Meet the 4 Democrats vying to replace Dwight Evans in Congress

Philadelphia’s most competitive congressional race in years is entering its final stretch, and the once-crowded candidate field now has just four contenders.

The Democrats who remain on the primary ballot include: the insider (State Sen. Sharif Street), the outsider (physician Ala Stanford), the progressive (State Sen. Chris Rabb), and the long shot (attorney Shaun Griffith).

» READ MORE: Philly’s competitive U.S. House race narrows — but big questions loom

For months, at least a dozen candidates campaigned for the office. However, the field shrank in recent weeks as eight hopefuls ended their bids after struggling to gain traction or facing challenges to their eligibility.

The May 19 primary is likely to be decisive. The 3rd Congressional District, which is currently represented by retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, is one of the most Democratic in the nation, and no Republican filed to run in the primary.

Here is a brief introduction to each of the candidates.

Age: 56

Current job: State representative

Neighborhood: East Mount Airy

Bio: Rabb has served in the Pennsylvania House since 2017, representing an area of the city that includes Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, and West Oak Lane. A founding member of the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus and the Pennsylvania Climate Caucus, he has introduced legislation focused on environmental justice, criminal justice reform, and seeking reparations for Black residents.

Rabb previously taught at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business.

He is a native of Chicago and graduated from Yale College and the University of Pennsylvania. He’s worked in Washington before — as an aide to then-U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D., Ill.) and at the White House Conference on Small Business during former President Bill Clinton’s administration.

Rabb has focused much of his campaign on opposing President Donald Trump’s administration. He has called to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and restrict the president’s ability to wage war.

And he has been a staunch critic of Israel, often referring to the war in Gaza as a genocide and slamming pro-Israel lobbying in America.

Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, State Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler and Rick Krajewski, State Sen. Nikil Saval, Philadelphia City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke, Pennsylvania Working Families Party, Justice Democrats, One PA, Sunrise Movement, Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America, Reclaim Philadelphia, IfNotNow Philadelphia, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Action, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Peace Action, and Common Defense.

Age: 55

Current job: Physician

Neighborhood: Chestnut Hill

Bio: Stanford is a first-time political candidate. She is a pediatric surgeon by trade who came to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she founded the Black Doctors Consortium to provide testing and vaccines to thousands of Philadelphians.

In 2022, then-President Joe Biden appointed her to be the Mid-Atlantic regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Stanford also founded a health center in North Philadelphia, and she leads medical services at the city’s Riverview Wellness Center, a recovery house for people with substance use disorder.

Much of Stanford’s campaign has been centered on healthcare. She has said she’s in favor of a Medicare-for-all model, and she’s been sharply critical of Congress for not extending pandemic-era Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans; former U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz; former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, 314 Action Fund, former 3rd Congressional District candidate Dave Oxman; and several physicians in office, including U.S. Rep. Herb Conaway of New Jersey, and U.S. Rep. Ami Bera of California.

Age: 52

Current job: State senator

Neighborhood: North Philadelphia

Bio: Street, the son of former Mayor John F. Street, graduated from Morehouse College and earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He served as an aide to former State Sen. Shirley Kitchen before winning her 3rd District seat in 2016 when she decided not to run for reelection.

Street is the minority chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, and serves on several other committees, including appropriations.

He ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 before dropping out early in the race.

Street chaired the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 2022 to 2025, when he resigned to focus on his congressional campaign. Street hails from a politically connected Philadelphia family, and has received support from much of the city’s political institution. The late State Sen. Milton Street was his uncle, and Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas Street is his ex-wife.

During the campaign, he has emphasized his legislative record on expanding health insurance access, criminal justice reform, and securing investment in the city.

Endorsements: Democratic City Committee, Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Muslim League of Voters of the Delaware Valley, AFSCME District Council 33, former Gov. Ed Rendell, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, Councilmembers Rue Landau, Cindy Bass and Jimmy Harrity, former Councilmembers Jannie Blackwell and Sharon Vaughn, former State Sen. Shirley Kitchen, State Rep. Andre Carroll.

Age: 48

Current job: Income tax adviser

Neighborhood: South Philadelphia

Bio: Griffith is an attorney and the operations manager at a Roxborough-based tax services firm.

According to his campaign website, Griffith’s priorities include protecting civil liberties, expanding healthcare access, and regulating data centers.

Endorsements: No major endorsements.