PHILADELPHIA. Fresh off his loss in the Democratic gubernatorial primary two weeks ago, State Sen. Anthony Williams said that he still has his eye on the governor’s mansion.
Williams, an underdog after entering the race in late February, came in third behind Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato. His platform on school choice and gun violence – touted as “out of the box” in television ads – allowed Williams to get his name known across the state.
He said he’ll continue to cultivate relationships and alliances outside Philadelphia in hopes of a future run.
“In order to win statewide office, you’ve gotta be known out west: in Bradford County, in Erie,” Williams said. “My plan is to be out there so they can know me.”
Williams would also need more than the roughly 70,000 votes he got from the city to have a chance at winning statewide, said political consultant Larry Ceisler.
“I think if Tony wants to be a statewide player, I think he’s gonna have to do things to strengthen the Democratic Party in Philadelphia to get people to come out to vote,” he said.
