Cole Welsh, Staff

In response to a viral video filmed at a local bar, the race in Northeast Philadelphia’s 172nd Legislative District has changed dramatically.

The three-minute video, which was filmed at Gaul & Co. Malt House in Rockledge, depicts a heated argument in which State Representative Kevin Boyle, a Democrat from Philadelphia, verbally berates female bartenders as he sits at the bar.

After he is repeatedly urged by the bartenders to leave, Boyle calls people at the restaurant “f—— idiots and f—— morons.”

Despite none of them actually serving in the military, Boyle, who is believed to be under the influence of alcohol or another substance, informs bartenders that he will block their promotions in the military.

Eventually, the video ends with Boyle yelling, “do you know who the f—— I am?” and “this bar is done.”

In response to the video, which went viral with both local and national media sources, Rockledge Police Chief John Gallagher issued a press release explaining that a police officer responded to the establishment at 12:18 a.m. on February 8 following a 911 call from the bouncer. The officer, who found Boyle outside of the bar, was informed by employees that Boyle had left but returned before stepping outside again. Eventually, Boyle left on foot.

Due to the incident, the lawmaker has been banned from the Montgomery County bar and restaurant, which sits just outside the city limits of Philadelphia.

While the female employees ultimately declined to press charges against the lawmaker, Gallagher reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and that “appropriate action will be taken at its conclusion.”

While Boyle, who has served in his elected position since 2011, has yet to release a statement, Democratic leaders in Harrisburg described the video as “disturbing” and urged their colleague to “seek help.”

Prior to the fallout from the video, Boyle, who is the younger brother of Northeast Philadelphia’s US Congressman Brendan Boyle, was expected to go unopposed in the spring primary election and await the winner of the contested Republican primary. Now, Democrats have another candidate in the mix.

This means that Boyle, who won re-election with 57% of the vote against former Republican Philadelphia City Councilman Al Taubenberger in 2022, will now face Sean Dougherty in the April 23rd primary election. The district includes a variety of Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods, including Rhawnhurst, Burholme, Fox Chase, Bustleton and a share of Somerton.

Dougherty, a former public defender, was encouraged to run by local Democratic ward leaders. Like Boyle, Dougherty himself is a member of a well known Philadelphia political family. He is the son of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty and the nephew of recently convicted electricians’ union leader John Dougherty.

For the Republicans, Aizaz Gill, who recently managed the successful re-election campaign of Republican Philadelphia City Councilman Brian O’Neill, and Patrick Gushue, a veteran who served as an Army Ranger, are running in their own primary to hopefully challenge the Democratic nominee in the fall. Both released statements condemning Boyle’s actions and highlighting the need for new leadership in the district.

As of now, only one Republican, Martina White in the Far Northeast, represents Philadelphia in Harrisburg. As such, this race is largely seen as the best pick-up opportunity for Republicans in this overwhelmingly Democratic city. With Democrats possessing a razor-thin majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, this race is further viewed as one of a select few that have the potential to determine which party controls the chamber moving forward.