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Chris Rabb’s victory in the US House of Representatives the first in Pennsylvania it represents a boost to the progressive side of the Democrats, a group that has been under pressure in recent years.
Running to represent the Philadelphia transit district, known as the “best” in the country, Rabb outsmarted his rivals. The state legislator took about 44 percent of the vote, compared to 30 percent for State Senator Sharif Street and 24 percent for pediatric surgeon Ala Stanford.
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With no Republicans on the ballot in the primary, Rabb is expected to do well in the midterms.
As the candidates sought to highlight the frontrunners in the race, Rabb veered far to the left, going against the political apparatus that has long shaped the political landscape.
He also left his opponents on US policy on Israel. He pledged to join 12 members of Congress to sign a resolution recognizing the Nakba and urged his rivals to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” on the campaign trail.
In one exchange with voters, Stanford appeared to say that using the word “genocide” was “harmful”. Street, whose victory would have made him the first Muslim member of Congress in Philadelphia, has also been criticized for being vague on the issue.
In his speech, Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke, who are the chairmen of the Pennsylvania Working Families Party, said that this race is the season of the Democrats.
“The question in this race was not whether we would elect a Democrat, but what kind of Democrat we would elect,” he said.
“The people of Philadelphia have made their choice clear: bold, effective leadership, and an end to what has gone wrong.”
Indeed, the race in many ways reflected the Democrats’ internal conflicts, which have been exacerbated by the party’s commitment to the 2024 elections.
Street, former chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, and Stanford, who was endorsed by outgoing Representative Dwight Evans, were seen as representing the party’s establishment.
Underscoring that point of view, earlier this month, Axios reported that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro urged construction organizations supporting Street Street not to run ads against Stanford, out of concern that it would boost Rabb’s chances.
Rabb, meanwhile, was endorsed by several progressives, including Representative Ocasio-Cortez, Representative Ilhan Omar and Senator Chris Van Hollen and progressive groups, including Justice Democrats and the Sunrise Movement.
The Socialist Democrats of America, who endorsed Rabb early in the race, were widely credited with supporting his cause before he won.
“We will stand with Congressman Rabb every step of the way in the fight to end ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), liberate Palestine and win Medicare for All,” the group said Wednesday.
Progressives target
Rabb’s victory represents a sign of hope for progressives, who have been under heavy scrutiny in the primary races, largely because of their opposition to Washington’s long-standing support for Israel.
In 2024, both Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York, members of the so-called Progressive “squad” in Congress, lost their primary races amid increased funding from AIPAC and pro-Israel groups. All told, AIPAC and allied groups spent nearly $25m to end the duo.
Progressives have so far seen a mixed bag this primary season. Analilia Mejia scored a surprise victory when she defeated former Rep. Tom Malinowski in February.
Malinowski, who has long presented himself as a great leader, was targeted by AIPAC in an 11-way race, in a way that has been seen as a step backwards for Israel’s conservatives. Instead of promoting Israeli candidates, AIPAC’s goal was to promote Mejia, a staunch critic.
In Texas, pro-Palestinian pastor and civil rights leader Frederick Haynes III won his first race. Haynes was also endorsed by Justice Democrats, an organization founded in 2017 to support progressive candidates. The group has accepted 15 people who are expected to arrive this year.
Three other progressives, Junaid Ahmed and Kat Abughazaleh in Illinois, and Nida Allam in North Carolina, lost their primaries between spending money opposition from pro-Israel and artificial intelligence groups.
However, Justice Democrats spokesperson Usamah Andrabi said Rabb’s victory was a sign of encouragement ahead of the June contests.
Also in Pennsylvania, Representative Summer Lee cruised easily in her first Democratic run in Pittsburgh.
“The sky is the limit,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera, “and it’s clear that the democratic movement needs a new leadership that not only takes Republicans to extremes but is also established by Democrats and their supporters at the same time.”
Drawing battle lines
Tuesday’s primaries in six states saw the battle lines for November’s midterm elections drawn again.
The vote will determine which party will control the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, which could lead to a second term for US President Donald Trump.
Mainly on the Republican side, US Representative Thomas Massie lost his race against Trump’s Ed Gallrein, which was the most expensive House race in history.
Massie broke with Trump over the investigation of billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, the Iran war, and US aid to Israel. His loss shows that Trump is settling in the party.
But it remains to be seen whether this influence will carry over to the general election, with Trump’s willingness to tank in recent months amid the war with Iran and the economic downturn. Polls have shown that support for the president has weakened among independents, who typically do not vote in primaries.
In Georgia, two Republicans, Congressman Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley, will advance to the second election on June 16 in the US Senate race. The winner will take on Democrat Jon Ossoff in one of the most watched races of the season.
Meanwhile, Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, a Democrat, won the party’s primary for governor. Two Republicans, Rich Jackson and Burt Jones, meanwhile, have gone to a running.
The race is set to be next, with the electoral process – and redrawing of congressional maps – in the state coming in 2024 and expected to play a major role in the 2028 race.
