Who's running in Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Ending U.S. military aid to Israel; he describes the war in Gaza as a genocide.
Racial justice and economic equity, the themes of his legislative work.
Public education funding.
Government and campaign finance reform, including limits on outside money in primaries.
Climate action; he is endorsed by the Sunrise Movement and the Center for Biological Diversity.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Pennsylvania state representative for the 200th district since 2017.
Author and former small business advocate before the legislature.
Won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary against Sharif Street, Ala Stanford and Shaun Griffith.
Accused AIPAC during the primary of indirectly supporting Ala Stanford by routing money through 314 Action, which spent about $2.5 million supporting her; Stanford, 314 Action and AIPAC all denied it.
Arguments in favor
The city's main newspaper endorsed him in the primary, and a sitting U.S. senator backed him — unusual support for the most left-wing candidate in a crowded field.
— The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board; Sen. Chris Van Hollen
The national progressive movement organised behind him: members of Congress, national progressive groups and climate and peace organisations all endorsed his campaign.
— Reps. Greg Casar, Maxwell Frost, Summer Lee and Ilhan Omar; Justice Democrats, Sunrise Movement, Peace Action, Reclaim Philadelphia and the Center for Biological Diversity
Arguments against
An October post on his campaign Instagram account advanced an antisemitic conspiracy theory about the massacre of Jewish people at Bondi Beach in Australia. His campaign said an unidentified former staffer posted it.
— Jewish Insider
When senior House Democrats distanced themselves from the streamer Hasan Piker over comments about American Jews, Rabb — who lists Piker as a supporter — responded with an expletive and said Democrats should be worrying about white Christian nationalists instead. The Democratic leader had called Piker's comments dangerous and antisemitic.
— House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Brad Schneider and Elissa Slotkin, reported by Fox News
What we couldn’t verify
Responsibility for the Instagram post is disputed: the account was his campaign's, but the campaign attributes the post to a former staffer it has not named. It is recorded here with that dispute attached rather than as an established act of his.
Governor Josh Shapiro declined to endorse in the Democratic primary; he gave no published reasoning.
His campaign website address could not be confirmed against a live page.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Rabb could be found; no Republican is on the ballot in this district.
Service and constituent work ahead of party politics.
Neighbourhood-level priorities ahead of national party agendas.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Disaster relief executive; former congressional aide.
Filed as an independent for the November 3, 2026 general election in Pennsylvania's 3rd district.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
Mahoney's detailed positions could not be established: his campaign website loads its content through scripts that returned nothing readable, and no candidate questionnaire or profile covering him was located. The standsFor list is limited to what his campaign slogan states rather than filled out with guesses.
No published criticism of Mahoney by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', with 'Rabb', against Democratic Party material, and against Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY, 6abc and Pennsylvania Capital-Star coverage of the district. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either.
His fundraising was not established from sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
This is an open seat: Democratic incumbent Dwight Evans, who has held it for a decade, is retiring. Pennsylvania held its primary on May 19, 2026, and state representative Chris Rabb won a crowded Democratic field that included state senator Sharif Street and former federal health official Ala Stanford. No Republican filed for the seat. The only other candidate on the November ballot is independent Dennis Mahoney. The district covers west, south and north Philadelphia west of Broad Street and is among the most Democratic in the country. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia, the FEC's candidate list for the district and Philadelphia Inquirer reporting. Criticism of Mahoney by name could not be found, so his entry carries no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Pennsylvania ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Pennsylvania Department of State.