PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There has been a shift in the race for Philadelphia’s Third Congressional District seat, which is now down a candidate.
Dr. David Oxman has been one of the five leading contenders to succeed the retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, but on Wednesday, before a candidate forum at Philadelphia Housing Authority headquarters, he announced he would drop out of the race.
Oxman said he was running for Congress to fix the broken health care system, so it’s perhaps no surprise that he endorsed the other M.D. in the race, Dr. Ala Stanford, who said she appreciated his support.
“He said, ‘You are the best person and I’m going to put any support I have behind you,’” recalled Stanford, the founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, who has also been endorsed by Evans.
“He could have just suspended the race but for him, and myself, we are servants. We just want the best for people and that’s why we do what we do.”
The PHA forum differed from other candidates forums in two major ways. Tenants asked the questions, with an understandably heavy emphasis on affordable housing, which all the candidates agreed is a priority.
The panel also included candidates who had been shut out of previous forums that used fundraising thresholds to select invitees from the crowded field. All three seemed to consider that a badge of honor.
Shawn Griffith boasted he has spent 100 times less than other candidates. Naderah Griffin says she’s spent nothing.
“I didn’t decide to run for office for power or money. I don’t have any money. I was called to do this work,” she said.
Jahmiel Jackson, 24, bashed career politicians, saying Philadelphia’s Democratic Party runs the city “like a plantation.”
State Sen. Sharif Street, a career politician also seeking Evans’ seat, didn’t take offense. He seemed to enjoy the new blood. “It shows a certain commitment that you’re willing to get involved and get engaged at that age,” he said.
The winner of the now eight-way Democratic primary is virtually assured of victory in November. Before that, the tenants will take a straw poll based on the forum — and they have predicted the winners in the past.