PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — When petitions for Philadelphia’s May primary ballot closed this week, there were nine candidates in the race for Dwight Evans’ U.S. House seat. Only five are considered true contenders, but even those five are having a hard time breaking away from the pack.
For Democrats who have not had a competitive primary in 10 years, it’s an embarrassment of riches: A state senator, two state representatives and two medical doctors lead the race.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” said Steve Huntington.
Huntington attended his third candidates' forum this week, and he still can’t decide. Although he’s now leaning more toward State Rep. Chris Raab for his outspoken denunciation of billionaires and President Donald Trump, but that’s more of a difference in tone than position. State Rep. Morgan Cephas feels equally strongly that the president needs to be impeached, as does Sen. Sharif Street, Dr. Ala Stanford and Dr. David Oxman. Voter Pat Toy says the like-mindedness is to be expected.
“Philly Dems, values are similar, but I thought they all did a good job… For me, I think, it’s the person who can work well with others in D.C.,” Toy said.
Toy admitted she doesn’t know who that is yet.
Oxman, Stanford, Cephas, Raab and Street are getting invited to these forums because they’ve passed a fundraising threshold. There’s been no polling in the race. With two months left until the primary, the deciding factor may come down to who has the money for broadcast advertisements. Street and Stanford have a fundraising edge, but Stanford also has a pro-science PAC spending more than $1 million to run advertisements on her behalf.