Several Democratic candidates are running in a crowded primary race to be the next representative for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District.
On May 19th, voters in Philadelphia will turn out to choose a primary candidate that will replace retiring U.S. Representative Dwight Evans to represent Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives.
The primary will be a decisive race, as no Republican has filed to run in one of the most Democratic districts in the country. The winner will be the candidate who encourages the most voters to head to the polls and cast a ballot.
State Senator Sharif Street, State Representative Chris Rabb, and physician Ala Stanford are the three frontrunners.
Senator Street is the former head of the state party and has been endorsed by the Democratic City Committee. He is expected to be endorsed by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. His other endorsements include the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, which is a coalition of labor unions.
Representative Rabb is supported by the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and is drawing support from the city’s left flank. He is backed by national progressive groups that have not yet dedicated funds to influencing the race.
Dr. Stanford is known for her efforts to vaccinate Philadelphians during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has received support from 314 Action Fund, a Washington-based PAC that supports “pro-science” candidates.
A recent poll commissioned by 314 Action Fund showed Stanford in the lead at 28%. The survey included 600 likely primary voters. Rabb came in at 23% and Street at 16%. The PAC has spent more than $2 million on its efforts to support candidates.
In December, Senator Street’s campaign released a poll indicating that he was in the lead at 22%, while Rabb and Stanford followed at 17% and 11% respectively. Anthony Campisis, a spokesperson for Street, said the campaign suspected that the PAC spent funds on television advertising early in the race “so they could come out with a poll showing a lead and artificially generate momentum.”
“We will see how that shakes out when other spenders begin making investments and communicating directly with voters. The fact remains that we’re really happy with where we are in the race,” Campisi said in a statement.
Alon Gur, campaign manager for Rabb, said that Rabb is “gaining momentum.”
“Whichever way the insiders go, we are coalescing the progressive lane in this race. It will be close, and we know we can win,” he said in a statement.
Janee Taft-Mack, Stanford’s campaign manager, said that “voters across Philadelphia want a fresh voice in Congress, not a career Harrisburg politician.” Stanford has no prior political experience.
