Rabb as a progressive candidate
Rabb’s campaign was often described as progressive. Though he ran as a Democratic candidate, his support of “Medicare for All” and ending aid to Israel garnered the support of left-wing activists and the Philadelphia chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Lindo Yes, a spoken word poet from Philadelphia and member of Reclaim Philadelphia, believes that Rabb’s dedication to progressive issues are, in fact, mainstream issues.
“When he leaned into [those issues], he was not really just stepping in front of us, but he was walking with us because this is where we have always been at,” he said.
Yes also contended that progressive and left-leaning politics are not new issues uniquely important to young voters. To him, they are “multigenerational.”
“I think a lot of times we’re getting these ideas from our parents, our grandparents, and we’re just saying we want that and more because the struggle has just amplified in years,” he said.
As much as affordability, health care and housing were pressing issues for young voters in this race, Rabb said that young voters are, above all, committed to “fairness,” regardless of their political leanings. All of the candidates in the race for this deep blue seat ran on Democratic policies, but what mattered most to young people interviewed by WHYY News was transparency and commitment, not a political party.
“I don’t think [fairness is] an inherently left perspective. I think that the more fair, the more opportunities are created for young people and others, the more you’re going to get young people involved in politics, which will allow our society to move forward, irrespective of what political party is in power,” Raab said.
Bard echoed this sentiment, saying, “I’m knocking on doors with Republicans and independents. We all share the exact same values. It’s just how we want to get those values solved.”