October 26, 2026
Kate Frese/For PhillyVoice
Philadelphia voters will be asked two ballot questions in the upcoming midterm elections.
In addition to choosing the next governor of Pennsylvania, U.S. House representatives and state politicians, Philadelphia voters will be asked to weigh in on two ballot questions on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The first will codify a somewhat controversial executive order from Mayor Cherelle Parker which called for reexamining what kinds of businesses are awarded contracts from the city. The second would make Creative Philadelphia, the city's arts and culture arm, a permanent office.
Both are changes to the city's Home Rule Charter. Per Philadelphia law, the amendments require approval from two-thirds of voters to go into effect.
How the question appears on the ballot: Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to revise the City’s contracting procedures to allow for bid preferences and set-asides for small businesses; modify the threshold and standards for contracts that can be set aside for small and local businesses; and grant the Procurement Department and the City Solicitor discretion on bond requirements for certain construction projects?
Background: In October 2025, conservative nonprofit America First Legal sued the city over its municipal contracting preferences, which previously designated a goal of offering 35% of contracts to businesses owned by people of color, women or people with disabilities. AFL won the case, and the city agreed to change the language on those rules. In response, Parker issued an executive order that would prioritize small or local businesses instead.
According to Parker, only 20% of the contracts were going to businesses registered as minority and women-owned businesses, anyway. This new change would allow the city to give contracts from $75,000 to $500,000 to small local businesses even if their bid isn't the lowest one.
This legislation was proposed by City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson (D-At-Large) on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson.
What a "yes" vote means: Per the legislation, the city spends more than $1 billion each year for goods, services and construction for new builds, events and other city-run projects. If approved, this would mean small, local businesses would be prioritized for some of those opportunities.
How the question appears on the ballot: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of Creative Philadelphia, an office headed by the Chief Cultural Officer to promote the City’s arts, culture, and creative economy sector?
Background: Creative Philadelphia operates grant programs, increases public art access and education, and supports the city's creative community. But it's had a few different iterations, and it exists under an executive order, which means future mayors could axe the office if they felt it necessary.
The Office of Arts and Culture was established as part of the Office of the City Representative by Mayor Wilson Goode in 1984 and continued operations until 2004, when it was closed by Mayor John Street. Mayor Michael Nutter reinstated it as a standalone office in 2008, but it was moved under the umbrella of the Managing Director's Office in 2016 as the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. In 2024, it became a part of the mayor's office and was renamed Creative Philadelphia.
This initiative was proposed by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (D-At-Large), with support from multiple other members of City Council.
"I've been proud to be a leading voice on City Council when it comes to advancing our arts, culture, and creative economy sectors here in the city of Philadelphia," Thomas told PhillyVoice in an email. "On November 3rd, Philadelphians have an opportunity to help enshrine the Creative Philadelphia office as a permanent part of our city government by voting for Ballot Measure #2, which would ensure there is a dedicated department within city government to bolster and support artists, musicians and creatives of all types."
Councilmember Rue Landau (D-At-Large) is also a supporter of the change, saying that artists, designers and other creators are an important part of the city's infrastructure.
"We need our arts sector to have a permanent seat at the table. Creativity is not a luxury. It is the invisible thread that weaves our diverse neighborhoods into a single shared story," Landau said. "We are moving arts and culture out of the margins and engraving it into the legal bedrock of how this city operates. By voting yes, we ensure that our creative economy finally receives the structural protection it has justly earned."
What a "yes" vote means: The office would be added to Philadelphia's Home Rule Charter, and thus would be a formal part of city government. The office currently has a staff of 10, and this change would allow it to grow to up to 15 employees, including a Chief Cultural Officer. It would also consolidate any art-related city initiatives and programs into one office.
