Parker Endorses Sharif Street in Philly Congressional Race

The May 19 Democratic primary is looking tight.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:11pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a lone campaign sign or podium on a city street, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of political transition and change.The endorsement of Sharif Street by Mayor Cherelle Parker adds momentum to his campaign for Philadelphia's 3rd Congressional District seat.Philadelphia Today

Mayor Cherelle Parker is endorsing state Sen. Sharif Street in the race for Philadelphia's 3rd Congressional District, a move that will likely give Street an extra boost in the tight Democratic primary on May 19.

Why it matters

The election is part of a generational shift unfolding across the Democratic Party in the post-Biden era, as longtime U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans is not running for reelection for his seat that includes parts of Philly.

The details

Street is a state senator representing parts of North Philly and is the son of former Philly Mayor John F. Street. He recently headed the state Democratic Party before stepping down to run for Congress. Parker's endorsement of Street isn't a shocker, as they both have the backing of Philly's politically powerful building trades unions, and Street has the endorsement of Philly's Democratic City Committee. The other candidates vying for the seat are Chris Rabb, a state representative and the progressive in the race, and Shaun Griffith, an attorney and tax adviser.

  • The May 19 Democratic primary is the key election date.
  • Dwight Evans suffered a stroke in 2024, missing months' worth of congressional votes and leading to questions over his fitness for office.

The players

Cherelle Parker

The mayor of Philadelphia who is endorsing Sharif Street in the congressional race.

Sharif Street

A state senator representing parts of North Philly and the son of former Philly Mayor John F. Street. He is running for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

Dwight Evans

The current U.S. Representative for the 3rd Congressional District, who is not running for reelection.

Chris Rabb

A state representative and the progressive candidate in the race for the 3rd Congressional District.

Shaun Griffith

An attorney and tax adviser running for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

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What they’re saying

“Street would be her reliable partner in Congress to leverage federal resources to help Philly.”

— Cherelle Parker, Mayor of Philadelphia

What’s next

The winner of the Democratic primary on May 19 will likely go on to win in November and has the potential to hold the seat for decades.

The takeaway

This race is part of a broader generational shift in the Democratic Party, as longtime incumbent Dwight Evans steps aside and a new generation of candidates, including Sharif Street, vie for the seat.