Johnny Dougherty


John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty is a prominent labor leader in Philadelphia. He is the Business Manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
As a leader within the Philadelphia organized labor scene, Dougherty is a prominent political figure, who has helped many Democratic candidates get donations and volunteers.

Early life and education

Dougherty grew up in the Pennsport section of South Philadelphia and graduated from La Salle University in Belfield, Philadelphia.

Career

He had a famous and long-standing feud with former Senator Vince Fumo. The political website PoliticsPA likened the relationship to the Hatfield-McCoy feud During the 2008 Democratic primary for the 1st senatorial district in the Pennsylvania Senate in Philadelphia, Dougherty was dealt a surprising defeat by Larry Farnese, who was heavily supported by Fumo. Following Dougherty's concession, Fumo was heard chanting "Doc is dead! Doc is dead!"
In 2003, he was named to the PoliticsPA "Power 50" list of politically influential people in Pennsylvania. In 2003, he was named to the Pennsylvania Report “Power 75” List. In 2010, Politics Magazine named him one of the most influential Democrats in Pennsylvania.
In 2015, he endorsed former Philadelphia City Councilman Jim Kenney for Mayor of Philadelphia. His endorsement was a driving factor in his win in a crowded Democratic primary.
In January, 2019, Dougherty was indicted in an IBEW Local 98 investigation that charged him for misusing union funds for personal benefit, among many allegations. His defense has argued vigorously that alleged activities were in fact lawful, in March. The case has become quite complicated with some defendants asking that the case be split up between different contested issues, in July.