Chris Rabb wins heated Dem primary for Philly congressional seat
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Chris Rabb. Photo: Courtesy of the Rabb campaign
Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Rabb won the Democratic primary for the state's 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday, the AP reports.
Why it matters: His victory notches a major win for Philly progressives in a competitive contest that's drawn national attention as a battle for the future of the Democratic Party.
State of play: Rabb led with 44.3% of the vote as of Wednesday morning, according to unofficial election results.
- In the deep-blue district that stretches from South to Northwest Philly, Rabb's victory is all but assured in the November election.
- Republicans likely won't have a candidate on their November ticket because no candidate ran in the party's primary.
The big picture: The race for the seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans is part of the larger generational shift occurring across the Democratic Party.
- Evans, who is 70, is retiring when his term ends later this year after entering Congress in 2016.
Zoom in: Rabb got a boost in the waning weeks of the campaign with an endorsement from New York's left-wing U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- As state representative for Philly's 200th District for five terms, Rabb has been a vocal progressive, introducing legislation from reparations for slavery and police reforms to supporting recreational cannabis.
The intrigue: Rabb's victory could prove a headache for Gov. Josh Shapiro.
- Rabb has publicly pressured Shapiro to take a tougher stance against federal immigration enforcement.
- In 2022, Rabb raised eyebrows when he flirted with challenging Shapiro in that year's gubernatorial primary. Rabb ultimately didn't run.
Context: Shapiro, who's up for reelection, didn't make an endorsement for the seat.
- Yes, but: He privately weighed in on the race, disapproving of Rabb and taking steps to derail his candidacy, Axios' Holly Otterbein reported.
What we're watching: Whether the Democratic Party establishment — including Shapiro — rallies around Rabb ahead of the November election.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.