1st public poll finds statistical tie in Philadelphia mayor's race

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The first nonpartisan public poll of the 2023 Philadelphia mayor's race shows a statistical tie in the race to be the city's 100th mayor.

The results of the poll were released on Friday morning.

SurveyUSA polling conducted for nonprofit Committee of Seventy found that the candidates leading the pack were Rebecca Rhynhart (18%), Cherelle Parker (17%), Helen Gym (15%), Allan Domb (14%) and Jeff Brown (11%).

The poll's credibility interval, which is similar to a margin of error, is 3.8 percentage points. The five top candidates all fall within that margin.

With two and a half weeks to go, 20% of voters remain undecided, the poll showed.

"These results make clear what we knew all along, that every vote matters," said Lauren Cristella, Committee of Seventy's interim president and chief operating officer.

Cristella says the undecideds will make the difference in this race.

"It's really going to be a matter of each candidate motivating their voting blocks," said Cristella.

The poll interviewed 1,500 Philadelphia adults via phone and text from April 21-25, 2023, about their voter registration status and likelihood to vote. The poll also weighted responses to U.S. Census targets for gender, age, race and home ownership, according to a news release.

The primary election will be held Tuesday, May 16.

Primaries typically are not well attended. It was less than 25% in 2019. Experts predict turnout this year will be a bit higher -- at nearly 30%

May 1 is the last day to register to vote before the primary election.

The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia hosted a live debate with candidates in the 2023 Democratic Primary on Tuesday night.

Action News anchor Matt O'Donnell was the moderator.

You can watch the full debate HERE. It will also air on 6abc Sunday, April 30th at 9:00 a.m.