $147,000, and her Working Families Party running mate, Nicolas O’Rourke, had brought in $87,000…Beyond the topline figures, Brooks’ fund-raising is qualitatively different than that of most candidates. Nearly two out of three donors gave her campaign less than $50, and such small-dollar donations make up a larger share of her money.”

&nbsp;Over 70 percent of donations came from small donors giving $250 or less.

Working Families Party Candidates Break 2019 Fundraising Records

The progressive Working Families Party is not shy about its intentions in November. Its candidates are vying to win a pair of Philadelphia City Council at-large seats and explicitly intend to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/working-families-third-party-targets-philadelphia-republicans-20230731.html">oust Republicans from City Hall</a>.Reminder: Incumbent Working Families Party member <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philly-city-council-at-large-kendra-brooks-working-families-party-republicans-20191106.html">Kendra Brooks</a> became the first third-party candidate to win a seat on Council in 70 years in 2019. She’s been more progressive on policy than most of her Democratic colleagues, backing proposals like rent control and a “wealth

The rise of the Working Families Party in Philly | Morning Newsletter

In a historic move, the Democratic U.S. senator is backing multiple third-party candidates in Philly's council race. The move could further erode Republican influence in the city.“I’m endorsing Nicolas O’Rourke and Councilmember Kendra Brooks for Philadelphia City Council,” Fetterman told Philly Mag. “I’m proud to support this slate and join the big coalition they are building. As Senator, I want partners in government in Philadelphia and throughout our commonwealth who are champions in putting

John Fetterman Is Endorsing Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke for City Council

The Working Families Party is fighting Republicans for two seats on City Council that represent the city at-large.The Rev. Nicolas O’Rourke is a pastor, but he proudly says that Philadelphia needs “more than thoughts and prayers” to address gun violence, housing, and climate change — all of which he sees as crises.“We need courageous leadership,” he said. “We need a compassionate vision in our governance.”

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Philadelphia’s City Council election