May 11, 2026
Public domain/U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, pictured above, announced his intention to retire from Congress last summer. There are three leading candidates to take his seat in the Democratic primary election set for May 19.
After nearly a decade representing Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Dwight Evans is stepping down — and leaving his seat open.
The race to replace Evans began with a crowded field of candidates, but has since narrowed. Only four contenders remain in the Democratic primary race, with no Republicans filed to run. But, as anyone following the endless cycle of forums and debates can attest, it's really between three choices.
Shaun Griffith, an attorney and manager of a Roxborough tax firm, will appear on ballots May 19. But the first-time candidate has failed to qualify for several public events, including WHYY's dramatic late April debate, which another candidate abandoned two hours before it began. We will be following suit by focusing on the most viable replacements for Evans.
Two of them are longtime politicians, albeit with divergent approaches to the political scene. Another is a prominent doctor seeking to take on a new role. Here's a bit more info on each of them, including their platforms, past achievements, blunders and notable endorsements:
Dr. Ala Stanford is best known for her leadership in the healthcare world. The longtime physician founded the Black Doctors Consortium, which operated a mobile COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinic during the height of the pandemic, and later expanded the group's scope with the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity. The North Philly facility offers routine medical exams along with specialty screenings for cancer, diabetes and other conditions.
Former President Joe Biden appointed Stanford the Mid-Atlantic regional director of the Department of Health and Human Services. Her memoir, "Take Care of Them Like My Own," came out in 2024. She obtained her undergraduate and medical degrees from Penn State University.
Stanford's first campaign for public office has generated considerable controversy. Last month, Drop Site reported that the pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee had poured millions into her campaign through the 314 Action Fund super PAC. Stanford has denied accepting money from the organization. She received criticism for comparing the word "genocide," in reference to Israel's war in Gaza, to "someone saying the N-word around me."
The Inquirer later published an investigation into the Black Doctors Consortium's tax filings; the paper found that the group had failed to properly report Stanford's salary to the Internal Revenue Service. Stanford's adviser Kellan White also admitted to using AI to fill out a candidate questionnaire for 5th Square PAC.
Per her campaign website, Stanford supports expanding the Affordable Care Act, SNAP benefits, affordable housing vouchers and registered apprenticeship programs. She has endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders' Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $17 over five years, and said she would fight to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Evans has endorsed Stanford as his replacement. She also has the support of U.S. Reps. Madeleine Dean and Chrissy Houlahan and former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
State Rep. Chris Rabb was first elected to the Pennsylvania legislature in 2016 and has served five terms. He represents the 200th District, which spans Mount Airy and Cedarbrook in Northwest Philadelphia. Prior to his time in Harrisburg, he taught entrepreneurship at Temple University, where he helped unionize the adjunct professors. His book, "Invisible Capital," was published in 2010. Rabb graduated from Yale and obtained a masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
The state politician identifies as a Democratic Socialist and has pitched himself as an anti-establishment candidate, vowing not to take money from corporations. His voting history has occasionally stoked criticism — most recently, he voted against advancing two anti-sex trafficking bills out of committee. Rabb, who was the only "no" vote, said the legislation could inadvertently penalize parents for paying friends or relatives to care for their children. He also voted against a minimum wage bill, but claimed that was a "miscommunication on a vote by proxy."
Rabb's platform, laid out on his website, calls for Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and legalizing cannabis for adults. He also wants to abolish ICE and end funding to Israel, making him the most pro-Palestinian candidate in the race. He has pitched the idea of national grocery stores, similar to the localized concept championed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Progressive out-of-towners including U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Summer Lee, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar — members of the leftist "Squad" of House lawmakers — have endorsed Rabb for Congress. So have the Democratic Socialists of America and the Working Families Party. Locally, the editorial board of the Inquirer and Councilmembers Nicolas O'Rourke and Kendra Brooks have recommended Rabb.
State Sen. Sharif Street was the first Muslim elected to the Pennsylvania Senate. He has served the 3rd District, which covers parts of North Philadelphia, since 2017 and was the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 2022 to 2025. Before he went into politics, Street worked as a civil rights and housing attorney. He obtained degrees from Morehouse College and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
His campaign has focused on his legislative record, touting Street as "a fighter who gets things done." He has emphasized his role in the creation of Pennie, the state's healthcare exchange, and successful lawsuits against President Donald Trump. Widely viewed as the centrist choice, Street comes from a political dynasty that includes his father, Philly's former Mayor John Street, and uncle, state lawmaker Milton Street.
His son Sharif Street Jr., a former assistant for City Councilmember Jim Harrity, has weathered multiple scandals. He was arrested on multiple assault charges stemming from two incidents in 2024 — an alleged scuffle with a security guard during Mayor Cherelle Parker's inauguration and a hit-and-run that injured a girl. After the cases were combined, he pleaded guilty to some of the charges and spent 60 days in jail, per the Inquirer. A former staffer for Harrity filed a lawsuit accusing Street Jr. of sexual harassment earlier this year.
Street, who previously sought a Senate seat in 2022, wants to legalize cannabis and invest $500 billion in school infrastructure. He has also pledged to fight for lower healthcare costs and more affordable housing and "stand up to Trump's extreme agenda."
Parker has endorsed him, as have City Councilmembers Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Curtis Jones Jr., Anthony Phillips, Jim Harrity, Rue Landau, Mark Squilla, Kenyatta Johnson, Isaiah Thomas and Cindy Bass. The Philadelphia Democratic City Committee and Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO has also recommended him for Congress.
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