Chris Rabb's victory in Pennsylvania's Democratic primary has breathed new life into the party's progressive wing, which has faced considerable pressure in recent years.
Rabb, a state representative, secured about 44% of the vote, compared to 30% for state Senator Sharif Street and 24% for pediatric surgeon Ala Stanford. With no Republican challenger in the primary, Rabb is widely expected to easily win the midterm election.
While all candidates sought to project progressive credentials, Rabb leaned furthest left, criticizing the local political establishment. He also distinguished himself from his opponents with his stance on Israel, pledging to sign a resolution recognizing the Nakba and urging his rivals to label Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide."
In a statement, Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O'Rourke, co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Working Families Party, called the race a "barometer" for the Democratic Party. "The question is not whether we will elect a Democrat, but what kind of Democrat. The people of Philadelphia have made a clear choice: bold, working-class leadership and an end to the broken status quo."
Rabb's victory signals hope for progressives, who have been heavily targeted in primaries, particularly for criticizing Washington's long-standing support for Israel. In 2024, both Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman lost as AIPAC and pro-Israel groups spent around $25 million to defeat them.
In this year's primary season, progressives have notched other wins, such as Analilia Mejia's defeat of former Representative Tom Malinowski in New Jersey and Frederick Haynes III's victory in Texas. However, three other candidates have fallen to a wave of opposition spending from groups linked to Israel and artificial intelligence.
Usamah Andrabi, spokesperson for Justice Democrats, said Rabb's win is an energetic sign ahead of a series of important races in June. "The sky is the limit ... clearly the Democratic base is hungry for a new generation of leadership."
Meanwhile, in Tuesday's primaries across six states, battle lines for the November midterms were further defined. Notably on the Republican side, Representative Thomas Massie lost to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein. In Georgia, two Republican candidates will head to a runoff on June 16, while Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the gubernatorial race.
