DV Journal

What a difference a tweet makes.

Less than a month before the general election, the race for the state Senate seat in Northeast Philadelphia, now held by Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia), has gone from leaning Democratic to a toss-up, according to an evaluation by CN Analysis.

Republican Joe Picozzi told DVJournal he’s not surprised.

“Our momentum is incredible,” said Picozzi, 29. “People here in Northeast Philly are gunning for change. They’re drawn to a young, energetic, and vibrant campaign that’s full of hope.”

Picozzi said he and his campaign volunteers have knocked on “tens of thousands” of doors. “We’re getting out our message. People here are really craving change.”

Dillon, 45, has been mocked by critics as the “accidental senator,” placed on the ballot by Democratic Party insiders only when his better-known brother failed to meet the ethics requirements to run for the seat.

Dillon has faced tough questions during this campaign about social media posts from a decade ago using problematic language under his @Hoops24_7 Twitter handle. The posts included the “N” word and a gay slur. Dillon also had an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to pay traffic violation penalties in New Jersey.

“Jimmy Dillon has once again demonstrated that he doesn’t have the character nor temperament to be a leader in Harrisburg, and today’s allegation added another twist to his disturbing past,” said RSLC Deputy Communications Director Mason Di Palma. “While the latest allegation is shocking, it is not surprising, and while Jimmy Dillion looks to blame everyone but himself, his colleagues have remained silent, which speaks to their hypocrisies. If Democrats can’t condemn one of their colleagues for alleged heinous actions like these, how can we trust their judgment to lead in Harrisburg?”

Picozzi grew up in Somerton and is an Eagle Scout who Councilman Brian O’Neill appointed to serve on the Philadelphia Youth Commission. He had worked for the Manhattan Institute, a think tank. After graduating from Holy Ghost prep, he studied government at Georgetown University and worked for the U.S. House of Representatives in public policy. If elected, Picozzi sees crime and education reform as two issues he’d tackle.

Dillon became a state senator in 2022. He won a special election after the sitting Democratic senator was appointed to the bench. Dillon’s brother, Shawn, was going to fill the vacancy but was bumped from the ballot after he failed to file documents required under the state’s ethics laws. Party insiders then chose Dillon to replace his brother.

Dillon played basketball for Notre Dame and runs Hoops 24-7 Basketball Academy, a chain of 27 gyms.

Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) said, “The people Jimmy Dillon know what he’s worked on, know that his values are much greater than those represented in those tweets.” Hughes is the chair of the Pennsylvania SDCC.

Mark Nevins, a political advisor to the Dillon campaign, came out swinging.

“Anyone who knows Northeast Philly knows it’s always a battle. That’s no surprise,” said Nevins. “But voters have a pretty clear choice. Jimmy Dillon, who’s the only Democrat in the Senate to support impeaching Larry Krasner, or Joe Picozzi, who is part of the wacko wing of the Republican Party and is backed by the same crackpots who want to take away women’s basic rights. That’s not going to go well for Picozzi. He’s just too extreme for the district.”

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Democratic state Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia) is hoping voters will show up for him on Election Day, despite the fact that he didn’t show up in court as required by law.

As a result, the Philly Democrat is facing an outstanding warrant from the state of New Jersey for failure to pay his fines for traffic offenses and failure to appear in court.

Now Pennsylvania Republicans are running ads letting voters know about Dillon’s scofflaw ways.

“Jimmy Dillon doesn’t play by the same rules we do,” the ad says. “We need a change.”

Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee Communications Director Michael Straw told DVJournal, “No one is above the law, not even Jimmy Dillon.

“The citizens in Northeast Philly are good, honest, hard-working people. They certainly pay fines for their traffic violations, and their state senator should be playing by the same rules. Party bosses hand-picked Dillon in a last-minute backroom deal to replace his brother as a candidate in the special election. Now, the more we find out about Jimmy Dillon, the less there is to like.

“It really begs the question, what else don’t we know about him?” Straw added.

Dillon was handpicked by Democratic Party insiders to fill a vacancy in a 2022 special election when his brother Shawn Dillon was forced off the ballot due to legal challenges. Shawn Dillon failed to file documents required under the state’s ethics laws.

Dillon, 45, did not reply to requests for comment.

Dillon’s outstanding warrant dates from 2004 and is from Tuckahoe, N.J., Dennis Township Municipal Court Administrator Lauren Reddy verified that the warrant is valid and still outstanding. Reddy said it was for a speeding ticket and driving without a license.

“We feel it’s important that voters know the real Jimmy Dillon and that he doesn’t play by the rules as everyone else does in Northeast Philly,” said Straw. “No one else can refuse to pay fines or show up in court.”

Picozzi, 29, declined to comment on Dillon’s legal woes. But he did tell DVJournal he decided to run because Northeast Philadelphia is no longer the safe neighborhood he grew up in.

“I could ride my bike around as late as I wanted to, and my parents didn’t have to worry,” said Picozzi. “That’s not the childhood kids in the Northeast are having now. Violent crime has exploded up here.”

He noted there was just a triple shooting the other day at Bustleton Avenue and Tomlinson Road.  And in March, eight Northeast High School students were shot at five points.

Asked what he would do if elected to the state Senate, Picozzi said he’d make sure the Philadelphia police got more funding and would be an engaged leader, working with the town watches to “make the neighborhood safer.”

Joe Picozzi campaigning

He’d also continue to fight to remove progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner.

“We’re going to really push to get him out of there,” said Picozzi.  About Krasner seeking a third term, Picozzi said, “There’s no accountability there. These people get elected, do a terrible job, and they think, ‘Well, I’m a Democrat in Philly. I don’t have to worry. Why do I have to work? Why do I have to care?’”

“I’m running on three issues: public safety, public safety, public safety,” said Picozzi. He would also like to see more security cameras installed, and to start more summer programs for kids and “after school programs, vocational training programs, extracurricular activities, things to keep them motivated, connect them with good mentors and job opportunities.

“If a kid has a summer job, they’re far more likely to graduate high school,” said Picozzi.

When Picozzi was in high school, Councilman Brian O’Neill recommended him for the Youth Commission, where he learned about government.   An Eagle Scout, Picozzi studied government at Georgetown, worked on Capitol Hill and was chief of staff for the Manhattan Institute, a think tank.

“I think we need new leadership with fresh ideas,” said Picozzi. “It doesn’t matter if people are Republicans, Democrats, Independents. If you don’t like the direction that things are heading in Northeast Philadelphia, just give me a chance.”

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