Philadelphia Democratic mayoral primary: Cherelle Parker defeats Helen Gym, Rebecca Rhynhart and two other frontrunners

Photo: Courtesy of Cherelle Parker campaign

Cherelle Parker won the Democratic primary for mayor on Tuesday, the AP reports.

Why it matters: Parker's victory over other well-funded and viable candidates reflects the power of Philly's Democratic establishment and positions her to become the city's first female mayor.

State of play: Parker had secured 33% of the vote with 89% of divisions reporting, according to unofficial results Wednesday morning from the Philadelphia City Commissioners office.

Zoom in: The victory for the former City Councilmember and state representative reinforced the influence of longtime power brokers in the city.

Details: Parker has embraced the controversial police tactic of stop-and-frisk to help deter crime and urged hiring 300 cops while keeping the police department's budget flat.

What they’re saying: Parker was hospitalized for a "dental issue that required immediate medical attention" and didn't appear at her campaign party inside a North Philly union hall on Tuesday, per a statement from campaign spokesperson Aren Platt.

Zoom out: The primary was a tight race among Parker and four other candidates going into Tuesday, per the latest independent poll.

What's next: Parker and Republican David Oh move on to the November election.

Editor's note: This story will be updated as news breaks.