For the first time in a decade, the commonwealth’s third congressional district is up for grabs. Eight candidates remain in the race to fill retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans’ spot, down from what was a field of roughly a dozen early on in the deep blue seat that is PA-3. 

According to the Cook Political Report, the North and West Philadelphia district is the most partisan – regardless of party – in the nation. Coming in at +40 in favor of Democrats, the district performed about 40 points more Democratic in two-party vote share than the nation as a whole in 2020 and 2024. 

Candidates jumped on the opportunity to run soon after Evans announced his plans to retire, with political veterans, local activists and newcomers throwing their hats into the ring. March 10 was the deadline for filing signatures needed to get on the ballot and Tuesday was the deadline for challenging any signatures. And on Wednesday, after physician Dave Oxman dropped out and endorsed fellow physician Ala Stanford, voters began getting a clearer picture of who will be on the May 19 ballot. 

Here’s the latest on each remaining Democratic candidate in the PA-3 primary, along with their list of endorsements. City & State also has one-on-one interviews with Sharif Street, Ala Stanford and Chris Rabb. 

Cole Carter

Cole Carter, a software engineer who entered the race early, has described himself as a “progressive millennial,” according to his campaign announcement. A Temple University and University of Pennsylvania graduate, Carter is also a hip-hop artist who grew up in Germantown and uses music to address social issues, including mass incarceration and poverty. Carter has called out the Democratic establishment for failing to deliver policy solutions in his community, and has called for a $20-an-hour minimum wage, tuition-free college and workers’ protections against artificial intelligence. 

Morgan Cephas

Elected to her first term in Harrisburg in 2016, state Rep. Morgan Cephas currently serves as the Philadelphia House Delegation chair and as the Women’s Health Caucus co-chair. Cephas, who got her start in politics serving as deputy chief of staff to Philadelphia City Councilmember Curtis Jones, has been a strong advocate for improving maternal health outcomes, investing in public transit and more. 

Cephas’ endorsements include: All* In Action Fund, Philadelphia City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., and state Reps. Aerion Abney, Ben Waxman, Dan Frankel, Gina Curry, Greg Scott, Heather Boyd, Jason Dawkins, Joe Hohenstein, Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, La’Tasha D. Mayes, Lisa Borowski, Mary Jo Daley, Melissa Shusterman, Nate Davidson and Pete Schweyer. 

NaDerah Griffin

NaDerah Griffin has previously run for office in the city, coming up short in her at-large bid for Philadelphia City Council in 2023 and in her run challenging state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta in 2024. According to her website, Griffin has worked as a federal security officer and at the Department of Veterans Affairs – and has been involved in civic organizations like the West Philadelphia Community Development Corporation. Griffin’s platform includes calls for reparations funding and universal health care, as well as housing initiatives for veterans. 

Shaun Griffith

Shaun Griffith is a tax attorney who previously worked for the state government before opening up his own firm in Roxborough. According to his website, Griffith’s campaign focuses include healthcare for all, a $15-an-hour minimum wage and community protections from data centers. 

Karl Morris

Karl Morris has been a computer science professor at Temple for more than a decade. Morris, who grew up in poverty in Jamaica, has said Congress needs true community representatives and is active in unionizing efforts. According to his website, he has a broad range of priorities, including protecting personal privacy, making technology safer and fairer, and improving education and health outcomes. He’s also argued for term limits and age limits for Congress, as well as for cannabis decriminalization.  

Chris Rabb

State Rep. Chris Rabb has served five terms in the state House and sought to be a progressive voice in the Philadelphia delegation throughout his tenure. The only state lawmaker in the race who’s chosen not to seek re-election to run for Congress, Rabb has called himself a social justice activist, and his legislative history supports that. The 200th legislative district representative has pursued bills ranging from ranked-choice voting and adult-use cannabis legalization to restorative justice and prison reforms. 

Rabb’s endorsements include: the Working Families Party, Justice Democrats, Philadelphia City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke, One Pennsylvania, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Sunrise Movement, Philly DSA, Reclaim Philadelphia, Community College of Philadelphia AFT Local 2026, Peace Action, Progressive Voter Network, If Not Now Philly Action, and Muslims United PAC.

Ala Stanford

Dr. Ala Stanford has positioned herself as both a political newcomer and an experienced public health expert able to work with local, state and federal officials. The 55-year-old Philadelphia native, who has been a practicing physician for more than 20 years, received national recognition in 2020 for founding the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, which spearheaded efforts to test and vaccinate Philadelphians, particularly in low-income communities. In 2022, Stanford was appointed by President Joe Biden as the Health and Human Services regional director for the mid-Atlantic region, overseeing efforts to rebuild communities most affected by COVID.

Stanford’s endorsements include: Dwight Evans, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Dave Oxman, and 314 Action. 

Sharif Street

Considered a frontrunner from the jump, state Sen. Sharif Street has the name recognition and party connections to fuel a successful campaign. The son of former Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street and the nephew of former State Sen. Milton Street, Sharif Street has been representing the 3rd state senatorial district since 2017. A North Philadelphia native, Street became the first Black man and Muslim to serve as Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair in 2022, succeeding Nancy Patton Mills, whom he had served as vice chair for nearly four years. 

Street’s endorsements include: the Philadelphia Democratic Party, the Muslim League of Voters of the Delaware Valley, the Philadelphia Building Trades, Steamfitters Local 420, the Plumbers Union Local 690, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1, IUOE Local 542, IUPAT DC 21, Insulators and Allied Workers Local 14, International Longshoremen’s Association 1291, Ironworkers Local 405, Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, Sprinkler Fitters Local 692, IATSE Local 8, PASNAP, former Gov. Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, and Philadelphia City Councilmembers Cindy Bass, Jim Harrity and Rue Landau.