Street makes it official, announces candidacy for PA-03 seat
Pennsylvania state Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) has officially announced that he is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 3rd Congressional District seat.
The son of former Philly mayor John Street, the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party will contend for the seat to be vacated by Rep. Dwight Evans (D-03). Evans announced Monday that he will not seek reelection when his term expires in 2026.
Street said in a recorded video on YouTube that Pennsylvanians need leadership that can only be found by understanding its communities.
“Listen, people are getting screwed by the Republicans in Washington, who are more focused on helping their billionaire friends pay less taxes than delivering for the people they represent,” he said. “That’s not what leadership should be about. What’s missing is someone who knows our communities, and puts us first. Someone who understands what it means to live here and fight for real results.”
He continued by saying that he wants to ensure that the sixth-largest city in America has a seat at the table.
“In Congress, I’ll keep doing what I’ve always done, making sure Philadelphia has a seat at the table, and fighting for the investments we need for our schools, SEPTA, local hospitals, safe communities, and the issues that affect regular folks.”
Street, who represents northern Philly, was elected to the state senate in 2016, becoming the first Muslim person elected to the Keystone State’s chamber. He has been the chair of the Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party since 2022.
A graduate of Morehouse (Ga.) College, he received a B.A. in business administration and a concentration in Finance. After graduation, he earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in 1999.
Street joins former city government employee Robin Toldens and physician Dave Oxman in the Democratic primary race.
Steve Ulrich is the managing editor of PoliticsPA, where this piece originally appeared.
