I received a notification that my mail-in ballot is on the way, so time to get serious about selecting the candidate for the third Congressional District Democratic primary.

First up is Dr. Ala Stanford.

What is a pediatric surgeon doing running for congress? 

She seems to be very well qualified—as a physician, but she has no legislative experience. 

In 2022, President Biden appointed Stanford as director for the Mid-Atlantic region of the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2024, Stanford joined Penn’s biology department as a professor of practice. She holds numerous awards for her accomplishments in medicine and healthcare equity. As a candidate — and Dwight Evans’ choice — Stanford is positioning herself as a change agent focused on improving access to no- or low-cost healthcare, and someone who has succeeded in working within government where elected officials failed.

She’s been endorsed by the outgoing Dwight Evans, former Mayor Michael Nutter, former candidate David Oxman, former U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz, and EMILY’s List.

If she wins the primary, obviously she’ll win in November. She’s an impressive person, all right, but as I said she has no legislative experience, so it would be on the job training for her. 

I have nothing against her, and she’s probably capable of being a fast learner, but let’s see whom she’s up against.

There’s this guy.

Well, he certainly does ok in the looks department. What was his name again?

Uh, Sharif Street.

Hmm, he wouldn’t by any chance be related to the Notorious Street Brothers, would he?

Oh. My. God. (As Janice would say.)

He’s the son of John and the nephew of Milton.

I don’t want his ass anywhere near any government office, whether elected or appointed. I don’t trust the entire fucking Street family.

Take Milton. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1980 as a Democrat, but right after his election he switched over to the Republican Party to give them control of the Senate. In exchange he was given a committee chairmanship and a bigger office. There’s a word for someone who does that, but I can’t think of it at the moment. 

He later ran unsuccessfully for Philadelphia Mayor and City Council, but each time his candidacy was more of a stunt for attention than a genuine campaign. Eventually he was tried and convicted and sent to prison for tax offenses. He died in 2022.

His brother John actually was elected mayor of this city by a tiny margin in 1999. It was one of the times that I voted for the Republican candidate. Same thing happened four years later. Time magazine listed him as one the three worst U.S. mayors in 2005; I can’t imagine anyone being as bad as he was.

So, no, I could never vote for anyone who came from that family. If Sharif really does fall far, far from the tree and he wants to prove himself, he should go into some field other than politics. Like taxidermy, perhaps.

I see that he’s been endorsed by the corrupt Deomcratic machine and Ed Rendell and the current city mayor. That just reinforces my point.

Finally, there’s Chris Rabb.

Most likely to be compared to Zohran Mamdani, five-term State Senator Chris Rabb is a vocal champion of universal healthcare, guaranteed housing and jobs, and fully funded public schools. He’s referred to himself as a “social justice activist,” while others call him a “democratic socialist.” He is the only state lawmaker running for this seat who has declared he will not seek re-election for his current role in Harrisburg. Nor will he accept funding from corporate PACs.

In the PA Senate, Rabb has championed ranked-choice voting, adult-use cannabis legalization, restorative justice and prison reforms. He joined demonstrators protesting the proposed Sixers arena in Center City.

Good grief! 

A candidate after my own heart. Where’s my ballot? How many times can I vote for this guy?

Oh, and his endorsements include: 1st Ward, Working Families Party (and its City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke), Reclaim Philadelphia, OnePA, Democratic Socialists of America,, Mount Airy Democrats, Sunrise Movement, Peace Action, Progressive Voter Network, If Not Now Philly Action, Muslims United PAC, CCP AFT Local 2026.

With a resumé like that, he probably doesn’t stand a chance, but he’s definitely got my vote. My enthusiastic vote.