(The Center Square) – The Democratic race to succeed U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-3rd District, has entered its final weeks.
According to campaign finance reports released last week, a progressive lawmaker serving in the Pennsylvania General Assembly outraised the field over the past three months, while a pediatric surgeon entered the homestretch with the largest war chest.
State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, raised just under $395,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March. Ala Stanford, who was endorsed by Evans and is the founder of the Black Doctors Consortium, raised just over $210,000 during the same time period, while state Sen. Sharif Street, former chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, brought in just under $200,000.
Rabb’s Q1 haul is a sizable increase from the previous quarter when he raised just over $125,000 in the final three months of 2025 and is the first time that he outraised the rest of the field in a three-month stretch. He’s raised just under $800,000 since announcing his candidacy in July.
No candidate has raised more than Street, so far, throughout the entirety of the campaign. Since launching his bid for the seat in July, Street has raised just under $900,000. Stanford’s campaign has raised just under $680,000 since she joined the race in October, although $250,000 of that is from a loan she gave to her campaign.
However, Stanford’s campaign entered April with the most cash on hand.
She began the month with just under $450,000 on hand, while Street had just under $265,000, followed by Rabb, who had just over $235,000.
Street significantly outspent the field over the past three months. From the beginning of January to the end of March, his campaign spent just over $460,000. Stanford’s campaign spent just over $210,000 during that same time period, while Rabb spent just under $185,000.
Elected officials and organizations based in Philadelphia and beyond have weighed in on the race in recent months.
Street has received the majority of endorsements from local elected officials. He’s being supported by the Philadelphia Democratic Party, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, former Gov. Ed Rendell, and a wide variety of labor unions.
Rabb’s endorsements include the Working Families Party, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-12th District, the Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board, and other progressive organizations and lawmakers.
In addition to having Evans’ endorsement, Stanford has the backing of U.S. Reps. Madeleine Dean and Chrissy Houlahan, Emily’s List, an organization dedicated to electing Democratic pro-choice women to office, and 314 Action, a group that helps Democrats with a background in science to public office.
The winner of the primary election is widely expected to become the next member of Congress for the 3rd District, given the Democratic Party’s significant voter registration advantage in these sections of Philadelphia.
A total of four candidates, all Democrats, have filed to run for the seat and will appear on the primary ballot. In addition to Rabb, Stanford, and Street, tax attorney Shaun Griffith is seeking the Democratic Party nod.
No Republican candidates will appear on the primary ballot.
Pennsylvania’s primary election is May 19.
