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Jim Kenney Wins Democratic Mayoral Primary

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/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.

WATCH: Jim Kenney Delivers Victory Speech

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 more than a 2-1 margin.

In his victory speech, Kenney thanked his parents saying,"It has been a long journey to get here, from South Philly, St. Joe's, to La Salle, City Council and these last few months on the campaign trail."

Kenney served on City 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.

He says, "To accomplish these goals, the entire city must come together."

Eyewitness News' Todd Quinones asked Kenney why he plans to end stop and frisk. Kenney said, "Because it doesn't work. Eighty-three percent of the stops don't result in an arrest or a recovered weapon. When someone is stopped for being who they are, it creates a problem."

Kenney concluded his speech saying, "I am honored and forever humbled by the coalition's support who made me the Democratic nominee for mayor of the City of Philadelphia."

And he says that even he was surprised by his margin of victory, he hopes the coalition that got him the Democratic nomination will stay together through the November election and beyond.

"Our campaign was a broad and unprecedented coalition of diverse groups, many of whom came together for the first time to support me," he noted.

Kenney thanked parents, teachers, immigrants, the LGBT community, and a host of others that he says helped get him the nomination. In Philadelphia, with its lopsided registration edge, that is tantamount to getting elected.

In later remarks, Kenney said he's not taking November for granted and will work just as hard to get elected as he did to get the nomination. He faces Republican nominee Melissa Murray Bailey in November.

He said, "I am going to give the respect to the Republican nominee she expects and she has earned. She is a smart person with something to say and some good ideas."

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

KYW's Pat Loeb contributed to this report.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten)

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