Chris Rabb, a progressive state representative from Mount Airy, won Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 3rd Congressional District, likely cementing his place as the newest member of Philadelphia’s federal delegation.
He bested two candidates who received significant financial support and influential endorsements — state Sen. Sharif Street and Dr. Ala Stanford.
Rabb’s victory virtually ensures he will be elected to a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives come November, barring a serious independent or third party challenge. No Republicans filed paperwork to run in the heavily Democratic district.
“The city that birthed this imperfect union has shown a bright light that it’s the many over the monied,” Rabb told supporters at a primary night party. “And we are just getting started.”
Rabb, a father of two who was first elected to the state house 10 years ago, admitted that he came close to dropping out of the race a couple of months ago. “There were people who showed up for me at my worst, in the depths of adversity,” he added.
As a self-described Democratic Socialist, Rabb indicated he plans to push for “systemic change” in Washington, D.C. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the Squad, a group of left-wing Congressional Democrats, backed his run.
“I have been critiqued along this campaign for being too radical, being too bold,” Rabb remarked. “They ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Local progressive organizers hailed Rabb’s win. He was endorsed by the Pennsylvania Working Families Party, One Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America and Reclaim Philadelphia.
“Chris Rabb’s victory is a win for the working families in this district, especially Black and brown families, and it’s a win for the people power movement growing all across this country to unrig the economy and political system,” One PA Executive Director Steve Paul said in a statement.
Rabb pulled in about 44% of ballots, giving him a margin of more than 20,000 votes over his closest competitor, Sharif Street (29%), according to preliminary results posted by the City Commissioners. Stanford garnered around 24% of the vote, while South Philadelphia attorney Shaun Griffith earned 2%.
The district covers West and Northwest Philadelphia, along with much of Center City and parts of North and South Philadelphia.
A plethora of political hopefuls initially entered the primary race after U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans announced in June that he would not be pursuing another term. The field was eventually whittled down to three main contenders for the seat.
The Democratic City Committee and Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council threw their weight behind Street, the son of former Mayor John Street. Stanford, meanwhile, received endorsements from Evans and former Mayor Michael Nutter, among others.
“We lost this battle,” Stanford, best known for founding the Black Doctors COVID Consortium, wrote in a statement on social media. “But the war – the fight for the voiceless – is one I will never stop waging.”
There were no other contested Congressional primaries in Philadelphia. GOP nominees Jessica Arriaga and Nick Manganaro are set to challenge incumbent Democratic Reps. Brendan Boyle and Mary Gay Scanlon in the 2nd and 5th districts, respectively.
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