Notable Democratic candidates included former city councilmembers Allan Domb, Helen Gym, and Cherelle Parker; state representative Amen Brown; former municipal judge James DeLeon; former city controller Rebecca Rhynhart; businessman Jeff Brown; and pastor Warren Bloom Sr. Cherelle Parker won the Democratic primary on September 3 to go on and become the nominee.

Polling in March 2022 showed Kenney with a 55% approval rating among Philadelphia Democrats, while an equal percentage said the city was moving in the wrong direction.

[7] In August 2022, Allan Domb resigned from City Council ahead of an expected run for mayor but did not announce his candidacy until November of that year.

[39] She faced early attacks from fellow candidates, who have criticized her votes in City Council to oppose greater funding for the Philadelphia Police Department.

The ads highlight his work opening grocery stores in "underserved communities" and accuses his rivals from City Council of inaction.

[42] Campaign finance reports, released in early April, showed Allan Domb and Jeff Brown as having raised the most money of the candidates.

[44] Longtime city councilmember Maria Quiñones-Sánchez was originally a candidate,[24] but withdrew on April 10, citing an "obnoxious, obscene amount of money that is shaping the race.

[45] The Philadelphia Board of Ethics asked a judge to issue an emergency order prohibiting the super PAC and nonprofit from spending money to support Brown.

[144] Despite Philadelphia being a heavily Democratic city, Oh has established a brand as a Republican willing to clash with both parties and his cultivated a unique base of supporters, particularly among immigrant voters.