Ala Stanford Leads Pennsylvania Primary With Just Shy of Quarter Counted
ala stanford was leading the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District with just shy of a quarter of the results counted not long after polls closed Tuesday night.
The pediatric surgeon was one of four main candidates in the race to replace retiring Rep. Dwight Evans. Whoever wins the primary is heavily favored in November in the deep blue district, so the early count could decide who represents Philadelphia in Congress.
Stanford’s early lead
Stanford had already been boosted in April by a pro-Israel super PAC that sponsored a poll showing her in the lead. That early number now sits alongside the first vote count from Tuesday night, giving her a result that matched the campaign’s strongest public hint of strength.
The lead also puts her ahead of State Rep. Chris Rabb, State Sen. Sharif Street, and Shaun Griffith. Rabb drew support from progressives including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while Street was cast as a middle-of-the-road Democrat and former chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
Philadelphia Democrats split
The race has been read as a test between the party’s moderate and progressive wings. Street’s support came from the Muslim League of Voters, dozens of local unions, and other elected officials and advocacy groups.
That split made the final stretch unusually active for a district where the primary may settle the seat itself. The contest also became a proxy fight over special interests and Gaza, which sharpened the contrast between the two main blocs.
Shapiro enters late
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stepped in during the final weeks to try to stop a powerful Philadelphia union backing Street from accidentally helping Rabb through attack ads aimed at Stanford.
That intervention added another layer to a race already defined by outside support and competing ideological camps. Griffith had not broken through in the polls, which left the contest centered on Stanford, Rabb, and Street as the count moved forward.
The unresolved issue is whether Stanford can keep her edge as more of the vote is tallied, because the district’s winner is so heavily favored in November that the primary result may settle the next member of Congress before the general election even begins.
